Profile
Michael Pratt, Chair of the Philadelphia Litigation Practice, is a highly accomplished litigator, trusted government relations advisor, and recognized leader in Philadelphia’s legal and civic communities. He is frequently engaged to handle complex and highly sensitive litigation matters for a broad range of clients across a spectrum of industries, concentrating on complex commercial and product liability disputes in both federal and state courts across the country. In addition, he provides strategic counsel to clients on navigating a broad range of governmental and policy issues. He represents financial institutions, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, product manufacturers and governmental institutions, among others.
With three decades of private practice at Am Law 100 firms, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge and a rich array of experiences to his legal representations and government relations work. His prior roles include serving as the chief litigation counsel for corporate and toxic tort matters for a Fortune 100 company and as the former chief deputy city solicitor charged with overseeing the commercial litigation division for the City of Philadelphia Law Department. Michael bridges his in-house, governmental and private practice experience to assemble and manage teams that provide a streamlined and result-oriented approach to the provision of legal services. Additionally, he has authored or co-authored numerous articles and book chapters on areas of relevant and emerging law.
In his bar association and civic lives, Michael has helped lead a variety of organizations in a range of activities. He served as the 81st Chancellor of the 15,000 member Philadelphia Bar Association. He accepted a gubernatorial appointment to serve on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission – the first African American to hold such a role – and his tenure included serving as vice chairman for four of his six years on the commission. Other previous leadership posts include serving as president of the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, Inc., a local affiliate of the National Bar Association; chair of the board of trustees of Community Legal Services, Inc.; and chair of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. He maintains a robust roster of pro bono representations, as he has throughout his career, while continuing to speak before professional and community groups, contributing and advancing scholarship, diversity and inclusion and overcoming poverty within the legal community and public life.
Michael is rated AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0, and his legal accomplishments have been recognized by myriad organizations and publications, including Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, Profiles in Diversity Journal "Black Leaders Worth Watching," The Legal Intelligencer's "Power Players," Acritas Stars™ Independently Rated Lawyers, “Star Lawyers,” and Super Lawyers magazine. Michael is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a former judicial law clerk for the Honorable Nathaniel R. Jones of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Capabilities
Experience
- Representation of a global medical provider of digital product systems and solutions in a multimillion-dollar federal court breach of contract action.
- Representation of a medical device manufacturer of IVC filters in all federal courts of Pennsylvania.
- Representation of a state political party and state elected officials in the defense of a federal court action challenging state-wide no excuse mail-in voting.
- Representation of a university in federal court action alleging Title VI, disability discrimination and New York state statutory racial discrimination claims.
- Representation of a multinational bank in a multi-million dollar federal court action alleging breach of contract and business tort claims arising from an investment banking advisory agreement for corporate recapitalization services.°
- Representation of a national bank in several actions relating to international check clearinghouse disputes.°
- Representation of a state Department of Education regarding the department's petition to appoint a receiver to take over the management and operation of a major state school district.°
- Representation of a state lottery bureau as a proposed intervenor - amicus plaintiff in a federal district court action and appeal in First Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to vacate a U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Opinion purporting to reinterpret the application of the Wire Act to state lottery programs.°
- Representation of a major municipality in the prosecution of a federal court action against a national deferred compensation administrator alleging RICO, securities fraud, and breach of contract claims, and the defense of a companion third-party class action.°
- Representation of an insurance company in a federal court emergency, multiweek injunction, and declaratory relief trial alleging the unlawful termination of an agency agreement.°
- Representation of a state agency and state officials in a federal court class action alleging civil rights and statutory claims arising from the enactment and enforcement of a driver's license revocation statute.°
- Representation of a national diversified financial services institution as co-executor of a deceased client’s estate in prosecuting breach of contract and business tort claims against the client’s former company.°
- Representation of a state department regarding state-related data breach compliance.°
- Representation of a multinational industrial manufacturing company in a multimillion-dollar commercial dispute and defamation action alleging the unlawful termination of a vendor agreement.°
- Representation of an investment bank regarding a FINRA compliance matter.°
- Representation of a major municipality in separate federal and state court actions alleging constitutional and state law violations relating to the municipality’s enforcement of billboard regulations.°
- Representation of a public official in a federal court action alleging First Amendment and state law claims.°
- Representation of a major hospital in a federal court action alleging sexual discrimination and sexual harassment claims.°
- Representation of a multinational diversified technology and manufacturing company in the defense of asbestos product liability claims.°
- Representation of a major municipality in a federal court action challenging the municipality’s affirmative action program.°
- Representation of an international roofing manufacturer in various actions alleging breach of contract and product liability claims.°
- Representation of a major hospital in a federal court civil rights action arising from a physician’s rendering of an expert report in a criminal proceeding.°
- Representation of multiple pharmaceutical drug and device manufacturers in various product liability actions.°
- Representation of a multinational technology and manufacturing company as national coordinating counsel in the defense of asbestos premises liability and silica product liability claims.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Pratt prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Chief Litigation Counsel for Corporate and Toxic Tort, Honeywell International, Inc., 2002-2003
- Chief Deputy City Solicitor, City of Philadelphia, 1992-1994
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Lawdragon, “500 Leading Lawyers in America,” 2021-2024
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America
- Commercial Litigation, 2021-2025
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2023-2025
- Team Member, a Law360 “Product Liability Practice Group of the Year,” 2021
- Listed, Acritas StarsTM Independently Rated Lawyers, “Star Lawyers,” 2018-2021
- Listed, City & State, "Pennsylvania Power 100," 2021-2024
- Listed, The Legal Intelligencer, "Power Players," 2021
- Honoree, Profiles in Diversity Journal, "Black Leaders Worth Watching," 2020
- Recipient, Philadelphia Bar Association, “LGBT Right Committee Cheryl Ingram Advocate for Justice Award,” 2009
- Recipient, Friends of Farmworkers, “Leadership Award,” 2009
- Recipient, Legal Intelligencer, “Diversity Attorney of the Year Award,” 2008-2009
- Recipient, Dawn Staley Foundation, “Community Service Leadership Award,” 2008
- Recipient, Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, “J. Austin Norris Award,” 2007
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
- Member, Development Committee, Women Against Abuse, 2023-Present
- Board of Directors, Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia, 2021-Present
- Member, National Black Lawyers, 2022-Present
- Member, Law360 Editorial Advisory Board, Pennsylvania, 2022-2024
- Judge, The Legal Intelligencer/ALM Pennsylvania Legal Awards, 2024
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Member, Board of Governors, 1991, 1993-95, 2006-2010
- Chancellor, 2008
- Chancellor-Elect, 2007
- Past Chair, City Policy Committee, 2007
- Vice Chancellor, 2006
- Past Chair, Young Lawyers Division, 1991
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Past Member, House of Delegates, 1995-2008
- American Bar Association
- Past Member, House of Delegates, 2012-2014
- Past Chair and member, Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, 2010-2012
- Past Member, Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, 2003-2006
- National Bar Association
- Past Chair, Annual National Convention, 1999
- Past Member, Board of Governors, 1994-1996
- Past Director, Region III, 1994-1996
- Member, Judicial Advisory Commission, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2019
- Member, Board of Trustees, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, PA, 2006-2018, 2019-2021
- Secretary, 2020-2021
- Former Commissioner, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, 2009-2015
- Vice Chairman, 2011-2015
- Commissioner, 2009-2015
- Member, The Forum for a Better Pennsylvania, 2014-Present
- Member and Past Chair, Community Legal Services Board of Trustees, 1997-2000
- Past President, Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia
- Member, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
- Past Member, Board of Directors, Defender Association of Philadelphia
- Past Member, Board of Directors, Public Interest Law Center
Credentials
- J.D., Harvard Law School, 1985
-
B.A., Economics and English, Washington & Jefferson College, 1981
- Varsity Basketball – Three time All Conference, Academic All-American, W&J Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee and President Athletic Conference All 60th Anniversary Celebratory Basketball Team
- Hon. Nathaniel R. Jones, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1985-1986
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania