Overview
Michael is a Shareholder in the Firm’s litigation department. Michael is an experienced trial lawyer, focusing his practice on complex commercial cases. Michael has significant experience representing Fortune 100 clients in litigation involving insurance and reinsurance, international securities fraud, distribution and franchise issues, trademark litigation, and environmental issues under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Prior to joining the firm, Michael served as Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. As an Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division, Michael prosecuted numerous criminal and civil cases on behalf of the United States, and successfully tried multiple jury trials to conclusion. On the criminal side his caseload included heath care fraud, narcotics, firearm, child exploitation, mail fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft related matters, and on the civil side included False Claims Act, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, and immigration matters.
Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor, Michael practiced law at several prominent international law firms in New York and Washington, D.C., including Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and Jones Day.
Representative Experience
- Lead counsel in defending investor in 1inMM Ponzi Scheme Litigation from Florida-specific claims by other disgruntled investors in federal court. The 1inMM Ponzi Scheme generated approximately $700 million in fraudulent investments for Hollywood movie deals primarily steered by Zachary Horowitz with the assistance of multiple fund aggregators. Multiple accredited investors found themselves barred from suing the fund aggregators and began suing other individual investors in Florida to try to recoup their funds. Shortly after suit, the federal court dismissed the action for a patent lack of jurisdiction.
- Represented client in $14 million insurance dispute.
- Represented client in $100 million CERCLA matter in District of Connecticut.
- Represented client in $65 million CERCLA matter in District of South Carolina.
- Represented client in $12 million AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society reinsurance arbitration.
- As Assistant US Attorney:
- Prosecuted narcotics, firearm, child exploitation, mail fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft related matters through investigation, grand jury, pretrial motions, federal jury trials, and sentencing hearings.
- First-chaired multiple federal criminal and civil jury trials to verdict, and drafted several appellate briefs to the Eleventh Circuit.
- Prosecuted CEO of Calhoun-Liberty Hospital for embezzling over $1 million resulting in a sentence of 46-months’ imprisonment.
- Participated in False Claims Act litigation of former University of Florida professor, which resulted in a judgment for the Government of approximately $3 million.
- Handled False Claims Act, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, immigration, and habeas matters through pretrial motions, discovery, expert witness discovery and preparation, and federal bench trials.
- Participated in seizure of 474-year-old painting taken by the Nazis during World War II and returned painting to its original owner.
Judicial Clerkships
- Law Clerk, Honorable Ellsworth Van Graafeiland, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
- Law Clerk, Honorable Maurice M. Paul, United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
Professional & Community Involvement
- Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
Publications & Presentations
Events:
Recent Developments in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Investigations and Enforcement
Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Small Law Department|June 2022
Publications:
How DOJ May Beat The White Collar Fraud Clock Post-COVID
Law360|November 2021
Newsroom
Firm Announcements:
Michael Harwin Designated by the United States District Court to Serve as a Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
October 2023
In the Media:
Senior-level hires and promotions in Miami-Dade and Broward for the week of Oct. 21, 2019
Miami Herald|October 2019
Firm Announcements:
Stearns Weaver Miller Adds Seasoned Litigator Michael J. Harwin in Miami
September 2019