Michael Simes
Commercial Litigation Attorney
New York
NY
About
Michael has secured summary judgment and other pre-trial victories on matters collectively… read more worth more than $600 million for parties ranging from large international banks to officers of closely held corporations and other high net worth individuals. Michael has tried jury trials and bench trials in five separate contractual disputes, each with more than $40 million at stake.
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Client Reviews
"Mr. Michael Simes has been an outstanding partner as counsel. He possesses a wide array of subject matter expertise, is highly responsive, and imbeds himself seamlessly into our organization with a strong servant leadership style. I would recommend him without reservation."
"“Mike is the go-to conflict and resolution counsel when you’re down by 10 points with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl. Few attorneys possess his ability to analyze a set of facts – including and especially unfavorable ones – and devise a strategic game plan that positions a business for success based on the law and other practical considerations. He works tirelessly with his clients to define what success looks like. It may be a trial verdict, an award of summary judgment, or a pre-answer dismissal. Or it might be crafting a creative business resolution that bridges a seemingly insurmountable gap between the parties. Mike is uniquely talented at doggedly pursuing a favorable litigation outcome while simultaneously maintaining the sort of relationship with opposing counsel that invites productive settlement discussions; a balance that many litigators struggle to strike. Most recently, I engaged Mike to represent a global technology company sued in federal court for fraud, breach of contract/warranty, and strict products liability, among other causes of action. The plaintiffs sought tens of millions of dollars in damages and, as one might imagine, the complaint caused quite a bit of anxiety and consternation among top brass at the company. But Mike quickly put us at ease. First, he secured a ruling dismissing several counts of the complaint, including fraud, and severely capping any damages the plaintiffs might be awarded even if liability were established. Next, he successfully moved for preclusion of plaintiffs’ damages expert; kneecapping a key element of their trial strategy. The final blow was a series of successful pre-trial motions limiting the evidence that plaintiffs could put on at trial. It was a masterful display that resulted in our company not only evading liability, but plaintiffs actually paying us nearly 7 figures on our counterclaim. To say we were pleased with the result would be quite the understatement. I wouldn’t hesitate to turn to Mike again for sophisticated litigation work, day-to-day counseling, or any other legal advice I might need.”"
Work History
Simes Law P.C.
Founder
Jan 2023 - Present
Founder and sole shareholder of practice focused on complex commercial and contract litigation.
McGuireWoods
Partner
Nov 2011 - Dec 2022
Lead trial counsel in two post-acquisition disputes, each worth more than $40,000,000.
Mayer Brown
Partner
Nov 2008 - Oct 2011
Lead litigation counsel to leading financial institution in preparation for largest constructive fraud action in U.S. history.
Lead litigation counsel to leading global financial institution as plaintiff in actions against defaulted foreign derivatives counterparties.
Lead litigation counsel to the former CFO of a leading financial institution in connection with securities fraud class action.
Davis Polk
Associate
Oct 2000 - Oct 2008
Managed multinational internal inquiry into operations and internal controls of an automotive electronics and mechatronics supplier in connection with U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) global corruption investigation.
Served as lead counsel to several individuals in federal antitrust and corruption investigations.
Managed internal investigation into allegations of misconduct by Fortune 500 CEO.