Chad Leeper is a personal injury attorney and seasoned trial lawyer in the Farah & Farah Melbourne office. With two decades of experience, including years spent building and leading a Florida office for a large defense firm, Chad brings a trial-ready mindset and a deep understanding of how the other side evaluates risk and handles settlements. He is known for pairing careful case preparation with genuine empathy, helping clients feel informed and supported while their cases move forward.
A Personal Path to the Legal Profession
I was born and raised in small-town North Georgia, and although my childhood brought me to Florida, I have always felt deeply connected to both states. When it came time for college, I decided to stay in-state and enrolled at the University of Florida, where I began working for a local attorney, giving me my first real look at the legal profession.
Turning Personal Experience Into Legal Advocacy
While I was still in school, my life took an unexpected turn when I was severely injured in a motorcycle accident. Suddenly, I found myself facing the devastating consequences of a crash I didn’t cause. I was taken from the scene by ambulance with extensive injuries, including severe road rash that left lasting scars. My recovery was grueling and required intensive rehabilitation and significant medical treatment just to begin healing.
Going through that experience and dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath taught me firsthand what it feels like to be the person who urgently needs help. That pivotal moment shifted my direction and clarified why the law matters. I knew I wanted to advocate for people facing similar situations, and that realization became the driving force behind my decision to get my law degree.
Building a Litigation Career
My legal career began when I took a summer position with a defense firm during my final years of college. I ended up turning that summer job into my 20-year professional home. During that time, I developed a wide litigation background handling personal and commercial transportation matters, premises liability, negligent security, wrongful death, and catastrophic loss cases. I eventually opened and built the firm’s Melbourne office from the ground up, managing that location for 15 years and growing it into a highly successful operation.
Trial Experience That Shapes How I Prepare
Trial work has always been a central part of my practice. Over the years, I have handled challenging cases involving high stakes, demanding schedules, and nationally known opposing attorneys, including complex multi-week trials. Experiences like those reinforced the value of preparation, clarity, and careful planning. They also taught me exactly how the defense evaluates risk and builds their arguments, allowing me to anticipate challenges and keep a jury focused on the facts that truly matter.
Why I Chose To Shift to Plaintiff Work
After years of representing large companies, I reached a point where I needed my work to feel more personal and connected. While early career priorities often focus on building a foundation, my priorities evolved over time. I wanted to pursue the reason I went to law school in the first place, which was to help everyday people who have been through unexpected accidents and life disruptions. Joining Farah & Farah gave me the opportunity to take everything I have built throughout my career and apply it directly to fighting for injured individuals and their families.
What I Bring to Clients at Farah & Farah
My greatest strength as an attorney is the ability to combine careful strategy with genuine empathy. Having experience building cases for the defense, I know exactly what tactics the other side will use to try to minimize a claim. I am able to use that insider knowledge to protect my clients, anticipate their roadblocks, and ensure they are treated fairly from start to finish.
People often come to us during some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives, and I never want them to feel like just another case file. They deserve clear guidance, steady support, and someone who stands firmly in their corner. I take pride in translating complex legal issues into plain English so my clients feel informed and empowered to make decisions. Ultimately, my goal is to secure the best possible outcome so they can focus on moving forward.
Family, Waterways, and the Open Road
Outside of work, my life centers on my kids and spending as much time with my family as possible. Whether we are taking walks, bicycling to Cocoa Village, or spending a day at the beach, they are my true passion. I am also an avid boater and enjoy inshore fishing along the Indian and Banana Rivers. Because I spend so much time on the water, I actively volunteer with Keep Brevard Beautiful to help ensure our local waterways remain clean for the community.
I have been a motorcycle enthusiast for 25 years and still ride regularly, taking longer trips throughout the Southeast or cruising around town. One of my most prized possessions is my grandfather’s 1982 Honda Goldwing. Some of my earliest memories involve riding the back roads of Georgia with him, and that bond is a big part of why motorcycling remains in my blood today.
