Michael B. de Leeuw focuses his practice on complex litigation, including class actions, multidistrict litigation, and arbitrations. Michael has extensive experience with antitrust litigation, securities litigation, defamation and cases arising out of mergers and acquisitions. Michael also counsels clients on defamation, media and acquisition-related issues.
Recent matters Michael has handled include defending AIG in antitrust cases in a multidistrict litigation, successfully defending Full Tilt Poker and its principals in RICO and consumer class actions filed in multiple jurisdictions in the United States and abroad; winning dismissal for outside directors in a major securities litigation in the Southern District of New York; winning dismissal for individual defendants in false advertising case brought by the FTC; winning dismissals for the United Group of Companies is a series of securities fraud cases in multiple jurisdictions; representing Staples in litigation with the FTC relating to Staples’ proposed merger with Office Depot; and defending the former CFO of a pharmaceutical company in a civil action brought by the SEC.
He has also been counsel of record in multiple U.S. Supreme Court cases, representing parties and amici curiae. Michael is active in bar and civic organizations. He is on the board of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; he served as co-chair of the Antitrust Litigation Committee in the Litigation Section of the ABA; and he is also an elected member and Vice President of the Board of Education in Glen Ridge, N.J.
Michael earned his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law, graduating cum laude and as a member of the order of the coif. He was editor-in-chief of the Rutgers Computer & Technology Law Journal. He received his bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University, majoring in philosophy.
EXPERIENCE :
- In re Calpine. Lead litigation counsel representing the Official Committee of Equity Holders in a valuation trial. Case settled on the courthouse steps, and Calpine’s equity holders received a recovery.
- In re Champion Enterprises, Inc., 09-14019 (KG), Delaware Bankruptcy Court. First chair litigation counsel representing MAK Capital, Champion’s biggest creditor, in an adversary proceeding brought by the creditors committee. After discovery and motion practice, all claims against MAK Capital were dismissed.
- Successfully represented agricultural biotechnology company in an antitrust and RICO litigation in federal court in Alabama.
- Secured dismissal of class action litigation filed against Full Tilt Poker and its principals in Illinois based on an Illinois consumer protection statute. This victory was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
- Currently representing the former executive director of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey in class actions arising out of the “BridgeGate” events in New Jersey. Plaintiffs allege RICO claims in addition to constitutional torts.
- Defeated securities fraud claims against an individual member of the board of directors of a REIT in a class action in the Southern District of New York. Won an early motion to dismiss that removed our client from the case with prejudice.
EDUCATION :
- Rutgers University School of Law—Newark, J.D., cum laude, 1996
- Montclair State University, B.A., 1989
BAR ADMISSIONS : New Jersey; New York
COURT ADMISSIONS :
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court — Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court — New Jersey
- U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court — Southern District of Mississippi
Cost
Rate : $$$