Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2027 
Phil Calandrino is an Orlando business attorney and founder of Forward Law Firm. He moved from Illinois to Florida with his parents in 1984 and graduated from the first graduating class of Dr. Phillips High School. Inspired by his uncle’s legal career and his family’s entrepreneurial background, Phil pursued business and law to help business owners address legal issues throughout the life of their companies.
Phil earned his business degree from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in 1994, followed by his law degree from Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington in 1998. He founded Forward Law Firm that same year with a focus on helping companies address business disputes, plan for growth, and manage legal risks.
His practice includes Commercial Litigation and business law matters for companies and business owners in Orlando and throughout Florida. Phil assists clients with business formation, buying and selling businesses, financing, asset protection, contracts, insurance strategies, and other business relationships. He also represents clients in business disputes and commercial litigation matters. Phil has been quoted by national media outlets and is admitted to practice in all Florida state and federal courts, as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Phil is also involved in the legal and Central Florida business communities. He served as chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s Business Law Committee and served two terms on its Executive Council.
Outside of his law practice, Phil and his wife, Amy, co-founded The Calandrino Foundation. The foundation supports youth through financial literacy and entrepreneurship education. Its “Aspiring Entrepreneurs” program encourages young people to learn about business ownership and develop practical skills for the future. Through the foundation, Phil and Amy support innovation and the next generation of small business owners in Central Florida.
