Michael was born and grew up in Brooklyn. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1963, having majored in political science. He attended Brooklyn Law School, where his legal education was interrupted by the military service. He served on active duty in the army from 1965 until his honorable discharge in 1968. He achieved the title of Outstanding Trainee of all of Fort Dix, a post-wide physical and mental competition, at the completion of his basic training cycle. He earned the grade of specialist 5th class, the equivalent of sergeant, in less than two years and he received a special commendation and certificate of achievement for his service before his discharge.
Following his time in the military, Michael resumed and finished his law school education in an outstanding fashion. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1969. He was admitted to the practice of law in New York State that same year and subsequently was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, as well as all State and Federal courts in New York State.
While in law school, and after graduating, Michael worked for a general practitioner named Samuel Weinberg, who subsequently became a New York City judge. He tried his first case working for Mr. Weinberg and learned all the basics and many subtleties about the practice of a general law firm.
From 1969 to 1972, Michael was a member of the legal staff of Hartford Insurance Company where he now was taught, by outstanding attorneys from all over the City, the finer points of defense practice and trial law at numerous lectures provided by the firm.
From 1972 to 1981, Michael worked for Irving B. Bushlow, a respected member of the New York Bar who oversaw a general practice which specialized in the representation of seamen and longshoremen who had been injured aboard and near ships. When a new federal statute was enacted in 1972 (the Longshoremen's and Harborworker's Act), which defined and restricted which cases could be brought to litigation for injured longshoremen, he won what was probably the first case which was tried under the new Act.
In 1981, Michael joined the firm of Henry Isaacson and in 1983 he became one of the founding partners of the current partnership. Since the time he helped form the firm, Michael has been the primary trial attorney for the firm, at the same time handing the most difficult and serious mediations and depositions for the firm. Other attorneys frequently call him to seek his advice and to refer cases to him. He has always obtained outstanding results for our clients and remained totally dedicated to their best interests, as he has been throughout his distinguished career. Many of his outstanding verdicts and settlements have been the subject of articles in the Daily News, New York Law Journal and Staten Island Advance.
Michael believes that his greatest accomplishments are the letters of appreciation he has received from grateful clients.