Michael Blatchley’s practice focuses on securities fraud litigation. He is currently a member of the firm’s case development and client advisory group, in which he, along with a team of attorneys, financial analysts, forensic accountants, and investigators, counsels the firm’s clients on their legal claims.
Michael has also served as a member of the litigation teams responsible for prosecuting a number of the firm’s cases. For example, Michael was a key member of the team that recovered $150 million for investors in In re JPMorgan Chase & Co. Securities Litigation, a securities fraud class action arising out of misrepresentations and omissions concerning JPMorgan’s Chief Investment Office, the company’s risk management systems, and the trading activities of the so-called “London Whale.” He was also a member of the litigation team in In re Medtronic, Inc. Securities Litigation, an action arising out of allegations that Medtronic promoted the Infuse bone graft for dangerous “off-label” uses, which resulted in an $85 million recovery for investors. In addition, Michael prosecuted a number of cases related to the financial crisis, including several actions arising out of wrongdoing related to the issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities and other complex financial products.
Michael was a member of the team that achieved a $250 million recovery for investors in In re Allergan, Inc. Proxy Violation Securities Litigation, a precedent-setting case alleging unlawful insider trading by hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman. Most recently, he played a key role on the BLB&G team that recovered nearly $2 billion for 35 institutions that invested in the Allianz Structured Alpha Funds.
Among other accolades, Michael has been repeatedly named to Benchmark Litigation’s “Under 40 Hot List,” selected as a leading plaintiff financial lawyer by Lawdragon, and recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters. He frequently presents to public pension fund professionals and trustees concerning legal issues impacting their funds, has authored numerous articles addressing investor rights, including, for example, a chapter in the Practising Law Institute’s 2017 Financial Services Mediation Answer Book, and is a regular speaker at institutional investor conferences. While attending Brooklyn Law School, Michael held a judicial internship position for the Honorable David G. Trager, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York. In addition, he worked as an intern at The Legal Aid Society's Harlem Community Law Office, as well as at Brooklyn Law School's Second Look and Workers’ Rights Clinics, and provided legal assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana.