Best Lawyers 2020, 2021 and 2022
Avvo Rating 10.0 Superb, 2009-2021
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, President, 2019-2020; Miami Chapter
The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2019-2024
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Rodney Thaxton “Against All Odds” 2018; Miami Chapter
Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite 2015
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President’s Award 2013; Miami Chapter
Wall Street Journal consults with Michelle Estlund - View PDF Red Notice Law Journal talks to Ian Johnston and MSNBC.com Michelle Estlund discusses How Interpol Notices are used to Combat Financial Crime Al Jazeerah discussion of Egyptian Red Notice Request: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgj3WIjRAHM Andalou Agency (Turkish media): (http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/460461-turkey-informs-us-gulens-passport-canceled-on-jan-26) Costa Rica Star: (http://news.co.cr/officials-costa-rica-alerted-about-paul-watsons-whereabouts/11012/) NBC News: (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/01/23/10167327-interpol-faces-legal-threat-for-helping-oppressive-regimes-hunt-dissidents?lite) USA Today Monaco Reporter: (http://monacoreporter.com/2014/11/08/interpol-in-monaco-a-century-later-freedom-and-security-must-find-a-way-to-coexist/) TCI News Now: (http://www.tcinewsnow.com/archivelist.php?pageaction=showdetail&news_id=5187&arcyear=2012&arcmonth=3&arcday=29) World News Network: (http://article.wn.com/view/2013/11/27/Interpol_accused_of_failing_to_scrutinise_red_notice_request/)
Michelle works on a regular basis with other attorneys and with non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and professors and students to facilitate change as needed for law enforcement and human rights issues. She is proud to have collaborated with organizations such as Fair Trials International, The Heritage Foundation, and The Open Dialogue Foundation, and to be an active member of the following legal organizations: American Bar Association, International Law Section Florida Bar, International Law Section Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Dade County Bar Association
Michelle obtained her law degree at Stetson University in St. Petersburg, Florida. While studying law, she focused on trial advocacy and criminal justice issues. She served as an intern in the Criminal Justice Committee of the Florida House of Representatives, where she researched and analyzed bills related to pretextual stops of civilians by law enforcement officers; civil asset forfeiture; and juvenile justice. She was also a student law clerk for the Honorable Elizabeth A. Kovachevich in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. At Florida State University, Michelle obtained her Bachelor of Arts and majored in Criminology and Psychology. She interned in the Psychology Department, where she conducted research on the physiological responses of sociopaths and other deviant personalities when presenting false information in a controlled setting. She also wrote for the school's annual publication, the Renegade, and received a national award, the Gold Circle Award, for her writing.
