Dispute Resolution Experience

 

In nearly 35 years of law practice, Michael has focused on complex, high stakes cases both in federal and state courts and in arbitration.

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Recent representative cases include:

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• Represented Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as lead trial counsel in a state-wide litigation, arising from school mask mandates in Florida’s public schools.​

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• Served as lead trial counsel in an arbitration matter adjudicated in the American Arbitration Association on behalf of a Class 1 railroad company asserting breach of contract claims against one of the country’s largest coal mining and coal shipping firms.

 

• Served as lead trial counsel in an arbitration matter adjudicated in the International Centre for Dispute Resolution on behalf of an Israeli high tech firm asserting breach of contract and business tort claims against a manufacturer of mobile phone components.

 

• Served as co-counsel in an arbitration matter adjudicated in the American Arbitration Association on behalf of one of the country’s largest intermodal companies asserting breach of contract claims against a Class 1 railroad.

 

• Acted as co-counsel in a U.S. federal court action on behalf of Florida’s largest health insurance firm which had asserted claims against one of the country’s largest providers of dialysis services.

 

• Acted as co-counsel in a U.S. federal court action on behalf of one of the leading providers of wireless communications services.

 

• Acted as lead trial counsel in executive employment matters pending in U.S. federal court, including on behalf of a senior executive asserting claims for age discrimination, and on behalf of another senior executive defending claims for alleged violations of restrictive covenants.

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Business/Commercial Litigation

 

Represents numerous and diverse companies and industries in all aspects of commercial litigation. This includes includes breach of contract, breach of warranty and business tort claims, injunctions, declaratory judgment actions, as well as claims arising out of fraud allegations and other intentional torts.

 

Surface Transportation

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Represents all classes of railroads, intermodal companies, logistics firms, brokers, motor carriers and ocean shipping lines in virtually all aspects of transportation litigation and transportation-based commercial disputes. This includes numerous disputes and claims arising out of intermodal agreements, tariffs, transportation contracts (shippers), intermodal contracts, railroad agreements (interchange, trackage and overhead rights; sidetracks, interlocking agreements; joint facilities agreements; rights-of-entry), operating agreements, agreements with freight and passenger carriers (Amtrak, commuter carriers), freight loss and damage (Carmack claims), personal injury and wrongful death, and federal regulatory issues. 

 

Corporate Litigation 

 

Numerous disputes arising out of business entity governance, shareholder actions, derivative actions, corporate dissolution, merger and acquisition claims, and disputes involving limited liability companies and partnerships.

 

Real Estate Litigation

 

Represents developers, purchasers, title insurers, lenders, home constructors, landlords and tenants in disputes concerning real estate purchases, residential/commercial property development, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, insured title claims and title issues and mortgage fraud.

 

Employment Law

 

Michael has had a balanced employment law practice representing both employees and employers, including:

 

• Representation of executives and senior-level employees related to employment agreements, non-compete agreements, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, and severance agreements. This includes all aspects of the executive employment relationship, including serving as trial counsel in disputes, claims or litigation arising from these agreements.

 

• Representation of employers regarding wide-ranging employment law matters, including: employment contracts, severance agreements, employee discipline, restrictive covenants and enforcement, and HR policies. This also includes counseling corporate clients regarding retaliation and whistleblower claims.

 

• Representation of employers in connection with numerous internal investigations related to employee wrongdoing including harassment/bullying, fraud, misappropriation of company assets, violations of federal law/regulations, safety issues, regulatory reporting violations, and federal qui tam claims. This includes matters involving the following federal agencies – Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, FEMA, Office of the United States Attorney, and the FBI.

 

• Representation of employers and employees in litigation involving restrictive covenants, contract-based claims related to compensation and bonuses, and statutory claims arising under the FMLA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII (race and religion claims), and retaliation.