Profile
A founding shareholder of Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney, Michael brings significant experience as an accomplished trial lawyer. In 2016, CAL-ABOTA (the California chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates) elected him as “Trial Lawyer of the Year,” considered the most prestigious award that a California trial lawyer can receive. In 2021, he was honored by SF ABOTA with the Don E. Bailey Civility & Professionalism Award. He has been a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers since 2006.
Michael handles complex business litigation and civil litigation, with particular emphasis on professional and fiduciary malpractice, and the defense of catastrophic injury cases. He has tried more than 45 cases to jury verdict. Recognized by the California State Bar as a Certified Specialist in Legal Malpractice law, he is highly respected by his peers in the legal profession and is regularly called on to represent some of the best lawyers and firms in California, as well as a wide variety of other clients whose interests require courtroom excellence. He also serves as national trial counsel for a major mass tort defendant.
In addition to his litigation practice, Michael has represented clients in a variety of business transactional matters, ranging from the representation of founders in their corporate initial public offering to providing legal counseling in multimillion dollar business purchases; including golf courses, software ventures, hotels and power plants.
Experience
- Represented professional options trader against a giant brokerage, recovering $4 million in a FINRA arbitration
- Represented an Academy Award winning sound studio, obtaining an eight figure judgment against its insurer
- Has tried over 45 cases to jury verdicts in personal injury to legal malpractice and complex business disputes
- Recovered over $40 million for the minority owner of a California wine company against the majority owner
- Served as managing shareholder of MPBF for 25 years
- Has served as national trial counsel for a major mass tort defendant for 30 years
- Has served on numerous boards of directors, charitable and for profit organizations
Recognitions
- SF ABOTA, Don E. Bailey Civility & Professionalism Award, 2021
- CALABOTA, Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2016
- American College of Trial Lawyers since 2006
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys, Lifetime Achievement Membership, 2016
- AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
- California State Bar, Certified Specialist in Legal Malpractice
- Selected for inclusion in Northern California Super Lawyers magazine since inception
- Overall Winner- Hastings Moot Court Competition
Affiliations
- California Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (CAL-ABOTA)
- President, 2016
- San Francisco Chapter American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- President, 2011
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow
- San Francisco Superior Court Mandatory Settlement Conference Program
- Judicial Officer
- San Francisco Women’s Rehabilitation Foundation
- Board of Trustees, Member
- Past president
- Marine Corps Military Academy, Harlingen, Texas
- Board of Trustees
- The Guardsmen of San Francisco
- Board of Directors, Life Member
- California State Bar
- Committee on Professional Liability insurance, former Vice Chair
Education
J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law – Order of the Coif
B.A., University of New Hampshire, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa