Michael Schonbuch

SENIOR PARTNER

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

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 – Admitted 1990
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel: Los Angeles 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
  • Los Angeles Superior Court Advisory Committee
  • Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada: Annual Seminar Presenter & Speaker
  • ABOTA Masters in Trial: Sacramento Valley Chapter
  • ABOTA Masters in Trial: Los Angeles Chapter
  • ABOTA: Los Angeles Chapter Executive Committee
  • Loyola Law School: Trial Advocacy Guest Lecturer
  • Loyola Law School: ABOTA Civility Lecturer
  • Pepperdine 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-1999 to Present
  • Italian American Lawyers Association
  • ABOTA American Board of Trial Advocates-Admitted October 2001 – Rank Advocate
  • CDC – California Defense Counsel – Vice President 2017
  • CDC – California Defense Counsel – President 2018
  • Los Angeles ABOTA – Vice President 2019
  • Los Angeles ABOTA – President 2020-2021
  • Featured Presenter of Voir Dire Techniques on LASC Website
  • Fellow-American College of Trial Lawyers
  • 2022 Recipient – Lee B. Wenzel ABOTA Civility Award

Areas of Practice

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

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. After Law School, Michael joined Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP and became a partner in 1997. Michael’s practice focuses upon resolution of cases via jury trial. He specializes in civil litigation. Twenty Five percent of his practice stems from substituting into actions previously handled by other counsel for purposes of seeing a matter through jury trial.

Michael handles matters involving the most serious catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death as well as 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 the Course Director of the Jack Daniels 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 and a frequent speaker at CAALA Las Vegas, The ASCDC Annual Seminar, Law Schools around Southern California and The ABOTA Masters In Trial Program.

Interests

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

CONTACT DETAILS

1801 Century Park East, 9th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

16030 Ventura Blvd, Suite 490

Encino, CA 91436

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