Michael R. Gordon
Founder, Strategic Upward Mentoring
Admissions
New York, Colorado and pro hac vice admissions around the country
Education
- Cornell University, A.B., cum laude, 1982
- Lt. David Chrystall Prize in History
- Case Western Reserve University Law School, J.D., 1985
- Member, Law Review
- Member, National Mock Trial Team
Professional Experience
- Appeals and Special Litigation Bureau, Bronx District Attorney’s Office (1985-1989)
- Associate, Dryer & Traub, 1989
- Associate and Partner, Reid & Priest/Thelen Reid & Priest, 1989-2003
- Partner, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart/ K&L Gates, 2003-2013
- Global Co-Chair, Commercial Disputes Practice Group, 2006-2011
- Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, 2013-2017
Related Experience
- Subcommittee Chair, Construction Committee, Litigation Section, American Bar Ass’n
- Member, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- Committee on State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction
- Litigation Committee
- Commercial Law and Uniform State Laws Committee
- Mediator, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 2011-2019
- Member, New York Bar Foundation
- Past President and Trustee, Board of Education, Katonah Lewisboro School District
- Board Member, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
- Board Member, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Law Alumni Board
Speaking Engagement & Publications
Mr. Gordon has frequently spoken on and written about a wide variety of topics related to commercial and employment-related litigation, construction law, the practice of law, and legal writing at conferences, retreats, via webinars, and in legal and business periodicals. Some examples include:
Speaking Engagements
Panelist, “Adverse Witness Depositions: Advanced Techniques in Exhaustion, Boxing-In, and Summarizing,” Strafford, August 2024
Panelist, “Leveraging Depositions at Trial: Impeachment, Refreshing Recollection, Offer of Proof, Admissions, Unavailable Witness,” Strafford, May 2024
Panelist, “Defending Rule 30(b)(6) Corporate Depositions: Responding to Deposition Notices, Selecting and Preparing Witnesses” webinar, Strafford, 2015 – 2023
Program developer and chair, “If I Were A Virtually Rich Man: How The Bitcoin Revolution Will Affect The Banking And Commercial Payments World,” Association of the Bar of the City of New York, April 2015 .
Program developer and moderator, “Multilateral Self-Defense in Parallel Proceedings: Practical Steps to Take When the Government Comes Knocking on the Front Door, the Back Door, the Side Door, and the Windows,” American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Section Annual Conference, April 2015.
Panelist, “Pitfalls of Electronic Communication (Ethics),” Construction SuperConference, December 2014.
Panel developer and moderator, “Practice tips and developments in 30(b)(6) Depositions,” American Bar Association’s 2014 Section of Litigation Annual CLE Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, April 2014.
Panelist, “Ethical lapses and criminality in construction procurement and staffing,” Construction Superconference, December 2013.
Panelist, “The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act – A New Frontier,” AICPA Webinar, April 2012.
Speaker, “Commencing The Lawsuit,” In-house law seminar, January 2012 .
Speaker, “The Intersection Between Bankruptcy Laws and Mechanic’s Lien Laws,” ExecSense Webinar, November 2010.
Speaker, “What Construction Lawyers Need To Know About Pay If Paid Clauses,” ExecSense Webinar, September 2010.
Panelist, “Ethical Issues in Contacting Witnesses,” In-house law seminar, January 2009.
Speaker, “Early Case Assessment,” In-house law seminar, February 2008.
Panelist, “Recent Developments in Construction Fraud,” ABA Construction Superconference, December 2006.
Panel Chair & Speaker, “What to Do When Disaster Strikes,” In-house law seminar, February 2005.
Speaker, “Protecting Your Legal Behind: Avoiding Legal Liability in Building Security,” Building Security Conference, In-house law seminar, January 2005.
Panel Chair & Speaker, “Avoiding Legal Pitfalls: Focus on Design Professionals,” In-house law seminar, November 2004.
Panel Chair, “Mold: Reducing Liability,” In-house law seminar, October 2004.
Publications
Contributor, “Equitable Defenses,” “Statutory Defenses” and “Waivers,” Model Jury Instructions: Construction Litigation, American Bar Association (ABA), 2015.
“If I Were A Virtually Rich Man: How The Bitcoin Revolution Will Affect The Banking And Commercial Payments World,” April 2015.
“Multilateral Self-Defense in Parallel Proceedings: Practical Steps to Take When the Government Comes Knocking on the Front Door, the Back Door, the Side Door, and the Windows,” April 2015.
Co-author, “Deploying the 30(b)(6) Deposition,” Corporate Counsel, June 27, 2014.
Author, “Practice tips and developments in 30(b)(6) Depositions,” American Bar Association’s 2014 Section of Litigation Annual CLE Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, April 2014.
Co-author, “Document Retention Guidance for Parties in Arbitration,” Inside Counsel, March 12, 2014.
Co-author, “The Bodies and Cases That Have Framed E-Discovery Precedent in Arbitration,” Inside Counsel, February 12, 2014.
Co-author, “Arbitration and What It Means for Document Preservation,” Inside Counsel, January 6, 2014.
Chapter Co-author, “Collections,” Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, 3rd ed., 2011–2012.
Author, “Which Appellate Division Rulings Bind Which Trial Courts? Stare Decisis and the Case for the Mountain View Doctrine,” New York Law Journal, September 23, 2009.
Co-author, “The Risks of Volunteering,” New York Law Journal, November 24, 2008.
Co-author, “The Greenings of New York,” New York Law Journal, January 17, 2006.
Co-author, “Be Aware of Construction Law Developments,” New York Law Journal: Trends in Real Estate and Title Insurance, April 11, 2005.