Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of Charles Michael as a partner in the Complex Commercial Disputes Group. Based in the firm’s New York office, Mr. Michael will primarily focus on commercial litigation matters as well as regulatory and criminal investigations.

Mr. Michael has successfully handled a wide range of commercial litigation matters. He has obtained favorable settlements and dismissals on behalf of clients accused of securities fraud, intellectual property infringement, antitrust violations, wrongful termination and breach of contract. He has represented clients bringing claims for breach of fiduciary duty, trademark infringement and professional malpractice. Mr. Michael was recently part of the trial team that obtained a complete victory after a bench trial of a $120 million suit relating to a collateralized debt obligation transaction. He also secured a preliminary injunction preserving a medical practice’s contractual option to buy the company supplying the practice’s non-medical support staff, and won an appellate decision reversing the trial court and dismissing a $200 million fraud and alter ego suit against a private equity firm. More >>

Cooley is further bolstering its New York corporate practice with the addition of partner Joshua Kaufman. Kaufman joins Cooley from the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. As a member of the business & finance practice, he will advise on capital markets and other corporate work.

A former Lehman Brothers investment banker, Kaufman focuses his legal practice on equity and debt capital markets work, representing US and foreign private issuers as well as underwriters across a wide array of complex transactions. He also advises public companies on other significant transactions and provides counsel on matters of corporate law and governance, federal securities law, public reporting requirements and exchange regulations. More >>