Michael joins the firm after a distinguished thirty year career in public service with the Erie District Attorney's Office and as Counsel to two New York State Supreme Court Justices. As an Assistant District Attorney, he prosecuted matters including capital homicide, sex offenses, gang violence, and narcotics trafficking. He also has extensive appellate litigation experience in defending convictions, judgements, and other determinations favorable to the District Attorney's Office. In all, he has tried over three hundred criminal matters. Michael also served as the District Attorney's Counsel to the Buffalo Police Department. As Supreme Court Counsel, Michael has resolved hundreds of civil matters involving Labor Law sections 240 and 241 disputes, premises liability and general negligence matters, and discrimination claims brought by the New York State Division of Human Rights. Michael was the co-chair of the Erie County Legislature's "21^st Century Commission" and primary author of its report recommending the Legislature's downsizing. He is a 1985 graduate of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts in European History from the University of Rochester in 1989, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron in 1993.