Education

• J.D., Boston University, 1990
• B.A., State University of New York at Albany, 1987 (Magna Cum Laude)
• New York State Full Regents Scholarship

United States Senate

• Senatorial Intern for United States Senator Alphonse D’Amato R-NY 1986-1987

United States Presidential Primary

• Campaign Assistant for United States Senator Bob Dole R-KS 1987

Admitted

• California, 1990
• United States District Court Central District of California, 1991
• United States District Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1992
• United States District Court Southern District of California, 1996
• United States District Court Northern District of California, 1996
• Supreme Court of the United States, 2009

Work History

• Partner – Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP (1999 to present);
• Associate/Partner – Daniels, Baratta & Fine (1990 to 1999).

Memberships, Awards & Honors

• State Bar of California
• Association of Southern California Defense Counsel: LA County Board of Directors 2000-2012
• Association of Southern California Defense Counsel: Secretary-Treasurer 2012
• Association of Southern California Defense Counsel: Vice President 2013
• Association of Southern California Defense Counsel: President Elect 2014
• Association of Southern California Defense Counsel: President 2015
• CDC California Defense Counsel – Vice President 2017
• CDC California Defense Counsel – President 2018
• Los Angeles Superior Court Advisory Committee
• Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada: Annual Seminar Presenter & Speaker
• ABOTA American Board of Trial Advocates-Admitted October 2001: Rank ADVOCATE
• ABOTA Masters in Trial: Sacramento Valley Chapter
• ABOTA Masters in Trial: Los Angeles Chapter
• ABOTA: Los Angeles Chapter Executive Committee
• ABOTA: Jack Daniels’ ABOTA Trial School – Course Director
• Loyola Law School: Trial Advocacy Guest Lecturer
• Loyola Law School: ABOTA Civility Lecturer
• UCLA Mentor: The LEAP Foundation-Leadership Excellence Accelerating Potential
• CAALA Las Vegas Convention Presenter-Jury Trials From The Defense Perspective
• Los Angeles County Bar Association – Judicial Appointments Committee
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating
• California Super Lawyers
• LA ABOTA Vice-President 2019
• LA ABOTA President 2020
• Italian American Lawyers Association

Areas of Practice

Litigation and Jury Trials in Defense of Commercial Properties, Music Venues, Commercial Transportation, Catastrophic Personal Injury, Catastrophic Automobile Liability, Wrongful Death, Product Liability, Libel, Slander and Defamation as well as Matters Involving Business, Music and Real Estate Disputes.

Summary

While in college, Michael was president of his fraternity and was appointed as a senatorial intern for United States Senator Alfonse D’Amato from 1986-1987. Michael joined Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP as a law clerk in 1989 and became a partner in the firm. Michael’s practice focuses upon resolution of cases via jury trial. He specializes in civil litigation. Twenty percent of his practice stems from substituting into actions previously handled by other counsel for purposes of seeing a matter through jury trial. The majority of his currently pending matters involve premises liability including but not limited to claims of inadequate security and lighting, unsafe premises, dangerous premises conditions, third party criminal conduct, assault and battery and intentional torts all resulting in a wide range of alleged catastrophic injuries.

Michael handles matters involving catastrophic automobile, wrongful termination, products liability, sexual harassment and discrimination, libel, slander and defamation, real estate and property litigation, business litigation and music litigation. Michael represents individuals, local shopping centers, strip malls, educational institutions, bars, nightclubs, commercial and residential apartment complexes, municipalities, trucking companies, public entities, parking facilities, musicians, rock bands, promoters and security guards as well as many businesses throughout Southern California.

Michael lectures and teaches continuing education courses for young lawyers and paralegals with an emphasis upon the rules of evidence and trial advocacy. Michael is also a faculty member of the ABOTA Trial School teaching young lawyers how to present cases before a jury. Michael has presented voir dire techniques to the joint memberships of CAALA and ASCDC as well as ABOTA and he is a faculty participant at the Loyola Law School Champions of Justice Program. Michael is also a presenter at the California State Bar Litigation Section – Best of the Best Trial Practices – Program.

Interests

Weightlifting at Gold’s Gym and supporting the Raider Nation.

Cases & Articles

• Los Angeles Daily Journal 12/23/15: Litigator Pumps Iron, Outlasts Opponents
• The Recorder: The Wall Street Journal June, 2015: California’s Top Ranked Law Firms
• Verdict Vol 2 2015: President’s Message – Manners Maketh Man
• Verdict Vol 1 2015: Schonbuch & Newt Gingrich
• Verdict Vol 1 2014: Schonbuch Cover
• Jury Trial Coverage March 2012: Channel 10 News San Diego
• Verdicts 2004: Defending Southern California Nightlife
• Verdicts 2002: The Gambler
• Verdicts 2002: Kiss Off
• L.A. Daily Journal 2002: Trend Against Owner Liability for Attacks Continues
• California Law Business 2001: Hollywood
• Verdicts 2001: Ha!-The Viper Room
• Consumer Attorneys: Letter of Appreciation
• Morris v. De La Torre 36 Cal. 4th 260 (2005)
• Lopez v. Baca 98 Cal. App. 4th 1008 (2002)