Michael L. Rich

• Dillon, Bitar & Luther, L.L.C., Morristown, New Jersey: Partner (1990-2006), Associate (1984-1989)

• Obtained multi-million dollar buy-out on behalf of shareholder in Oppressed Minority Shareholder action.
• Successfully defended an international engineering and environment services firm in a commercial lease dispute where the owner was claiming oral modification of the parties' lease agreement, which would have committed the client to a $5 million additional obligation. Following a two and a half week trial, the jury unanimously returned a "no cause verdict" in the client's favor.
• Co-counsel in connection with successful defense of 11 consolidated shareholder class action lawsuits involving a $27 million corporate merger.
• Won multi-million dollar judgment and class action settlement on behalf of an ERISA pension plan resulting in restoration of funds looted by prior plan fiduciaries and their cohorts.
• Won multi-million dollar arbitration award on behalf of principal of international architectural/engineering firm in connection with his separation from the company.
• Won temporary restraints, injunctive relief and damages on behalf of employer for former employee's violation of non-compete agreement and breach of duty of loyalty.
• Successfully defended corporate and individual clients against charges of trade secret misappropriation.
• Successfully handled liquidation of large portfolios of defaulted commercial loans for major bank and a private hedge fund.
• Won multi-million dollar judgment on behalf of commercial real estate brokers for unpaid commissions owed to them.
• Won summary judgment resulting in early dismissal from action of clients, outside directors of a parent corporation, who were joined in director and officer liability suit by the New Jersey Department of Insurance.
• Obtained preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and damages for client in trademark infringement action in federal court.
• Successfully represented owner in suit against builder for faulty construction.
• Successfully mediated a variety of complex commercial, employment and probate disputes.
• Frequently cited published decisions in which victorious include Gerardi v. Pelullo, 16 F.3d 1363 (3d Cir. 1994) and Meadox Medicals, Inc. v. Life Systems, Inc., 3 F. Supp. 2d 549 (D.N.J. 1998).

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. 

• Recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Commercial Litigation (2010 - 2022), Litigation - Labor & Employment (2012 - 2022), Litigation - Real Estate (2012 - 2022).
  A description of the selection process can be found here.
• Recognized in Who's Who Legal Litigation, 2020.
  A description of the selection process can be found here.
• Recognized in New Jersey Super Lawyers Top 100, 2018; New Jersey Super Lawyers List, Business Litigation, 2005 – 2021.
  A description of the selection process can be found here.
• Recognized as a Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Award Winner, 2017; and Marquis Who's Who in American Law.
• Recognized in National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals.
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, its highest rating.
  A description of the selection process can be found here.

• Morris County Bar Association, Trustee, 2005–2009; Chancery Practice Committee, Member 2001 - present, Chair 2003-2015.
• New Jersey State Bar Association, Equity Jurisprudence Special Committee (appointed member); Civil Trial Bar Section; Labor & Employment Section.
• American Bar Association
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America (American Association for Justice)
• New Jersey Association for Justice
• Morris Educational Foundation, Trustee, 2012 - 2016.
• Employment Horizons, Trustee, 2000–2008.
• New Jersey Housing Authority, Commissioner, Morris County, 1991–1997 (Gubernatorial Appointment).

