Michael is a member of the Commercial Litigation department and represents clients in complex commercial trial and appellate litigation in both state and federal courts. Michael has defended educational institutions in complex civil rights litigation. Michael also focuses on defending energy companies and organizations in consumer protection lawsuits brought by state attorneys general. Additionally, our private equity clients regularly turn to Michael for guidance on navigating non-competes.
Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Michael clerked at both the trial and appellate level of the federal courts, serving the Honorable George W. Cannon, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Virgin Islands and the Honorable Bernice B. Donald of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Experience
- Representation of a an American multinational technology company in a breach of trust civil litigation before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
- Representation of a student loan servicer in two putative nationwide class actions alleging violations of the bankruptcy discharge injunction with collection of student loans.
- Representation of Clearwater Investment Holdings, LLC and related entities in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of Blackjewel L.L.C. Blackjewel’s bankruptcy case was filed in the summer of 2019 after the debtors abruptly collapsed, leaving over 2,000 miners in Wyoming, Kentucky and West Virginia without their jobs, their benefits, or their final paychecks. A Chapter 11 plan of liquidation was confirmed in 2021. McGuireWoods’ representation includes the defense of Clearwater and its affiliates against a multitude of lawsuits which raise claims of fraudulent transfer, preferential transfer, breach of fiduciary duty, recharacterization, and equitable subordination.
- Representation of an American video game holding company related to high-profile proceedings before the SEC, EEOC, and California DFEH.
- Representation of an estate’s co-executor against allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, surcharge and falsification.
- Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason UniversityJD2013
- University of MarylandBA2008
- Author, Federal Court Upholds Pennsylvania Act 85, Says Cross-Unit Well Didn’t Breach Lease Agreement, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 21, 2024
- Author, Texas Appellate Court: Water Created During Fracking Is Oil and Gas Waste, Not Water, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 21, 2024
- Author, Federal Court Denies Attempt to Enjoin Appeal Before Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 21, 2024
- Author, Ownership of Pore Space and Its Relation to Surface Estate, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 21, 2024
- Author, Compliance Deadlines Approaching: Pipeline Safety Mega Rule, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 21, 2024
- Author, TSA Strengthens Cybersecurity Monitoring for “Critical” Pipelines and LNG Facilities, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 21, 2024
- Author, 11 Key Elements of New EPA Rule Regulating Methane and VOC Emissions, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 21, 2024
- Author, Eleventh Circuit Concludes that Foreign Country’s Equitable Tolling Standards Can Apply in Federal Class Action, Class Action Countermeasures, September 23, 2022
- Author, 3rd Circuit Provides Post-Transunion Guidance on Informational Injuries and Ascertainability, Class Action Countermeasures, September 21, 2022
- Author, Department of Education to Hold Owners and Investors Liable for College and University Liabilities, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 18, 2022
- Author, 9th Circuit Case Reflects Split Judicial Landscape on Intervenors’ Appellate Rights in Class Settlements, Class Action Countermeasures, April 6, 2022
- Author, U.S. Supreme Court: College Board’s “Censure” Does Not Violate First Amendment, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 30, 2022
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- Hon. George W. Cannon Jr., U.S. District Court for the Virgin Islands, 2019-2020
- Hon. Bernice B. Donald, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2020-2021