Michael practices in the area of intellectual property litigation, especially complex patent matters and trade-secret cases. His cases have covered a variety of technologies, including smartphones, computers, software, telecommunications, and secure computing.
Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. He worked as a drilling engineer with ExxonMobil on international oil and gas wells throughout the world, including Southeast Asia and Central Africa, before becoming an attorney. He also served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise and operated nuclear power plants. Michael’s extensive experience in hands-on drilling and engineering enterprises gives him a keen understanding of the intellectual property, patent and regulatory issues that present themselves in litigation in these industries. He is skilled in directing these legal matters in a way that appropriately addresses disputes and potential disputes against these industries in an efficient and effective way.
Michael also has always had an active pro bono work practice. His current pro bono practice focuses on immigration, including successfully representing immigration and asylum cases in jury trials in often-hostile courts. He also works pro bono with small startups to help them register and protect their intellectual property.
Representative Matters
Represented a mobile network telecommunications corporation in patent litigation involving 12 patents relating to voice over packet technology in the District Court of Kansas and the District Court of Delaware.
Represented a computing and digital rights management company in its ongoing effort to enforce its patents related to data security and digital rights management.
Represented a statutory patent trust both at trial and on appeal in its effort to enforce fundamental patents related to video compression technology.
Represented a global telecommunications company before the International Trade Commission (ITC) in a patent dispute seeking to enforce patents related to digital content transmission technology.
Represented a global entertainment company in a months-long copyright and trade secret misappropriation jury trial.
Presentations
Promoting Equality: Examining Pro Bono Power in Civil Rights, Immigration and Racial Justice, Houston Young Lawyers Association, August 15, 2023.
Intellectual Property Law, Houston Northwest Bar Association, May 17, 2023.
Basics of Intellectual Property Law, Society of Petroleum Engineers CE, Houston, Texas, August 29, 2018.
Intellectual Property Law for Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers CE, Houston, Texas, April 26, 2018.
Patents and Trade Secrets, Society of Petroleum Engineers CE, Houston, Texas, January 24, 2018.
Legal and Regulatory Issues Regarding Hydraulic Fracturing, Petroleum ETC Frac School, San Antonio, Texas, June 7, 2017.
Current Regulatory Issues Regarding Hydraulic Fracturing, Keynote Speaker at Society of Petroleum Engineers Hydraulic Fracturing Technical Conference 2017, The Woodlands, Texas, January 25, 2017.
Basics of Intellectual Property Law, Society of Petroleum Engineers continuing education session, Houston, Texas, January 17, 2017.
Legal and Regulatory Issues Affecting Hydraulic Fracturing, Petroleum ETC Frac School, Houston, Texas, June 14, 2016.
Publications
Colonial Pipeline 2021 Ransomware Incident and Responses, Oil and Gas E-Report, Institute for Energy Law, The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), December 2022.
Current Regulatory Issues Regarding Hydraulic Fracturing, Society of Petroleum Engineers Paper SPE-184859-MS, January 25, 2017 (with Nicholas Deutsch and Melissa Marrero).
Media
UHLC alumni at Shook law firm win asylum case for mother fleeing gender-based violence, University of Houston Law Center, August 7, 2023.