Michael Birnbaum is co-head of Morrison Foerster’s New York Litigation Department and a partner in the firm's Securities Litigation, Securities Enforcement, and Investigations + White Collar Defense groups.

Michael defends and pursues claims on behalf of clients across a range of areas. Specifically, he leverages his experience as former senior trial counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to provide unique insights to U.S. and global financial institutions, including commercial and investment banks, audit and accounting firms, investment advisers, broker-dealers, and securities issuers facing internal and government investigations, regulatory enforcement proceedings, and private civil litigation.

Michael’s combination of public and private experience enables him to assist clients in navigating complex regulatory landscapes while often simultaneously engaging in private litigation, and to find ways to efficiently drive results on multiple fronts. Recent representations include disputes involving cryptocurrency investments and related platforms, deal-related litigation, investigations focusing on the conduct of broker-dealers and crowdfunding entities, and contested bankruptcy proceedings litigated in federal courts.

A seasoned trial attorney, Michael has obtained significant results—including at trial—in matters in involving investment funds and other financial institutions concerning allegations of fraudulent securities offerings and registration violations, as well as supervisory failures related to the sale of securities. He has also achieved landmark settlements in advance of trial, including on behalf of Farmland Partners, Inc. in connection with their being the target of a short-and-distort attack arising from a defamatory article that drove down the company’s stock price by 39% in one day. As a result, Michael was recognized in The American Lawyer Litigation Daily’s “Litigators of the Week” feature, which highlights lawyers for breakthrough achievements in the nation’s most complex, highest-profile cases. He has also been recommended by leading legal rankings publications, including by The Legal 500 US in the “Securities Litigation: Defense” category.

Michael is a thought leader in the securities litigation and securities enforcement space who speaks regularly on panels at major conferences, such as Practising Law Institute (PLI) and Securities Enforcement Forum-East, publishes articles relating to trending topics in these areas, and serves on the editorial board of Wall Street Lawyer.

Before Morrison Foerster, Michael served in the SEC for 11 years, most recently as senior trial counsel, which informs his extensive experience overseeing securities litigation before federal and administrative courts. Throughout his tenure at the SEC, Michael worked closely with SEC investigative units, including the Asset Management Unit, the Market Abuse Unit, and the Complex Financial Instruments Unit, as well as with attorneys at various U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and foreign securities regulators on securities-related investigations and prosecutions.

Selective Significant Representations

Farmland Partners, Inc.

• Achieved a landmark settlement for Farmland Partners Inc. (FPI), a publicly traded farmland REIT, in a “short-and-distort” case that was prompted by a defamatory article that drove down FPI’s stock price by 39% in one day. The previously anonymous author, who wrote under the alias “Rota Fortunae,” and his clients utilized the scheme to profit from their short positions. As part of the settlement, the author acknowledged publicly that his article was full of false statements, and made a payment that was multiples of the profits he made off the scheme. Meanwhile, FPI prevailed on its defense of a class action accusing the company and principals of securities fraud.

A Major Pharmaceutical Company

• Successfully convinced SEC not to pursue an action against pharmaceutical company following investigation into the company’s FDA-related disclosures.

Unsecured Creditors’ Committees in Bankruptcy Proceedings

• Led investigations and drove favorable settlements in matters including Clovis Oncology, Inc. (D. Del.) and Wesco Aircraft Holdings, Inc. (S.D. Tex.) (pending approval).

A Multinational Electronics Company

• Representation in an SEC FCPA investigation involving conduct in Latin America related to a business relationship with a company that was subsequently involved in a government corruption scandal.

Investors in Cryptocurrency

• Advise clients regarding litigation and regulatory investigations in connection with initial coin offerings and related transactions.

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs)

• Represent SPACs, sponsors, and other investors in SEC investigations regarding various SPACs’ initial public offerings and de-SPAC transactions, and counsel clients engaging in such transactions regarding regulatory and litigation risks.

Leading Crowdfunding Entity

• Representation in providing compliance advice and counsel in connection with FINRA inquiries arising from alleged unregistered securities offerings and disclosure issues.

An International Broker-Dealer

• Representation in responding to FINRA and SEC inquiries related to the treatment of domestic and international client accounts.