Michael S. Popok is the Managing Partner of Zumpano Patricios & Popok, the New York Office of the firm. His national litigation, white collar and trial practice is based in New York and South Florida. Michael has almost 30 years of experience as an accomplished trial attorney strategist, and business counselor, with a broad range of experience including most recently serving as a Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel of a Wall Street global financial services firm, responsible for all of its litigation, trial, arbitration, investigatory and employment matters.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Demonstrating the breadth of Mr. Popok’s trial experience, he has successfully tried more than 40 cases to verdict, judgment or award throughout the country —a feat very few trial lawyers in Miami or New York have accomplished. His trial and appellate practice has taken him to courts and arbitration hearing rooms throughout the country, including in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Northern California, Delaware, and Miami. His success record in FINRA arbitration matters in the last 5 years alone is remarkable. Further demonstrating that his counseling and risk assessment skills go beyond the courtroom and boardroom, he has also successfully negotiated settlements in 100s of cases to accomplish his client’s business objectives.
Mr. Popok began his career and litigation and white collar defense training at Skadden Arps and Sidley Austin in New York, and be continued his trial practice in South Florida where until 2015, he was a name partner at a well-known South Florida-based, 65+ attorney firm. During his career there, Michael managed the firm’s Miami office; chaired its litigation department, and served on its executive committee, and was one of the “go-to” litigators handling high-profile matters for the firm’s public sector/municipal and private sector clients.
CURRENT NEW YORK OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Representing Agricultural products company against private equity fund for breach of contract and fiduciary duty in New York State Supreme Court.
Representing co-founder of a Las Vegas gaming business in a Delaware case regarding deprivation of [shareholder] rights.
Representing company in a sports venue joint venture with FC Barcelona against landlord for breach of long term ground lease in New York State Supreme Court.
Representing former head of equities for major financial services company for wrongful termination in FINRA arbitration.
Representing former head of trading for hedge fund in employment discrimination and separation issues.
Represented former hedge fund head of IT in employment separation matter.
Representing co-head of equities for major financial services company re: SEC and compliance issues.
Representing former head of marketing and branding in pregnancy discrimination case against private equity firm.
Represented major jewelry retailer re website ADA compliance issues in southern district Florida.
Representing developer in real estate dispute pending in Miami Dade Circuit Court.
Representing former talent agent and #metoo plaintiff against Hollywood agency for sexual discrimination, harassment and assault in California Superior Court.
Representing celebrity – former band member and actor - in sexual harassment and assault case against former talent manager and agents in California Superior Court.
LITIGATION, ARBITRATION (INCLUDING FINRA) AND TRIAL WORK
Mr. Popok focuses his national trial practice in the areas of high-stakes commercial/business dispute litigation (including those involving family offices and partnerships, real estate, construction, and private equity and hedge funds); class action matters; health care litigation, business tort disputes, employment litigation and counseling (including discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and restrictive covenants); financial services litigation and arbitration (including in FINRA); real estate/construction litigation (including commission disputes); and “white collar” regulatory, enforcement and investigations. He has been regularly chosen by his peers as a Best Lawyer and Super Lawyer in the areas of litigation.
OUTSIDE GENERAL COUNSEL SERVICES
Mr. Popok, relying on his experience as former in-house counsel, offers outside general counsel services, including litigation risk management, for companies without an in-house legal team, or in transition, including those in restructuring or in a start-up phase. In that role, he not only seamlessly serves as the real-time, as needed, law department for the company, but also proactively manage the company’s risk, and function as a key business advisor and tactician. His body of work allows him to provide guidance concerning corporate governance, compliance, transactions, regulatory issues, investigations, labor and employment issues, and litigation.
LOCAL COUNSEL SERVICES FOR NEW YORK FIRMS LITIGATING OR ARBITRATING IN SOUTH FLORIDA
Mr. Popok has a unique skill set that makes him a nice fit for New York firms looking for experienced, connected and successful local trial counsel in South Florida. Having been a leader in the South Florida legal community before “going in house”, Michael continues to have deep roots in South Florida and is a respected addition to any litigation team that finds itself in the State or Federal courts of South Florida.
