Michael Strub’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, with an emphasis on bankruptcy litigation and intellectual property litigation, including issues relating to patents and trade secrets.
Mike has extensive experience handling commercial and entertainment litigation matters in both state and federal court in a variety of jurisdictions — from the Superior Court in Guam to the Court of Trade in New York and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is also well-versed in the area of privilege and work product.
Additionally, Mike maintains an active pro bono practice. Together with Public Counsel, he and other Irell & Manella LLP lawyers filed a first-of-its-kind class action lawsuit against Compton Unified School District on behalf of students who are the victims of trauma, which seeks to require the district to provide these students with a meaningful education by implementing trauma-informed practices. In 2012, Mike received the “Pro Bono of the Year Award” from Public Counsel’s Appellate Law Program for his representation of plaintiff and appellant Janice Zhang in connection with a housing discrimination case in the Second District Court of Appeal. Working with other Irell lawyers and Kids in Need of Defense, Mike also obtained lawful permanent residency for a young Chinese girl who was a victim of child trafficking.
Experience
- Represented 10x Genomics Inc. in connection with patent infringement dispute.
- Represented Nu Image in connection with defense of fraud and breach of contract claims arising from sale of DVD film distribution company.
- Represented BOKF N.A. as trustee for first lien noteholders in connection with intercreditor dispute with second lien noteholders.
- Represented former equity holders and former management of Lake at Las Vegas resort in defense of, inter alia, claims for alleged fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance.
- Represented Carmel Land & Cattle Co. in connection with litigation in bankruptcy arising out of real estate and water rights.
- Represented Chapter 7 trustee for Imperial Credit Industries Inc. in fraudulent conveyance action against the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Matter was settled after U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled, in a matter of first impression, that the FDIC was not exempt from fraudulent conveyance law under regulations governing insured depository institutions.
News
Publications
Mike has written several articles on financial and bankruptcy issues. His article “Competition, Bargaining, and Exclusivity Under the New Value Rule Applying the Single-Asset Paradigm of Bonner Mall,” 111 Banking L. J. 228 (March 1994), was cited with approval by a number of courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States in Bank of America National Trust & Savings Association v. 203 North LaSalle Street Partnership (In re LaSalle Street Partnership), 526 U.S. 434 (1999) and the Second Circuit in In re Coltex Loop Central Three Partners, L.P., 138 F.3d 39 (1998). His publications also include:
- “The Impact of Bankruptcy on Intellectual Property Rights,” Corporate Counsel (September 2020)
- “A Re-Examination of the Rules of Property Rights and Post-Petition Gifting in Bankruptcy,” ABI Law Review (Winter 2020)
- “The Expansion Of The Triggering Creditor Doctrine In An Action To Avoid Fraudulent Transfers,” ABI Law Review (Winter 2016)
- “Navigating Bankruptcy Remand Contrasts In 2nd, 9th Circs.,” Law360 (March 31, 2015)
- “Lawyer as Witness,” Los Angeles County Bar Association County Bar Update (October 2012)
Speaking Engagements
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“Bankruptcy and Intellectual Property: Avoiding Traps and Exploiting Opportunities When They Merge,” Celesq CLE webinar (October 2020)
- “Business Debate,” American Bankruptcy Institute's 22nd Annual Southwest Bankruptcy Conference (September 10-12, 2015)
Practice Areas
Education
University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1990), highest honors; Editor, Texas Law Review; Order of the Coif
Georgetown University (B.S.F.S., 1987)
Admissions
- California, 1991
- District of Columbia, 1998
- U.S. District Court for the Central, Southern and Northern Districts of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Seventh Circuits
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central and Northern Districts of California
- U.S. Court of International Trade, 2018
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1996