About William Michael, Jr.

William Michael, Jr. (“Bill”) is Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Global Litigation Practice, which boasts more than 800 lawyers, and Co-Chair of the Trial Practice Group, comprising nearly 100 of the firm’s most experienced trial lawyers. A former federal prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer, Bill served as lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials in federal and state courts across the country. In recognition of his national trial reputation, he was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization that represents the top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States.

Bill has been recognized as a leading white collar lawyer by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 United States. Clients describe him as “one of the deans of the trial Bar in the USA... an absolutely fantastic trial lawyer,” and commend his sharp judgment and client focus, saying he is “very smart and savvy... easy to work with.” Another observer notes he has “an incredible presence and probably the most trial experience of anyone in the United States... unflappable and always available.”

Bill represents individuals and corporations in complex federal white collar and regulatory defense and internal investigations across a wide range of sectors. He advises clients in matters involving health care fraud, internal investigations, qui tam actions, money laundering, conspiracy, environmental matters, criminal antitrust, securities fraud, criminal tax, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).He also regularly represents boards of directors in highly sensitive matters that present legal risk to multinational corporations, including complex litigation, government investigations, allegations of securities fraud, FCPA violations, sexual discrimination, and financial mismanagement.

Utilizing his deep trial experience, which includes more than 70 federal jury trials in United States District Courts around the country, as well as trials in state and military courts, Bill regularly leads high-profile internal investigations and cross-border matters. He has conducted FCPA investigations involving China, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Ecuador, Morocco, and Dubai.

Bill’s health care sector experience includes the handling of complex civil and criminal fraud matters and investigations for numerous health care industries, including pharmaceuticals, insurers, medical device manufacturers, hospital systems, durable medical equipment (DME), home health and skilled nursing facilities. He has represented these health care providers, as well as defense industry companies, in more than two dozen False Claims Act matters.

Bill’s prior experience includes 10 years with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he held positions such as Assistant United States Attorney and Deputy Chief, as well as head of a branch office in the Southern District of Florida. He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Minnesota, where he was the National and International Security Coordinator, Terrorism Coordinator, and Health Care Fraud Coordinator. Additionally, Bill served as an instructor in trial advocacy skills to Department of Justice lawyers at the National Advocacy Center.

Concentrations

•Trial practice
•False Claims Act
•Health care fraud
•Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
•Internal investigations
•Cross-border investigations
•Financial fraud
•Securities fraud
•Criminal antitrust
•Criminal environmental

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2024-2026
•Listed, Benchmark Litigation, “Litigation Star,” 2023-2026
•Listed, Minnesota Lawyer and Finance & Commerce, “Minnesota ICON,” 2022
•Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Band 1, 2022-2025
•Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Dispute Resolution Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2022-2025
•Listed, Lawdragon, “500 Leading Litigators in America,” 2022-2026
•Listed, Minnesota Monthly, “Top Lawyers in Minnesota,” 2023-2025
•Recognized, Minnesota State Bar Association, “North Star Lawyers,” 2021-2023
•Team Member, a Law360 “Product Liability Practice Group of the Year,” 2021-2022
•Recognized, Distinguished Alumni, Gustavus Adolphus College, 2019
•Recipient, Minnesota State Bar Association, Elmer H. Walshauser Author’s Award, 2003
•Recipient, Department of Justice Director’s Award for Outstanding Performance, 1996

 

Reviews for William

This lawyer does not have any client reviews on Lawyers.com yet

Write a Review

Services

Areas of Law

  • Litigation
  • Other 5
    • Trial Practice
    • White Collar Defense & Investigations
    • Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care Litigation
    • Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care
    • Complex Torts

