Michael Sampson Receives the Thomas V. Behan Award
Central Florida Collaborative Divorce is proud to announce that Michael Sampson has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Thomas V. Behan Collaborative Excellence Award—an honor reserved for a professional whose leadership, dedication, and achievements advance our mission to help families divorce privately, efficiently, and respectfully.
Michael has been a cornerstone of the Collaborative community for more than a decade. A member since 2014 and a Board Member from 2017–2020, he has shaped much of the foundation upon which our organization stands today. Michael authored many of the core documents shared on our website that define and frame Collaborative practice, and he played a key role in earlier versions of the Central Florida Collaborative Divorce website itself.
Elaine Silver, the 2024 Thomas V. Behan award recipient said of Michael, “I know you will join me in acknowledging Michael’s tremendous contributions to our Collaborative community and to our broader legal community. If every lawyer had one iota of Michael’s generosity, kindness and gentleness, none of us would have to take CLEs in professionalism. Thank you Michael for all you have done and will continue to do. It’s an honor to be your friend.”
Please join us in celebrating Michael’s extraordinary service, enduring leadership, and unwavering commitment to the values at the heart of Collaborative practice. Congratulations, Michael—this recognition is richly deserved!
How Will You Choose to Divorce?
The Collaborative Divorce Process lets your family control the process, cost, timetable, and your privacy.
The collaborative divorce process can help you and your family through challenging, emotional times. Most families benefit by choosing to resolve issues constructively. That choice may fit your family best, too. If so, contact Orlando Collaborative Divorce attorney Michael P. Sampson. Michael handles Florida collaborative law matters only. That means no litigation. If you choose and your spouse or partner choose to be adversaries, excellent litigators may help you. But maybe there’s a better choice for you.
You Have Choices
When people bring their family issues to a judge, what might it cost them financially, emotionally, and in permanently ruptured relationships? How might limited solutions judges impose affect the kids? Might divorcing couples take control and figure out something better for themselves and their families? Might you?
Orlando Collaborative Divorce Attorney: Lessons from Litigating
Michael litigated family law and business cases in court for 30 years. That experience gave him more than wrinkles. With wrinkles came perspective, sensitivity to issues that may come up, and professional judgment about what works for families and what doesn't. Michael has been 100% committed to the Collaborative Process since 2016.
SCL's Commitment to Collaborate
Collaborative divorce is confidential, respectful, open, and interest-based. When you have kids, it’s child-focused. With help from your collaborative team, you and your spouse or partner can respectfully create positive, lasting solutions and stay out-of-court. Could that be the right choice for you? Read Sampson Collaborative’s FAQs about collaborative divorce. If you think the collaborative option might work for you, please contact SCL.
Using the Collaborative Process, You Can Resolve Peacefully and Respectfully:
- Florida Divorces
- Custody (Timesharing), Parental Responsibility, & Relocation issues
- Child Support & Alimony
- Identifying Marital & Nonmarital Interests in Real Property, Trusts, LLCs, and Closely-held Family Businesses
- Modification & Enforcement
- Prenuptial Agreements & Postnuptial Agreements
- Domestic Partnership Agreements for LGBTQ & Opposite Sex Couples
Have questions?
Check out our new FAQ page.
Collaborative Leadership
In Central Florida, Michael served on the board of Central Florida Collaborative Divorce, formerly known as the Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida.
On November 19, 2025, the collaborative practice group presented Michael withe the 2025 Thomas V. Behan Collaborative Excellence Award. The organization presents the award each year to a collaborative professional who, through achievement and leadership, supports the mission and values of Central Florida Collaborative Divorce: To empower families to divorce privately, efficiently and respectfully.
Statewide, Michael is a member and regular sponsor of the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (FACP). With collaborators throughout the United States, Sampson served on the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Collaborative Law Subcommittee.
The Global Collaborative Movement
To learn from and engage with collaborative professionals internationally, Michael is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) and Global Collaborative Law Council (GCLC).
Since 1990, the Collaborative movement spread worldwide. It’s vast and diverse. More than 25,000 collaboratively trained lawyers, mental health professionals, financial professionals, and other collaborative professionals make up the global community. That community includes 200+ collaborative practice groups. They span across 24 countries. These collaborative professionals, like Mr. Sampson, have committed to assisting families like yours choose a way to resolve issues.
Orlando Collaborative Divorce Attorney, Michael P. Sampson, has earned an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest recognition for professionalism and ethics in the legal industry.
COLLABORATIVE
ALL ISSUES
THAN $50K
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