Practice Focus

Commercial Litigation; Federal Criminal Defense; State Criminal Defense; State and Municipal Tax Litigation; Environmental Litigation

Experience

Michael is a rare trial attorney whose busy practice spans commercial, civil and criminal litigation. With more than 25 years experience, Michael first earned his reputation as one of New Hampshire's premier trial attorneys while heading the Homicide Unit for the New Hampshire Department of Justice. Since entering private practice more than 13 years ago, Michael not only has maintained one of the state's most visible criminal defense practices, but he also regularly represents significant New Hampshire businesses in commercial and civil litigation. Michael's commercial and civil clients include utilities, real estate and other commercial developers, internet development companies, manufacturers, construction companies, and banks. He enjoys representing businesses as well as individuals in varied litigation including complex, commercial disputes; trademark and copyright infringement cases; state and municipal tax abatements and appeals; zoning and planning board appeals; environmental contamination matters; employment related claims; wrongful death and personal injury actions; and administrative and regulatory permit related matters. Michael's criminal defense caseload includes federal crimes, particularly white-collar crimes, and state felonies and misdemeanors, including homicide and other violent crimes, white-collar crimes, and D.W.I.

Michael's commercial and civil experience includes:

• Managed and actively handled a majority of the administrative, regulatory, and condemnation litigation in New Hampshire for an international natural gas pipeline.
• Overturned an award of a significant state contract for an internet healthcare services provider.
• Defended a latex glove manufacturer in a products liability and breach of warranty case.
• Secured the dismissal of defamation and invasion of privacy claims brought against a former public official.
• Secured a multi-million dollar tax abatement for a hydro-electric electricity facility.
• Obtained one of the largest pollution control exemptions in New Hampshire history for a merchant electricity generation facility.
• Defended a major financial institution in a class action.
• Prosecuted a complex intellectual property claim pursued under the New Hampshire Uniform Trade Secrets Act.

Michael's significant criminal defense clients have included:

• The architect of the largest Ponzi scheme in New Hampshire history.
• An officer of one of New Hampshire's largest businesses in a securities fraud trial.
• A former New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice during a New Hampshire Department of Justice criminal investigation that ended with no criminal charges.
• A former Rockingham County Sheriff during a New Hampshire Department of Justice criminal investigation that ended with no criminal charges.
• One of New Hampshire's largest employers during a two year United States Department of Justice investigation that ended with no criminal or civil charges.

Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation
• Criminal Defense
• Employment
• Energy and Environmental
• Intellectual Property and Technology
• Land Use
• Litigation
• Tax Abatement & Tax Exemption
• Telecommunications

Professional Activities

Vice-Chair, New Hampshire Bar Association Business Litigation Section

Member, Criminal Justice Act Panel Selection Committee for the District of New Hampshire

Member, National and New Hampshire Associations of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Honors and Distinctions

BV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

“Tenacious Defender – Civil Law,” New Hampshire Bar Association & New Hampshire Magazine

Community Involvement

Member, United States District Court Criminal Justice Act Attorney Selection Panel

Semi-annual capital punishment presentation, Hopkinton Middle High School civics class

Bar Admissions

Michael is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire and the courts of the State of New Hampshire.

Education

New York Law School, J.D., 1985

Central Connecticut State University, B.A., 1983