About Me

A Gulf Coast native, Michael Prestia, has been practicing law since 1983. He opened his law office across from the Harrison Courthouse. Mr. Prestria's office survived Hurricane Katrina with one tree coming through the roof. During the storm and repairs, Mr. Prestia worked from home.

In 1993, Mr. Prestia drafted a Limited Liability Agreement for a Mississippi furniture Mfg. Co. with the assistance of Philip Whynott of Bagley and Whynott Law Firm from Casper Wyoming who visited Mississippi Gulf Coast to assist him. Bagley and Whynott Law firms were Co-Publisher of the Limited Liability Reporter and located in the first state to enact a law authorizing limited liability companies. In 1996, Mississippi enacted their Limited Liability Company Act. In 2018 to prevent Partnership Litigation and to promote Business ownership in Mississippi, Mr. Prestia created The Carmella Operating Agreement.

In his personal time, Michael is an active Rotary member and enjoys spending time across the Gulf Coast.

My Background

Education

J.D. Mississippi College School of Law , Jackson, Mississippi
LLM Candidate Tax Law at Villanova University Law School; 2017-2019
B.S. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Louisiana
De La Salle High School, New Orleans, Louisiana

Admissions

Mississippi Bar 1982
Texas Bar admitted 1998
U.S. District Court, Southern and Northern District of Mississippi
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
United States Court of International Trade
U.S. Supreme Court Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians v Holyfield
490 U.S. 30(1989) on the Appellee Brief . Court reversed 6-3

Professional Law Associations & Memberships

Mississippi Bar Association
Texas Bar Association
American Bar Association
Commercial Law League of America
ABA Forum on Franchising,
American Bar Association Sections on Construction Law , Intellectual Property Law ,Real Property Law ,Trust and Estates Law,Federal Taxation
Mississippi Association for Justice
Mississippi Bar /section on Business,Real Property, Trust & Estates Law,Taxation, Intellectual, Labor, Health Law and Appellate Law Section
Texas Bar section on Construction and Intellectual Property Law
Mississippi Bankruptcy Association
American Immigration Lawyers Association
Law Review Mississippi College School of Law
Land Title Association of Mississippi
Subcontactors and Suppliers Alliance of Mississippi ,Mississippi Gulf Coast Homebuilders Association
Inter-American Bar Association
Harrison County Bar Association
Gulfport Business Club
Rotary Club Gulfport Orange-Grove , Paul Harris Fellow, Charter Member 40 years, Board of Directors,
International Trade Club of Mississippi, former President and Board of Directors member Import and Export organization
World Trade Center New Orleans
Gulf Coast Intellectual Property Association
Petroleum Landman 1980-82 Miss.,Ala.,Fla.,Ga. and former member Alabama Petroleum Landmans Association AAPL

Publications

The Partnership Lawyer: I.R.C. Section 1061 Three year Holding Period Requirement, Mississippi Business Journal July19, 2018
The Partnership Lawyer: Changing to C Corp? Not so Fast! Sec. 199A New Tax Cut and Jobs Act, The Gazabo Gazette November 16, 2018

Guest Speaker

Loyola Law School 2025 Annual Estate Planning Conference New Orleans. Topic: Mississippi Ancillary Estates and Probate Avoidance For Protection of Business Owners Rights in 2025

Legal Drafts

AU REVOIR for Partnership disputes - we attempt privately to settle issues prior to filing suit with conferences and correspondence
THE GUDRUN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LLC well drafted Operating Agreement setting forth the rules and regulations that govern your company and avoid probate of real property
THE CARMELA LLC OPERATING AGREEMENT Drafted for LLC partners holding a minority interest
THE CARMELA LLC SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT Drafted for Corporation shareholders holding a minority interest