Pete Michaels and David Ward Join from Greenberg Traurig

Boston, MA – Mintz continues to expand the firm’s national litigation practice with the arrival of two new Members – Pete S. Michaels and David L. Ward. Both previously were shareholders at Greenberg Traurig, where Mr. Michaels served as Co-Chair of the Financial Regulatory and Compliance Practice.

“Pete has carved out a strong national practice representing financial institutions, and has established himself as a leading expert in the area,” said Bob Bodian, Managing Member of Mintz. “We are pleased that Pete and David are joining Mintz and bringing with them tremendous litigation experience, especially regarding complex financial services litigation and regulatory matters. They deepen and expand our ability to serve our growing roster of financial services clients, and I am confident that they will be a great addition to the Boston office, the litigation team and the firm.” 

Mr. Michaels’ practice is focused on financial services litigation and regulatory matters. He has spent many years representing multinational and regional financial services firms (including banks, investment advisers, mutual fund complexes, pension consultants, insurance companies, and traditional, independent, and discount broker-dealers) and their employees, directors and officers. He represents clients in matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, National Futures Association, American Stock Exchange, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and state securities regulators throughout the country. Mr. Michaels has also handled securities disputes, including class actions, in many state and federal courts, and before arbitration panels for more than 25 years. He regularly consults on compliance-related matters, including internal investigations for financial institutions, and he has twice served as Outside Compliance Consultant in Massachusetts Securities Division matters.

Mr. Ward represents financial services clients throughout the United States, including broker-dealers, investment advisors, banks, pension consultants, insurance companies and publicly traded entities before the SEC, FINRA, CFTC, U.S. Department of Justice and state regulators. He regularly assists clients in internal investigations, the defense of regulatory investigations, sales practice issues, corporate governance matters and securities-related litigation in state and federal courts nationwide. Mr. Ward advises clients on compliance issues, and has acted as the Independent Compliance Consultant in Massachusetts Securities Division matters. He also represents firms, directors and officers in employment litigation, including discrimination, wrongful termination, recruiting and "raiding" matters, compensation and separation agreements, and Form U-5 issues. He has litigated hundreds of employment matters across the country.