An experienced first-chair trial attorney and trusted advisor to in-house counsel and senior management, Michael Schissel represents clients in a broad range of complex commercial and business litigation matters, including products liability, securities fraud, consumer class actions, theft of trade secrets, the Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower laws and other employment-related litigation, breach of contract, fraud, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), unfair competition claims, and internal investigations on behalf of domestic and international corporations.
Mr. Schissel has tried bench and jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts, arbitrated successfully before various tribunals, and argued appeals in federal and state appellate courts around the country, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the National Association Of Securities Dealers (NASD), and the American Arbitration Association (AAA).
Mr. Schissel has deep experience in resolving cases through mediation in a wide variety of matters. Courts have also appointed him as a mediator in commercial disputes with him having completed formal mediation and advanced mediation training.
Mr. Schissel maintains an active pro bono practice devoted primarily to representing victims of gun violence. He serves as administrative partner for the firm’s New York office.
Experience
- Eisai Inc. in defending multi-week arbitration in breach of contract action.
- General Electric in defending claims by US Navy personnel related to the Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown.
- Western Digital Corporation in challenging the largest punitive sanction in American history.
- CA Technologies in defending at trial theft of trade secrets and royalties litigations.
- Bank of America in obtaining dismissal of litigation by victims of Ponzi scheme.
- Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in obtaining defense verdict in US$1 billion breach of contract action.
- Zenith Data Systems in obtaining defense verdict in lawsuit concerning unsuccessful sale of business.
- Multiple FORTUNE 30 companies in successful mediations of major business and commercial disputes.
- Motorola in obtaining dismissal of a lawsuit arising from 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Recognition
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Boston University School of Law, 1985
- B.S., Cornell University, 1982
Admissions
- New York
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York