J. Michael Hamby

J. Michael Hamby is an associate with the firm. The focus of his practice is estate planning, tax law, asset protection, business law, wills and trusts. Michael advises both individuals and business entities but has a unique understanding for the particular needs of physicians and medical practices, as well as small business owners.

After graduating from Nicholls State University with a 4.0 in his major, Accounting, Michael earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law in 2009. However, Michael continued his education by earning a Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M) degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law Graduate Tax Program.

Before joining Chesser and Barr, Michael clerked with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was a legal extern for the honorable Judge Elizabeth W. Magner, US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Additionally, Michael was a tax research assistant at Tulane University School of Law. Before pursuing a law degree however, Michael owned and operated, with his brother, a small family business in Birmingham, Alabama that was started by his grandfather.

Michael is a member of the Florida Bar, Tax Section of the Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar, and the American Bar Association.

Michael has demonstrated a lifelong passion for community service. His community service experience includes, volunteering as an English tutor, computer literacy tutor, and as an Accounting tutor during his undergraduate pursuits. More recently, however, Michael's community service was centered in Southeast Louisiana as a volunteer laborer for Habitat for Humanity after Hurricane Katrina and, as a law student, he participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) to prepare tax returns for low income New Orleans residents.

During the summer of 2010, Michael and his wife, Dr. Janet Hamby, moved from Southeast Louisiana to call Crestview, Florida, home.