| Biography:
Michael A. Firestein is a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department and is resident in Proskauer's Los Angeles office. Michael handles a wide range of commercial litigation on behalf of financial institutions, securities brokerages, investment advisors, real estate operating companies and entertainment corporations. Michael also has represented clients in a variety of employment litigation matters, including wrongful termination. Michael's experience also includes entertainment and intellectual property litigation, most recently in the area of unfair competition and "idea theft." Recently, Michael has also participated in representing publicly traded companies requesting internal investigations and representation of those companies before the SEC, NASD, other SROs, and matters being pursued by the Department of Justice. Michael has also represented various individuals in white-collar criminal cases including sentencings under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Michael has tried cases before nearly every kind of tribunal, be it state or federal court and in front of a host of arbitration forums, including AFMA, NASD, AAA, NYSE and others. Michael is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer. In 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Michael was recognized by Los Angeles Magazine as a “Southern California Super Lawyer.”
Michael's clients in various industries have included: The Abbey Company; Far East National Bank; United Pacific Bank; DIC Entertainment; Body by Jake Enterprises; Roxbury Capital Management; Prudential Securities; New World Restaurant Group; R & B Realty; National Broadcasting Company; Telemundo Network; Spectrum Equity Investors; GoPets; the Pivotal Group; NTD Apparel; and a variety of individuals involved in a wide range of business disputes.
Significant matters in which Michael has been involved include being lead litigator
in an internal investigation of a publicly traded company in the food services
industry regarding certain accounting irregularities; lead litigator in an internal
investigation of a broker-dealer involved in a stock loan operation; defense
of a television network in a federal court RICO action concerning the licensing,
airing and cancellation of a program; defense of a financial institution in
nationwide litigation regarding a significant bankruptcy fraud; representation
of a major real estate operating company in connection with a large "finder's
fee" dispute; ongoing representation of broker-dealers and financial advisors
regarding claims brought by clients or investors; representation of a real estate
developer in the sale of commercial property which was claimed to have had a
material defect; extensive defense of numerous financial institutions relating
to intricate operational matters; representation of an entertainment company
regarding the wrongful dishonor of a letter of credit; and ongoing representation
of an entertainment company regarding intellectual property disputes.
Michael is a graduate of Brown University and Northwestern University School
of Law, where he served as the Development Editor for the Northwestern Journal
of International Law & Business. Michael is admitted to the California
Bar and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the
Central, Northern and Southern Districts of California.
Community service is also an important part of Michael's life. Most significantly,
for the last 14 years, Michael has served as a member of the Board of Directors
and the Executive Committee for Concern Foundation for Cancer Research, also
serving as its President from 1994-1996. Michael also serves on the Board of
Directors of Bet Tzedek, a Los Angeles-based provider of pro bono legal services.
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