Michael Friedman

Experience

Over forty years as an attorney practicing in corporate, business, commercial, international and real property law, in both large and small firm environments. Approximately 80% of the practice is transactional involving amounts from $2 million to $100 million and is currently allocated approximately 75% corporate and commercial, 10% real estate and 15% international. Recent practice is predominately representing domestic and foreign high net worth individuals and their business ventures in the U.S. and abroad. Diverse experience in: structuring, negotiating and drafting equity and debt transactions, acquisitions, mergers, sales and/or acquisitions of assets, trademark licensing, employment contracts, shareholder agreements, limited liability company operating agreements, loan agreements, venture capital transactions, leveraged buyouts, securities law compliance and real estate ventures, general representation of closely held business enterprises and their principals. Significant experience in international commercial and corporate and real estate transactions.

Work History

Counsel to Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP 2020 - present; Sole practitioner and Counsel to Shiboleth LLP ( formerly, Shiboleth, Yisraeli, Roberts & Zisman, L.L. P.), 1996-2019; General Counsel, United States Power Squadrons 2017-present; Solo practice and Counsel, Yerushalmi, Shiboleth, Yisraeli & Roberts, 1988-96; Associate, Certilman, Haft, Balin, Buckley, Kremer & Hyman, 1986-88; Associate, Mayer, Brown & Platt, 1985-86; Associate, Cahill, Gordon & Reindel, 1977-85; Associate, Yahng & Roles (now Baker & McKenzie) Taipei, Taiwan, 1974-77.

Cases

Arbitrator (sole arbitrator, member of 3-person panel or chairman of panel) in over 150 matters since 1991. The parties have included individuals, law and accounting firms, architects and contractors, insurance companies, hedge funds, broker dealers, investment advisors, public utilities, advertising agencies, franchisors and franchisees and other public and privately held businesses. Disputes have ranged from the straight forward, involving relatively modest sums, to complicated multiparty disputes involving tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. Matters varied from procedurally simple to complex multi-party proceedings. The subject matter of the disputes included acquisitions, shareholder agreements, franchise agreements, professional partnership arrangements, employment and ’golden parachute’ arrangements, customer disputes with securities brokers and investment advisors, insurance coverage, personal service contracts of professional athletes, professional malpractice and international trade investment and real estate transactions.

Training

AAA ACE 19 Case Finances: What Arbitrators Need to Know, 2019; Resolution Training Performance and Demeanor ~ Meeting Participant Expectations, 2018; CCA 17th Annual Meeting, 2017; AAA Principled Deliberations DecisionMaking Skills for Arbitrators (ACE008), 2017; AAA eDiscovery - Arbitration in a Digital World (ACE012), 2016; AAA Exercising Arbitrator Discretion: A Look at Some Best Practices (ACE011), 2015; AAA self-paced, Writing Arbitration Awards ~ A Guide for Arbitrators, 2014; AAA webinar, Writing Arbitration Awards: A Guide for Arbitrators, 2014; AAA Dealing With Delay Tactics in Arbitration (ACE004), 2013; College of Commercial Arbitrators Annual Meeting, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008; AAA Chairing an Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedures, Process & Dynamics (ACE005), 2010, 2005; ICDR International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation, 2007; AAA Arbitrator Ethics & Disclosure (ACE003), 2006; Attended AAA Neutrals Conference, 2005, 2003; AAA Dealing with Delay Tactics in Arbitration (ACE004), 2005; AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards (ACE001), 2003; AAA Arbitrator Update 2003; AAA Commercial Arbitrator II Training: Advanced Case Management Issues, 2001; AAA Commercial Arbitrator Training, 1999; AAA Securities Arbitrator Training, 1993; AAA Advanced Arbitrator Training, 1992.

License(s)

Admitted to the Bar: New York, 1974; U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1974; 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, 1974; District of Columbia, 1978; D.C. Circuit, 1977; U.S. Supreme Court, 1979. U.S. Coast Guard licensed Master 100 GRT.

Education

Columbia College (AB-1970); NYU (JD-1973); Harvard (LLM-1974).

Panels

American Arbitration Association Commercial and International Panels.

Associations

American Bar Association (Sections on Corporations, Business and Banking Law, International Law and Practice, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law); Association of the Bar of the City of New York; New York State Bar Association; College of Commercial Arbitrators.