Practice Details

  • Payment Information
    Accepted Credit Cards
    American Express
  • Firm Information
    Position
    Shareholder
    Firm Name
    Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  • Representative Cases & Transactions
    Cases
    Experience: Representative Trial Experience: Embezzlement from union funds, bank fraud,
    tax evasion (client was the president of one of the largest unions in the country).
    Insider trading (client was a CEO of a computer software firm charged with selling $16 million of stock in a six-week period).
    Revenue recognition securities fraud (client was a former CFO
    acquitted of all securities fraud counts after a four-week trial).
    Money laundering
    wire fraud (client was a former CEO
    was acquitted of all charges after a three-week trial).
    Environmental offenses (corporate client was acquitted of environmental offenses after a one-week trial).
    Health care fraud (client was the national sales director of a medical device company - after seven weeks of trial
    60 government witnesses testified, the government voluntarily dismissed all charges).
    Money laundering
    gambling (client received probation at sentencing).
    Health Care Fraud
    False Claims Act: Retained to replace local counsel as lead trial lawyer in a federal lawsuit against a health care system that placed an eight-month pregnant woman under a psychiatric hold pursuant to state law until the child was born. After the birth, the woman was released from the psychiatric hold,
    against medical advice, left the hospital at 3:00 am to w
    er the streets in Nevada in November, only to die of hypothermia a short time later.
    Led a False Claims Act investigation into a health care system in the Midwest United States related to allegations over billing for unnecessary stent placements by an interventional cardiologist.
    Led a False Claims Act investigation into a health care system in the Western United States related to improper
    unnecessary gynecological procedures by a urogynecologist.
    Led a False Claims Act investigation into a health care system in the Midwest United States related to medically unsafe surgical procedures by a cardiothoracic surgeon.
    Led a team of more than 50 lawyers in an FCPA investigation in China related to inappropriate benefits provided to health care professionals associated with educational seminars.
    Led a team of more than 40 lawyers in an FCPA investigation in Saudi Arabia
    Dubai related to bribing of government health care officials for the purpose of obtaining additional business.
    Currently leading a team of more than 25 lawyers in an FCPA investigation in China related to selling health care products at inflated prices to create additional margin for distributors for the purpose of bribing health care professionals in government-controlled hospitals.
    Led a team that secured the dismissal of a False Claims Act lawsuit for a multinational manufacturer. After a six-year investigation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to intervene,
    the relator dismissed their complaint upon the filing of client's motion to dismiss.
    Represented a medical device company in a DOJ parallel investigation involving off-label use.
    Represented a hospital in an investigation into alleged false submissions in their cost report.
    Represented a DME company in a DOJ parallel investigation involving improper reimbursement of power wheelchairs. Achieved a declination in the criminal matter after a four-year investigation by DOJ
    settled the potential $500 million liability under the False Claims Action for $7 million.
    Represented a multinational company in a civil False Claims Act matter involving hearing protection
    related debarment proceedings by the Department of the Army. Resolved the False Claims Act matter for a nominal settlement
    resolved the debarment proceeding in favor of the client.
    Represented a national bank in a False Claims Act matter involving HUD-related mortgages.
    Represented a public company that operated 84 skilled nursing facilities in a DOJ health care fraud investigation, which included the execution of seven simultaneous search warrants at various facilities.
    Represented a health care insurer in an internal investigation involving $50 million billing fraud by providers. Worked with DOJ to obtain the first Medicare Part C preliminary injunction
    forfeiture in the country, resulting in more than $500,000 being returned directly to the client from the bank account of a perpetrator.
    Represented a medical device company conducting due diligence on an acquisition of another company which was under DOJ investigation.
    Represented a defense contractor in civil False Claims Act matter, which was dismissed.
    Represented three pharmacies in civil False Claims Act matters, which were all dismissed.
    Represented a government contractor in civil False Claims Act matter, which was settled on a common law claim.
    Represented a hospital in civil False Claims Act matter, which was settled on a common law claim.
    Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
    Cross-Border: Representing a multinational company in an FCPA investigation in China involving the health care business. This investigation includes working with local Chinese counsel on the interaction of various Chinese laws, including their recently enacted blocking statute, as well as Chinese employment
    state secret laws.
    Represented one of the world's largest hotel groups in relation to the commission of a terrorist attack at one of the hotels it manages in Africa. The terrorist attack was conducted by two terrorists associated with an offshoot of Al Qaeda, wherein they attacked the hotel with automatic weapons
    h
    grenades
    took hostages, killing 20 guests
    employees from numerous countries before themselves dying during the rescue attempt by local military forces. Advised the hotel group during the crisis itself, as well as coordinated the law enforcement
    intelligence agency investigations, while also conducting an internal investigation, including the interviews of more than 20 individuals in Africa,
    conducting a security assessment for the client.
    Conducted the internal investigation of a publicly traded UK construction company into allegations of bribery involved with the building of a $100 million hospital in Morocco. As a result of the internal investigation, the company self-disclosed to the UK Serious Fraud Office
    became the first company in history to resolve a bribery matter under Section 7 of the UK Bribery Act.
    Represented a company conducting an FCPA investigation as a result of an acquisition of a foreign company in the insurance industry.
    Represented a company conducting an FCPA investigation as a result of an acquisition of a foreign company in the oil
    gas industry.
    Financial Fraud: Represented a financial institution regarding investigations by several state Attorneys General
    the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
    Represented a hedge fund investigated by the SEC
    involved in various litigation involving a $3.4 billion Ponzi scheme.
    Represented a former union official in a DOJ criminal case involving embezzlement, as well as tax
    bank fraud.
    Represented an individual in $41 million bankruptcy matter involving allegations of fraud.
    Represented a life insurance company in an investigation into a $183 million STOLI fraud scheme.
    Represented an owner
    sole proprietorship company charged with E-rate fraud. The company pled guilty
    immediately closed business,
    the owner had all charges dismissed.
    Conducted an internal investigation for the audit committee of a national bank.
    Securities Fraud: Represented a former CEO of a pharmaceutical company on channel stuffing
    $300 million securities fraud charges. The CEO cooperated with DOJ
    SEC
    received a sentence of six months' home confinement
    settled civil charges with the SEC.
    Represented a sales manager of a public company charged with securities fraud. The sales manager cooperated with DOJ
    SEC
    received a sentence of six months' home confinement.
    Represented at trial a CEO of a computer software company charged with insider trading for selling $16 million of stock in a six-week period.
    Represented at trial a former CFO accused of revenue recognition fraud who was acquitted of all securities fraud counts after a four-week trial.
    Represented the audit committee of a public company during an SEC-DOJ investigation.
    Conducted an internal investigation for the audit committee of a major oil
    gas company into allegations that its CEO was front-running business opportunities
    usurping corporate opportunities. As a result of the internal investigation, the CEO was terminated. This matter was highly publicized in the Wall Street Journal
    led to shareholder action, after the company paid the CEO $95 million in severance.
    Criminal Antitrust: Represented an officer of a company in a bid-rigging antitrust investigation. Received a declination of prosecution.
    Represented the senior American officer of a Canadian packaged ice company in a DOJ antitrust investigation. The officer pled guilty to market allocation violations
    received a sentence of six months' home confinement.
    Criminal Environmental: Represented an agricultural company under DOJ/EPA criminal investigation involving environmental offenses.
    Represented a multi-national chemical manufacturing company in various investigations into releases of various chemicals into the air
    water.
    Represented a metal finishing company in a criminal jury trial for Clean Water Act
    official false statement violations. The company was acquitted of all offenses.
    Represented the CEO of a metal finishing company charged with violations of the Clean Water Act
    RCRA. The client received probation.
    Miscellaneous: Represented a school board member under investigation for corruption.
    Represented a former bank vice president in five state court civil fraud lawsuits involving allegations of $35 million fraud
    related federal criminal case.
    Represented several defendants in court-appointed matters involving electronic surveillance, RICO, conspiracy,
    mail
    wire fraud.
    The above representations were h
    led by Mr. Michael prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
    Government Experience: Assistant United States Attorney, District of Minnesota, 1996-2000
    Deputy Chief, Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of Florida, 1990-1996
    Military Experience: Judge Advocate, 82nd Airborne Division, 1985-1987
    Judge Advocate, 7th Special Forces Group, 1988-1989
    Served in the Chief of Staff of the Army's Office conducting oversight on Special Access Programs (black ops), 1989-1990
    Detachment Comm
    er, a Special Forces 'A' Team with 11th Special Forces Group, 1992-1994
    Became the second Army lawyer to ever graduate from Special Forces Officer Qualification Course (earning a Green Beret)
  • Additional Links

