Español
Expand All

Overview

Michael is a Shareholder in the Firm’s litigation department. Michael is an experienced trial lawyer, focusing his practice on complex commercial cases. Michael has significant experience representing Fortune 100 clients in litigation involving insurance and reinsurance, international securities fraud, distribution and franchise issues, trademark litigation, and environmental issues under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Prior to joining the firm, Michael served as Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. As an Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division, Michael prosecuted numerous criminal and civil cases on behalf of the United States, and successfully tried multiple jury trials to conclusion. On the criminal side his caseload included heath care fraud, narcotics, firearm, child exploitation, mail fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft related matters, and on the civil side included False Claims Act, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, and immigration matters.   

Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, Michael practiced law at several prominent international law firms in New York and Washington, D.C., including Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and Jones Day.  

Representative Experience

  • Represented client in $14 million insurance dispute.
  • Represented client in $100 million CERCLA matter in District of Connecticut.
  • Represented client in $65 million CERCLA matter in District of South Carolina.
  • Represented client in $12 million AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society reinsurance arbitration.
  • As Assistant US Attorney:
    • Prosecuted narcotics, firearm, child exploitation, mail fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft related matters through investigation, grand jury, pretrial motions, federal jury trials, and sentencing hearings.
    • First-chaired multiple federal criminal and civil jury trials to verdict, and drafted several appellate briefs to the Eleventh Circuit.
    • Prosecuted CEO of Calhoun-Liberty Hospital for embezzling over $1 million resulting in a sentence of 46-months’ imprisonment.
    • Participated in False Claims Act litigation of former University of Florida professor, which resulted in a judgment for the Government of approximately $3 million.
    • Handled False Claims Act, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, immigration, and habeas matters through pretrial motions, discovery, expert witness discovery and preparation, and federal bench trials.
    • Participated in seizure of 474-year-old painting taken by the Nazis during World War II and returned painting to its original owner.

Judicial Clerkships

  • Law Clerk, Honorable Ellsworth Van Graafeiland, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
  • Law Clerk, Honorable Maurice M. Paul, United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney for the Southern District of Florida

Publications & Presentations

Events: Recent Developments in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Investigations and Enforcement
Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Small Law Department|June 2022

View Less

Newsroom