Michael is a first chair trial lawyer with more than 20 federal jury trials to verdict who defends clients in products liability and other litigation, and in government investigations. As a former federal prosecutor with experience across multiple industries and in courts throughout the U.S., he is a go-to resource for his clients' toughest challenges.
Michael brings unique insights and practical guidance from nearly 25 years as a federal prosecutor to his representation of pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and other clients in products liability and class action litigation, federal criminal and civil governmental investigations (including SEC, DOJ, FTC, and other agency investigations), state attorneys general investigations, and civil False Claims Act lawsuits. He regularly handles matters in state and federal courts throughout the U.S., and his experience includes a particularly long trial-to-verdict record in Los Angeles and Philadelphia courts.
Michael's diverse litigation experience includes defending clients in cases involving medical device products liability, the False Claims Act (FCA) and its state analogs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), unfair and deceptive trade practices and false advertising, as well as consumer class action matters. He handles cases in a variety of sectors, including health care, cryptocurrency, and financial services.
Michael is particularly well suited to handle all aspects of internal and government investigations. He spent the last 12 years of his 25-year career as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania — first as assistant U.S. attorney, then as senior investigation counsel in the Economic Crimes Section. Michael draws on this background to handle complex fraud cases from the inception of the investigation through trial; conduct internal investigations for companies in response to whistleblower allegations, allegations of kickbacks, and other corporate misconduct; and deal with DOJ, the SEC, and other federal agencies in connection with responses to grand jury subpoenas and civil investigative demands (CIDs).
Michael has deep experience investigating and prosecuting securities, mortgage, tax, crypto, and PPP fraud, as well as other financial crimes. He regularly interfaced with the SEC, HUD, HHS OIG, IRS CID, and the DOJ Tax Division, as well as DOJ Civil Division attorneys conducting concurrent civil investigations. Michael also provided guidance and strategic advice to federal prosecutors investigating complex frauds in his role as senior investigation counsel.
Michael's experience as both a civil litigation and former federal prosecutor includes both civil and criminal RICO. In fact, his tenure as a federal prosecutor began in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California in Los Angeles, where he spent more than 13 years, during which time he was lead prosecutor on the largest gang prosecution in U.S. history and personally prosecuted more than 100 individuals charged with RICO violations, and played an integral role in multiple capital murder prosecutions.
Michael regularly taught trial advocacy to fellow prosecutors and wrote the book on federal wiretaps, authoring the chapter on wiretaps for the most recent edition of the Federal Narcotics Prosecution Manual published by the U.S. Department of Justice. This publication is relied upon by all federal prosecutors engaged in narcotics prosecutions in the U.S.
Michael has also honed his skills in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) space, and not only counsels clients in this area, but also has published extensively on NIL issues.
Representative matters may include engagements before joining Troutman Pepper.
Speaking Engagements
06.11.24
Higher Education & Healthcare Research Compliance Conference 2024
Speaking Engagements
05.01.24
The Sherman Antitrust Act: The Newest Arrow in the Quiver of Those Waging War on College Sports
Press Coverage
April 2024
Understand Potential Implications of Recent NIL Ruling
Speaking Engagements
04.18.24
ACC Greater Philadelphia In-House Counsel Conference 2024
Articles + Publications
04.03.24
DOJ Shifts Focus to COVID-19 and Medicare Part C False Claims Fraud
Firm Events
04.02.24
The Federal Criminal Law Committee for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, "State AG Investigations: How they Differ from Federal Investigations" - CLE