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    Florida
    Illinois
    Minnesota
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
    Memberships

    Professional & Community Involvement

    •fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2016-Present
    •fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2023-Present

  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    NOVA University
    Class of 1985
    J.D.
    Other Education
    Gustavus Adolphus College
    Class of 1982
    B.A.

Contact William Michael, Jr.

Share Holder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Not yet reviewed

333 SE 2nd Avenue, Suite 4400Miami, FL 33131U.S.A.

Show on map
Fax: 312 706 8178

MetLife Building, 90 South 7th St., Suite 3500Minneapolis, MN 55402U.S.A.

Show on map
Fax: 312 706 8178
view 1 other office Location
hide 1 other office Location

Other Office Location

Minneapolis, MN

MetLife Building, 90 South 7th St., Suite 3500Minneapolis, MN 55402U.S.A.

Show on map

Activity

Legal Community Contributions

Case type is required.
I am is required.
First name is required.
Last name is required.
A valid zip code is required.
Country is required.
State is required.
A valid city is required.
A valid email address is required.
A valid phone number is required.
Message is required.
0/1000 characters

By clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms and Privacy Policy. You also consent to be contacted at the phone number you provided, including by autodials, text messages and/or pre-recorded calls, from Lawyers.com and its affiliates and from or on behalf of attorneys you request or contact through this site. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Emails sent through this site do not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent though this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. See Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Thank you! Your message has been successfully sent.

For your records, a copy of this email has been sent to test@test.com.

Summary of Your Message
Case Type:
I am a/an:
First Name:
Last Name:
City:
Zip Code or Postal Code:
State:
Country:
Phone Number:
Message:

Attorneys FAQs

  • Is this attorney admitted to the bar in more than one state?
    Yes, William Michael, Jr. is admitted to practice in Florida, Illinois and Minnesota.
  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Greenberg Traurig, LLP has 2750 attorneys at this location.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    William Michael, Jr. attended NOVA University.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Greenberg Traurig, LLP was established in 1967.