Biography
Michael is a trial lawyer and a seasoned litigator, with deep experience in employment, professional liability, personal injury and complex contract disputes for both companies and individuals. He’s successfully tried cases in every county in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as the United States District Court, including seven figure results for plaintiffs, and defense verdicts for defendants.
Michael’s experience includes well over 150 litigated employment cases, across a wide spectrum of individual and class claims, including wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, disability, wage and hour, leaves of absence, executive contract claims, trade secret and unfair competition.
Michael has also litigated a broad spectrum of personal injury, professional liability, business torts and contract related matters, including cases involving accountants, lawyers, store detectives, home inspectors, real estate professionals, software and web developers, and insurance brokers.
Michael’s experience gives him a broader perspective on how to effectively and efficiently obtain results that are fair and cost effective. He also uses his experience to regularly counsel clients regarding proper risk and crisis management strategies.
Michael has been recognized by his peers for his expertise and ethics as follows:
- Martindale Hubbell peer rating: AV (very high to preeminent) since 1991
- Northern California SuperLawyer 2008-2015 (top 5% of lawyers)
- Best Lawyers in America 2015
- Avvo 10.0 (superb)
Michael is active with the San Mateo County Bar Association Labor & Employment Section, and previously served as its chair. He also served for five years as an adjunct professor in Employment Law, in the professional studies program at Menlo College.
Adding to his sense of the theatrical, Michael spent much of his youth on the stage, where he met his wife, Candy Cotton (real name). In recent years, Michael has served in leadership roles with Young Life Mid-Peninsula YoungLife, and Central Peninsula Church.