• "Voir Dire and Jury Selection Strategies,"Advanced Trial Tactics, National Business Institute, December 20, 2016.
• "Can I Judicially Expel My Fellow LLC Member If We Can't Get Along?," Association of Corporate Counsel, Focus on the New Jersey Chapter, August 28, 2015.
• "NJ Appellate Court Construes Statute Allowing For Judicial Expulsion of LLC Member if "Not Reasonably Practicable" to Carry on Together," Porzio Commercial Litigation Briefs, June 2015.
• "New Jersey Judiciary's Complex Business Litigation Program Goes Statewide," Porzio Commercial Litigation Briefs, March 2015.
• "Pharma Compliance 101," CFO Studio Magazine, 2nd Quarter 2014.
• "Getting a Divorce from your Business Partner,"  OnSite, the Metropolitan Builders & Contractors Association of NJ Newsletter, May 2014.
• "The Business Judgment Rule: Partial Armor for Directors and Officers," New Jersey Lawyers Magazine, No. 287, April 2014.
• "SUCCESSOR LIABILITY:  The Right and Wrong Way to Assert It," Porzio Commercial Litigation Briefs, March 2014.
• "When Is A Director's Claim For Indemnification Ripe And Appropriate?," Porzio Commercial Litigation Briefs, November, 2013.
• "Confirm You Are Covered: The Importance of Directors and Officers Liability Insurance in Today’s Litigious Environment," CFO Studio Magazine, 4th Quarter 2013.
• "The Business Divorce: A primer on minority shareholder oppression rights," CFO Studio Magazine, 2nd Quarter 2013.
• "NJ Appellate Division Lays Out Guidelines for Claims Under Revised Uniform Partnership Act," Porzio Commercial Litigation Briefs, July 2013.
• "Delaware Chancery Court Provides Roadmap for Asserting or Defending Claim of Usurpation of Corporate Opportunity,"Porzio Commercial Litigation Briefs, May 2013.
• Quoted in "Bill Would Fight Unemployment by Invalidating Restrictive Covenants," New Jersey Law Journal, April 22, 2013.
• "New Jersey Revised Uniform Limited Liability Act Takes Effect March 18, 2013," Porzio Commercial Litigation Briefs, March 2013.
• "Breach of Restrictive Covenants: What Are the Damages?," New Jersey Law Journal, October 24, 2011.
• "Where To Go for Emergent Relief: Using AAA's Optional Rules for Emergency Measures," New Jersey Law Journal, September 5, 2011.
• "SBA Launches Temporary Program to Provide Commercial Real Estate Refinancing Relief," OnSite, Community Builders & Remodelers Association of NJ Newsletter, May 2011.
• "Protecting the Business Purchaser," New Jersey Law Journal, April 11, 2011.
• Contributor to "Commercial Disputes," FinancierWorldwide.com, June 2010.
• "'Fair Value' and Discounting in N.J. Shareholder Oppression Case," New Jersey Law Journal, Vol. 194, No. 5, November 3, 2008.
• "An Employee's Duty of Loyalty: The Supreme Court Attempts to Clarify in Lamore Burns & Co. v. Walters," Client Update, February 2002.

• "Cross-Examination and Redirect – Focus on Experts and Evidence", NBI Advanced Trial Tactics Seminar, Toms River, NJ, December 19, 2018.
• "Voir Dire and Jury Selection Strategies" and "Cross-Examination and Redirect – Focus on Experts and Evidence", NBI Advanced Trial Tactics Seminar, Toms River, NJ, December 20, 2016.
• "Top 5 in Business Torts," New Jersey Association of Justice Boardwalk Seminar® 2015, Atlantic City, NJ, April 30, 2015.
• "Business Valuation Roundtable: The Business Divorce," New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, Roseland, NJ, April 21, 2015.
• "Business Divorce – The Issues, The Drama, The Tax," Hamilton, NJ, November 18, 2014; Iselin, NJ, November 17, 2014 and Randolph, NJ, August 6, 2014.
• Moderator, "Small Business Breakups – Avoiding a Repeat of the French Revolution," NJSBA Mid-Year Meeting, Paris, France, November 3, 2014.
• "Top 5 in Business Torts," New Jersey Association of Justice Boardwalk Seminar® 2014, Atlantic City, NJ May 1, 2014.
• "Making the Right Moves When Signing Employment Agreements: A Primer," SUNY College of Optometry, New York City, April 3, 2013.
• "Real Estate and Environmental Breakfast Roundtable - The Comeback: Starting the Conversation, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman P.C., June 6, 2012.
• “Top 10 for 2010 – A Discussion of the Ten Most Relevant Court Decisions for Labor, Employment and Immigration Practitioners for 2010,” NJSBA 2010 Mid-Year Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ, November 6, 2010.
• Moderator, “Recent Developments in Restrictive Covenant Litigation, Probate Litigation and Related Topics,” Morris/Sussex Bench Bar Conference, Chancery Division, General Equity Breakout Session, October 22, 2010.
• "State of Foreclosures: Finding Creative Solutions," Breakfast Briefing for Lenders on New Jersey Economic Climate: A Glimpse at Impact on Commercial Real Estate Loans, Foreclosures, Workouts and Bankruptcies, October 23, 2009.
• Moderator, “Overview of Chancery Practice Including a Mock Order to Show Cause Involving a Non-Compete Among Doctors,” MCBA Chancery Practice Seminar, June 16, 2005.
• “Overview of Chancery Practice and Emergent Applications in Restrictive Covenant Litigation,” MCBA Chancery Practice Seminar, May 14, 2003.