BOSTON – June 1, 2015 – In a move that will expand international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s expertise in the areas of Securities Litigation and Financial Regulatory and Compliance, a team of lawyers from the respected boutique law firm Michaels, Ward & Rabinovitz, LLP have joined the firm’s Boston office. Pete S. Michaels, Daniel M. Rabinovitz, and David Ward have joined the firm as shareholders; John Wells as of counsel; and Cliff Anderson as an associate.
"We are very excited to have Pete and this talented team of attorneys join the firm," said Richard A. Rosenbaum, chief executive officer of Greenberg Traurig. "We are always prepared to act on opportunities to add attorneys of a high caliber who are a good cultural fit for the firm. The Michaels, Ward & Rabinovitz lawyers are widely respected nationally for their deep industry experience and dedication to client service. Their capabilities complement our robust securities litigation and regulatory practices and we welcome them to the firm."
"When we decided to make a move, our group was fortunate to have many opportunities,” Michaels said. “Greenberg Traurig is the ideal fit for us. Our clients asked us to consider firms that offered a larger platform in both expertise and geography, and we found none better than Greenberg Traurig. Our firms' mutual commitment to excellence in client service, legal service delivery, and community involvement was a perfect match," he added.
"This team is an excellent fit with our national reach and helps to provide seamless service throughout the country to our clients. I have known of Pete and his excellent reputation for years and we have represented many of the same clients. I am thrilled we now will work side by side providing top-tier representation to our securities clients," said Brad Kaufman, co-chair of the firm's Securities Litigation Practice.
Terence P. McCourt, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Boston office, said, “We are thrilled to be able to attract such top-notch legal talent in today’s competitive Boston legal environment. This highly respected group of securities litigators will enhance our litigation capabilities. They are a great match for the firm as well as our Boston office.”
Michaels focuses his practice on financial services litigation and regulatory matters. He has handled matters throughout the United States for multinational and regional financial services firms (including banks, investment advisers, mutual fund complexes, pension consultants, insurance companies, and traditional, independent, and discount broker-dealers), as well as their employees, directors, and officers. He has represented clients in matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, National Futures Association, American Stock Exchange, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and state securities regulators throughout the United States. For more than 25 years, Michaels has also handled securities disputes, including class actions, in many state and federal courts, and before arbitration panels. He is regularly consulted on compliance-related matters, including internal investigations, and he has twice served as Outside Compliance Consultant in Massachusetts Securities Division matters.
Rabinovitz has more than 15 years of experience handling a wide variety of civil and criminal matters for corporations and individuals. Prior to that, Rabinovitz spent seven years prosecuting violent crimes for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago, Illinois. His practice focuses on white collar defense, securities litigation, and complex business litigation. He regularly represents corporations and individuals before the DOJ, SEC, FINRA, and numerous state securities regulatory agencies. His practice also includes the defense of criminal matters in state courts. He has tried hundreds of cases and has taught trial advocacy to young lawyers for more than 12 years for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
Ward focuses his practice on general securities litigation matters. He represents financial services clients throughout the United States, including broker-dealers, investment advisors, banks, pension consultants, insurance companies, and publicly traded entities before the SEC, FINRA, CFTC, DOJ, and state regulators. Ward regularly assists clients in the defense of regulatory investigations, sales practice issues, corporate governance matters and securities-related litigation in state and federal courts nationwide. He advises clients on compliance issues and also represents firms, directors, and officers in employment litigation, including discrimination, wrongful termination, recruiting and "raiding" matters, compensation and separation agreements, and Form U-5 issues. He is nationally recognized in this field and has litigated hundreds of employment matters across the country.
Wells focuses his practice on securities litigation and complex civil litigation matters in state and federal courts and arbitration forums nationwide. He also assists clients in defense of regulatory investigations and proceedings initiated by law enforcement officials and regulators, including the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and state securities regulators. Wells also manages internal investigations concerning potential violations of law and company policies. He represents clients in all areas of commercial law, including contract disputes, business torts, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, fraud and unfair competition, and employment matters.
Anderson focuses his practice on securities litigation, arbitration, and regulatory matters. He represents broker-dealers, registered representatives, investment advisors, and financial services firms before state and federal courts and FINRA arbitration panels. Anderson also represents clients in regulatory matters before FINRA, the SEC, and state securities divisions/bureaus. In addition, he conducts internal investigations and advises broker-dealers on a variety of compliance issues.