Michael's practice focuses exclusively on white collar criminal defense and complex business litigation. As the former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, he has years of grand jury and litigation experience in federal court and regularly litigates and negotiates global settlements of criminal, civil and regulatory matters on behalf of corporations and businesses throughout the United States. 

Bar Admissions

Ohio

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

U.S. Tax Court

Education

• Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law (J.D., 1978)
• United States Naval Academy (B.S., 1970)

• Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
• Best Lawyers^®
  • "Lawyer of the Year" Columbus, Ohio Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2024)
  • "Lawyer of the Year" Columbus, Ohio Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2019)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2024)
  • Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (2024)
• Chambers USA^® Litigation: White Collar Crime and Government Investigations (2023)
• Ohio Super Lawyers^®, White Collar Criminal Defense
• Top Lawyers, Columbus CEO Magazine
• Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame
• Public Policy Leadership Award, Ohio Supreme Court
• Ohio School Board Association Award
• University of Rio Grande, Masters Degree of Public Service (Honorary)

• Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Committee, Southern District of Ohio, past member
  • Appointed by chief judge
• Congressman Pat Tiberi Service Academy Nominations Board, past member
• Congressman Mike Carey, Service Academy Nominations Board, current member
• Federal Bar Association
  • Past president, Dayton Chapter
• Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 50 Memorial Fund
  • Lancaster, Ohio, Board of Trustees
• Greater Powell Veterans Memorial Foundation, founder, past chair
• Lancaster - Fairfield Community Action Agency, Board of Directors, current vice chair
• Ohio Board of Building Appeals, past chair
  • Appointed by Governor Bob Taft
• Ohio Elections Commission, past chair
  • Appointed by Governor John Kasich
• The Ohio State University Michael Moritz College of Law
  • Adjunct Professor
• Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation, Board of Trustees, past member
• Olentangy Board of Education, past elected member, past president
• Olentangy Rotary Club, co-founder, Board of Trustees, past member
• City of Powell 
  • Past elected city council member
  • Charter Review Commission, past chair
  • Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, past chair
• United States Attorney, Southern District of Ohio
  • Administrations of President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush
  • U.S. Attorney General Advisory Committee on International Affairs, past chair
  • Head of United States Delegation to the Council of Europe, International Money Laundering
• United States Senator Rob Portman, Service Academy Nominations Board, past chair
• United States Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown Bipartisan Judicial Advisory Board
• United States Senators George Voinovich and Mike DeWine Service Academy Nominations Board, past chair
• United States Senator Rob Portman United States Attorney Screening Committee, past chair
• The United States Naval Academy Information Program, past area coordinator
• United States Navy
  • Captain USN (Retired)
  • Vietnam Veteran
• University of Rio Grande 
  • Board of Trustees, past member
  • Executive Committee, past member
• The Wellington School
  • Board of Trustees 
  • Board of Trustees, past secretary
  • Executive Committee