Mike Mervis is a veteran litigator who has tried dozens of cases in federal and state courts and before arbitral tribunals across the country. Mike represents clients in complex commercial matters, disputes over distressed debt and investments (particularly in large chapter 11 bankruptcy cases), real estate and entertainment industry disputes and intellectual property cases.
Mike is the Vice-Chair of the Firm's Litigation Department and heads the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Group. He is also the head of its Bankruptcy Litigation Group and co-head of the Private Credit Litigation Group. In bankruptcy matters, he represents debtors, lenders, and statutory and ad hoc committees in large chapter 11 cases in bankruptcy courts across the country. Mike has litigated the full spectrum of contested matters and adversary proceedings that arise during the lifecycle of complex chapter 11 cases.
Leading legal directory Benchmark Litigation has named Mike a “National Star” and “Litigation Star” and he has repeatedly been recognized by The Legal 500 for his capabilities in advertising litigation. For example, Mike was lead trial counsel for the plaintiff in Lanham Act false advertising case that resulted in an 8-figure damages award and one of the most far-reaching permanent injunctions on record. Mike has also been named as a "Star" by Acritas, based on the organization’s 18-month survey of in-house counsel to identify exemplary outside counsel.
Mike is the immediate past chair of the Firm’s Hiring Committee and co-chair of the Firm’s Summer Associate Program.
Education
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New York University School of Law, J.D.
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Bowdoin College, A.B.
summa cum laude
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
- Connecticut
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, New York, Northern District
- U.S. District Court, New York, Eastern District
- U.S. District Court, New York, Southern District
- U.S. District Court, Colorado
Awards & Recognition
Acritas Star Lawyer 2020-2021
The Legal 500 United States: Media, Technology & Telecoms: Marketing & Advertising 2010-2015
The Legal 500 United States: General Commercial Disputes 2019-2020, 2024
Benchmark Litigation Future Star 2017
Benchmark Litigation Litigation Star 2019-2025
Matters
Commercial and Bankruptcy Litigation
- Co-lead trial counsel for confirmation of Puerto Rico’s plan of adjustment under federal PROMESA statute.
- Lead trial counsel for debtors in contested confirmation hearing involving successful cram down of secured creditor.
- Lead trial counsel for several ERISA funds in commercial lease dispute, obtaining complete trial victory on funds’ claims against landlord and dismissal of landlord’s counterclaim.
- Lead trial counsel for debtor in successful application to modify retiree benefits over objection of major labor union.
- Lead trial counsel for a Lanham Act plaintiff in a case in which the court found for his client, held that the defendant, his client’s main competitor, engaged in “intentional deception of an egregious nature” and enterred one of the largest damage awards on record in a Lanham Act false advertising case.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a lender dismissing lender liability claims asserted by the borrower, a multi-billion dollar REIT, in connection with a high-profile condominium conversion project.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a lender against a defaulting borrower who claimed that capital contributions made to the SPE, which secured the loan, were really loans to the SPE lower Manhattan. The grant of summary judgment was affirmed on appeal.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a lender against a defaulting borrower who claimed that capital contributions made to the SPE, which secured the loan, were really loans to the SPE.
Entertainment and TMT Litigation
- Helped a major motion picture studio obtain a permanent injunction that prevented an online “hacker” magazine from distributing decryption software that allows the unlawful copying of DVDs.
- Represented a leading international database provider in preventing a start-up Internet company from making unauthorized competitive use of data and obtained a favorable decision involving a key copyright preemption issue.
- On behalf of Britney Spears, her record label and associated music publisher, obtained summary judgment dismissing a copyright infringement claim concerning a best-selling album.
- Obtained a directed verdict for a record company in a jury trial involving alleged tortious interference with the plaintiff’s contract with a successful recording artist.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a record label in a defamation action based on song lyrics by a well-known hip hop artist.
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