McDermott Will & Schulte, a global law firm

Michael’s clients include some of the world’s most profitable corporations, financial institutions, consumer brands, manufacturers, advertising agencies, and media companies navigating sensitive, high-stakes disputes. He represents and advises corporations such as the Publicis Groupe and its agencies – Tract Capital, KeyBank, Saks Global, and Revlon – on matters spanning contract, securities and derivatives, commercial real estate, bankruptcy, fraud, privacy, data center development rights, hard and soft intellectual property issues, indemnification, and rights of publicity disputes.

A frequent thought leader, Michael has written several articles and chapters on litigation strategy, investigations, privilege and work product, class actions, and corporate governance. He has also taught a course on civil trial practice as a senior lecturing fellow at Duke University School of Law every spring semester for more than 15 years.

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• Successfully defended Toys “R” Us in one of the largest multidistrict consumer class actions ever brought, twice defeating certification and ultimately resolving suits by settlement to recover statutory damages for more than 16 million claims in alleged violation of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act*
• Negotiated a global settlement with all 50 states and six US territories resolving an investigation into pharmaceutical marketing practices, including related insurance issues*
• Obtained dismissal of a nationwide class action opioid claims brought by school districts and third-party payors*
• Defeated claims against KeyBank Real Estate Capital in litigation over servicing a $3.9 billion pool of loans arising from the default of the mortgage on The Bryant Park Hotel, which was affirmed by an appellate court*
• Defended the City of Chicago in a two-month trial challenging the largest public works project in the US at the time, successfully vindicating the city’s procurement process and disposing of all challenges to the city’s award of the contract*
• Successfully defended Archer Daniels Midland Corporation directors through criminal and civil litigation following a raid by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the company’s headquarters, including negotiating a groundbreaking settlement affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States*
• Obtained dismissal of a major financial institution against claims arising from servicing mortgage pools exceeding $4 billion, which was affirmed on appeal*
• Obtained dismissal of the former head of a business unit of a publicly traded company from securities class actions in New York alleging financial misrepresentations and breach of fiduciary duty*
• Obtained dismissal of securities class action claims against the largest investor in a public company asserting failure to disclose fully both the nature of the investor’s interests and his preferred position over other investors*
• Successfully defended antitrust, copyright, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act claims against the board of a standard-setting body and its related entities for alleged exclusionary and predatory conduct*

*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott Will & Schulte.

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• Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2010-2026
• BTI Consulting Group, Client Service All-Star, 2020
• Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes, 2020
• Legal 500 US, Litigation: Commercial Litigation, 2016-2017
• National Law Journal, Trailblazers in Litigation, 2016
• Law360, Inaugural Trial Ace, 2015
• Super Lawyers, Illinois, Business Litigation, 2005-2023
• Leading Lawyers, Commercial Litigation, 2019-2023
• International Law Office (Lexology), Top Illinois Litigator Client Choice Award, 2013

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• American Bar Association, member
• American Bar Foundation, fellow
• Duke University School of Law Board of Visitors, former chair
• Duke University School of Law Alumni Association, former president

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