Michael is a member of a team of lawyers who represent large financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals regarding employment transitions and violations of contractual covenants. His practice primarily focuses on securities law, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, corporate change in control issues, mergers and acquisitions, commercial litigation, arbitration and high-level negotiation.
Clients draw on Michael’s national experience with regard to:
- Brokerage industry transitions, promissory notes, and deferred compensation disputes
- Defending TRO litigation
- Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) development and planning
- Negotiating financial advisor contracts with top firms
- Representing financial advisors in numerous regulatory matters before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Form U-4 and U-5 issues
- Defending against garden leave provisions across the country
- Corporate raiding
Michael has represented thousands of financial advisors, has significant experience in all facets of their business and in the financial industry generally and has advised on some of the largest transitions in financial industry history.
Education
J.D., with honors, University of Florida, 2004
M.D.R, Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University, 2004
B.S., with honors, Gannon University, 2001
Professional and Community Affiliations
- Sarasota County Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Advisory Committee
Honors
- Florida Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Representative Matters
- Shumaker Defeats Merrill’s Attempt to Block Former Advisors’ $129 Billion Business
- 10.03.2025 Shumaker – Shumaker Defeats Merrill’s Attempt to Block Former Advisors’ $129 Billion Business
- 09.26.2025 AdvisorHub – $129-Bln Merrill Breakaways Fire Back in Raiding Lawsuit
- Shumaker Wins Defamation Case for Financial Advisor Against Merrill Lynch
- 05.02.2018 AdvisorHub – Merrill to Pay $750,000 for Defaming Broker by Insinuating Insider Trading
- 05.02.2018 Citywire – Merrill to pay ex-offshore broker $750,000 in defamation case
- 05.02.2018 Financial Advisor IQ – Merrill Lynch to Fork Over Big Payout to Fired FA
- Shumaker Victory Recognized as One of Largest FINRA Awards Brokers Won from Their Firms
- 04.12.2018 InvestmentNews – Biggest Arb Awards Brokers Won from Their Firms
- Shumaker Attorneys Defeat Merrill Lynch's Attempt to Keep Litigants Out of FINRA Arbitration
- 04.03.2018 AdvisorHub – Merrill Retreats from Battle to Fight Former Executives in Court
- 04.03.2018 wealthmanagement.com – Merrill Lynch Gives Up fight Against Former Advisors’ Rights to Arbitrate
- 02.08.2018 AdvisorHub – Former Merrill Exec Wins Skirmish Over Losses in His Stock Plan
- Shumaker Attorneys Obtain TRO on Behalf of Morgan Stanley
- 02.06.2018 AdvisorHub – Judge Hands Morgan Stanley Another TRO Win, Hands Off to FINRA
- 01.31.2018 AdvisorHub – Whose Client Is It? Morgan Stanley Argues Both Sides, Former Broker Claims
- 01.24.2018 AdvisorHub – Morgan Stanley Wins Another Restraining Order Against Former Broker
- 01.23.2018 AdvisorHub – Morgan Stanley Disses Former Broker’s Career in New TRO Suit