William (Bill) Michael

Practice Areas

Litigation

Trial Practice

White Collar Defense & Special Investigations

Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care Litigation

Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care

Career

William Michael, Jr. (“Bill”), Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Trial Practice Group, is a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer, having served as lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials in federal and state courts across the country. In recognition of his national trial reputation, Bill has been inducted as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization that represents the top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States. The Legal 500 2022 reported that an observer described Bill as “smart, with an incredible presence and probably the most trial experience of anyone in the United States, unflappable and always available.” Bill represents individuals and corporations in complex federal white collar and regulatory defense and internal investigations across a wide range of sectors. He advises clients in matters involving health care fraud, internal investigations, qui tam actions, money laundering, conspiracy, environmental matters, criminal antitrust, securities fraud, criminal tax, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Bill regularly represents boards of directors in highly sensitive matters that present legal risk to multinational corporations, including complex litigation, government investigations, allegations of securities fraud, FCPA violations, sexual discrimination, and financial mismanagement.

Utilizing his deep trial experience, which includes more than 70 federal jury trials in United States District Courts around the country, as well as trials in state and military courts, Bill regularly leads high-profile internal investigations and cross-border matters. He has conducted FCPA investigations involving China, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Ecuador, Morocco, and Dubai.

Bill’s health care sector experience includes the handling of complex civil and criminal fraud matters and investigations for numerous health care industries, including pharmaceuticals, insurers, medical device manufacturers, hospital systems, durable medical equipment (DME), home health and skilled nursing facilities. He has represented these health care providers, as well as defense industry companies in more than two dozen False Claims Act matters.

Bill’s prior experience includes 10 years with the U.S. Department of Justice. His roles included Assistant United States Attorney and Deputy Chief, as well as head of a branch office in the Southern District of Florida. He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Minnesota, where he was the National and International Security Coordinator, Terrorism Coordinator, and Health Care Fraud Coordinator. Additionally, Bill served as an instructor in trial advocacy skills to Department of Justice lawyers at the National Advocacy Center.

Concentrations:

Trial practice

False Claims Act

Health care fraud

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Internal investigations

Cross-border investigations

Financial fraud

Securities fraud

Criminal antitrust

Criminal environmental

Professional Memberships

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2016-Present

Publications

Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2022

Personal

J.D., Nova Southeastern University, 1985

B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College, 1982