Biography

Michael Witsch is a member of the firm’s Litigation practice group focusing primarily on complex commercial litigation, government investigations and white-collar criminal defense. He has represented large companies and senior-level executives in federal and state court proceedings, and has extensive experience at both the trial and appellate levels.

A former appellate prosecutor, Michael has particular experience in post-trial litigation and has briefed or argued often complex matters in all of Pennsylvania’s appellate courts and in federal courts of appeal nationwide.

Michael also regularly represents clients in responding to government investigations and high-stakes, complex business, class action and product liability litigation. His experience includes significant representations in the pharmaceutical, financial services, construction, defense contracting and manufacturing industries, and has involved litigating disputes in courts across the country. Michael has also handled significant white-collar matters, including internal investigations, state and federal grand jury matters and regulatory and administrative proceedings. Those engagements have involved allegations including political and public corruption, racketeering, securities fraud, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, tax fraud, false claims for government reimbursement, and other federal and state offenses.

Services and Industries

Background

Michael joined the firm from a mid-Atlantic law firm. Before that, he was an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia. He served as lead counsel on behalf of the government in securing hundreds of successful appellate results in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Superior Court of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, and presented oral argument in dozens of cases. In addition, Michael participated in the investigation and prosecution of sensitive grand jury matters. He also often represented the District Attorney’s Office in civil matters, including complex civil rights litigation, professional discipline proceedings and media law disputes.

Education

Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2012)
- Temple International and Comparative Law Journal, Lead Research Editor
- Temple Moot Court Honor Society, Member
- Rubin Public Interest Law Society, Fellow
College of the Holy Cross (A.B., cum laude, 2009)
- Political Science

Admissions

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Arizona
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

Professional Activities

Philadelphia Bar Association (Past Member, Executive Committee, Young Lawyers Division; Member, Appellate Courts Committee; Member, Federal Courts Committee; Member, State Civil Litigation Section; Investigator, Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention; Former Member and Young Lawyers Division Liaison, Large Firm Associates Committee)
Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Former Amicus Curiae Committee)
Brehon Law Society (Member, Executive Committee)
Lexis Nexis^® (Advisory Board Member, Pennsylvania Civil Discovery Treatise)
Ohlbaum on the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence 2023 Edition (Editorial Board)

Charitable and Civic Involvement

College of the Holy Cross Alumni Association (Member, Board of Directors; Member, Inaugural Task Force on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; Philadelphia Chapter President)
Public Interest Law Center (Former Member and Board Observer, Board of Directors)
15th Ward Democratic Executive Committee (Former Committeeperson)

Accolades

The Best Lawyers in America^® Ones to Watch, Criminal Defense: White Collar (2021-present), Commercial Litigation (2024-present) (methodology)
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers^®, Rising Star (2019-present) (methodology)
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