Overview

Michael is a member of the firm’s litigation group. His practice involves assisting clients in a wide range of civil matters, including but not limited to disputes pertaining to complex and business litigation, health care, employment discrimination, land use, intellectual property, as well as insurance coverage and defense.  Michael regularly represents clients in myriad industries in both state and federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  He has successfully guided clients through all stages of civil litigation.

Prior to joining AP&S, Michael worked in North Carolina for an international law firm. While in law school, Michael served as the President of the Mock Trial Board, Interscholastic Coordinator for the Moot Court Board, and Articles Editor for the Duke Journal of Gender Law and Policy. Michael also externed for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and volunteered as a co-chair of Duke Law’s Southern Justice Spring Break program.

As an undergraduate, Michael was a mock trial national champion.  He also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Bennett R. Gallo (ret.) in Rhode Island Superior Court.

Michael is the head coach of Brown University’s nationally ranked trial advocacy team, and serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the American Mock Trial Association.  He also serves on the Finance Committee for Rhode Island Humanities.

Experience

  • Michael and his colleagues successfully defended a Fortune 500 company in a $50 million federal civil action alleging wrongful use of civil proceedings, resulting in a complete defense verdict following a two-week jury trial.
  • Michael and other members of AP&S’s litigation team successfully defended a global market leader in secure economic transactions in federal civil action alleging breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, and unfair trade practices, resulting in bench trial decision in which the plaintiffs recovered zero dollars of the $75 million claimed damages.
  • Michael successfully defended the largest cosmetology school network in United States in negligence action that resulted in dismissal of all claims with prejudice.
  • Michael and his colleagues successfully defended a Fortune 500 company in federal civil action alleging hostile work environment, quid pro quo harassment, and retaliation, resulting in a complete defense verdict following a two-week jury trial.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael successfully appealed a national health care insurer’s decision to deny a physician’s recredentialing application, resulting in the reversal of that decision and restoring for patients insured under that network the ability to receive quality healthcare.
  • For four years, Michael and other members of AP&S’s litigation team defended the legality of the State of Rhode Island’s tolling program against a dormant Commerce Clause challenge by the American Trucking Association. Most recently, the First Circuit Court of Appeals held that a modified version of the program is constitutional.
  • Michael successfully defended a Fortune 100 company in seven-figure civil action alleging tort claims resulting in permanent bodily injury.
  • Michael and his colleagues represented natural gas power developers and entities in permitting and transactional matters associated with a $350 million sale of a 550-megawatt combined cycle natural gas power plant and a $315 million sale of a 279 megawatt combined cycle natural gas power plant in New England.
  • Michael and his colleagues successfully defended a major health care insurer in a federal civil action alleging tort claims and an antitrust conspiracy to prevent an out-of-state hospital system from entering Rhode Island.
  • Michael regularly defends insurance companies in civil actions alleging catastrophic injury.

Credentials

  • Duke Law School (J.D., 2015)
  • Duke University (B.A., cum laude, 2012)

  • Rhode Island
  • Massachusetts
  • North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina

  • Selected as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2021 – 2025 in the field of Commercial Litigation.
  • National Champion and All-American, American Mock Trial Association.
  • Alan and Susan B. Mansfield Scholarship, Duke Law School
  • Interscholastic Coordinator, Duke Law Moot Court Board.
  • Articles Editor, Duke Journal of Gender Law and Policy.
  • Recognition for pro bono distinction from Duke Law School.
  • Champion, Twiggs-Beskind Cup
  • Champion, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton Tournament

  • Member, Federal Bar Association
  • Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
  • Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Member, North Carolina Bar Association

  • Member, Duke Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee
  • Secretary, American Mock Trial Association
  • Finance Committee Member, Rhode Island Humanities
  • Head Coach, Brown University Mock Trial