Michael represents entrepreneurs, startups, and creative professionals in a variety of legal areas, including business law, contracts, venture finance, intellectual property, corporate governance, entertainment law, and commercial litigation. 

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Prior to opening his own practice, Michael clerked in the Southern District of New York for the Honorable William H. Pauley III. He also worked as a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he handled all aspects of regulatory and complex commercial litigation matters.  

 

While in law school, he was a winner of the Ames Moot Court Competition, was awarded best brief in the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, and served as a Technical Editor for the Harvard International Law Journal.  

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Michael engages in substantial non-profit work and currently serves on the board of BUILD NYC, a non-profit that empowers teens to create new products and run their own businesses.

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Representative matters:

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Negotiated terms of startup investment and SAFE note on behalf of angel investor.

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Represented filmmaker in domestic and world-wide distribution for Robin's Wish (#1 documentary on iTunes in 2020).

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Advised podcast producer on shopping agreement for award-winning podcast.

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Drafted design-build terms for innovative and fast-growing full-service landscaping company.

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Formed special purpose investment vehicles for accredited investor groups.

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Registered a variety of trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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Assisted filmmakers with film production agreements, including location agreements, appearance agreements, and crew deal memos.

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Formed LLC and drafted operating agreement for direct-to-consumer, fashion-retail company; amended its operating agreement to add a new member; represented the company during negotiations for various agreements, including drop-shipping agreements and vendor agreements.  

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Represented a venture capital company in capital raise for one of its portfolio companies and in amending the operating agreement for the company. 

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Represented filmmaker in obtaining copyright license and life rights agreement for his film.

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Drafted option/purchase agreement for producer's acquisition of certain literary rights for television and film projects. ​

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Represented mining company in multi-billion dollar SEC enforcement action and related class action lawsuit, including motion practice, witness interviews, and depositions.

 

Drafted operating agreement for a start-up using artificial intelligence to provide business solutions.

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Drafted business broker agreement for the sale of a start-up.  

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Represented several Chinese issuers in various putative securities class actions, successfully opposing a motion to remand under SLUSA and securing multiple dismissals.
 

Reviewed funding agreement for children's education television show to be produced by a non-profit.

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Researched and drafted amicus brief in support of respondents in King v. Burwell and petitioners in Obergefell v. Hodges, before the U.S. Supreme Court.  

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