Michael Fluhr counsels and defends companies in a wide variety of complex, commercial disputes. Michael focuses his practice on the financial sector, including the blockchain and digital asset space, where he advises and defends exchanges, issuers, NFT platforms and creators, and related companies.
Michael is an author and editor of the book "Cryptocurrency and Digital Asset Regulation: A Practical Guide for Multinational Counsel and Transactional Lawyers," published in 2022 by the American Bar Association. Sought-after for his deep understanding of the space and technology, Michael has been quoted in media and regularly publishes and speaks about issues germane to blockchain and digital assets, including securities analysis, intellectual property rights, and regulation of the NFT space.
CourtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Central District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Southern District of New YorkUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New YorkUnited States District Court for the Western District of New YorkUnited States District Court for the Northern District of New YorkUnited States District Court for the Southern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
EXPERIENCE
Blockchain and Digital Assets
Nike, Inv. V. StockX LLC (SDNY) – Representing Nike in trademark infringement and dilution claims against StockX over sales of unauthorized Nike-branded NFTs
Counseling DeFi protocol company on response to hack resulting in loss of substantial assets
Counseling major film studio on myriad NFT projects, including creation of NFT trading platforms, sales of media-themed NFTs, and regulatory compliance
Advising large social media company on partnership with NFT platform to launch NFT collectibles
Advised NFT platform on partnership with professional car racing organization to launch NFT collectibles
Counseled ownership group for several professional sports clubs (including NHL and NBA teams) on creation of a platform to mint and trade NFT collectibles
Counseled private equity firm on various issues relating to NFT collectible platform to assess potential acquisition of sports collectibles company
Defeated motion for preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order that could have enjoined client’s imminent sale of tens of millions of dollars' worth of new cryptocurrency and release of new blockchain
Defended large, international cryptocurrency exchange against multiple lawsuits from customer alleging failure to support forked currencies, obtaining summary judgment and affirmance in published appellate decision
Defended large cryptocurrency exchange against numerous consumer disputes, lawsuits, and arbitrations
Defended large, international cryptocurrency exchange in several commercial disputes
Defended cryptocurrency exchange against prelitigation allegations of trademark infringement in the distributed domain name space
Defended SAFT issuer in securities fraud lawsuit
Counseled foreign cryptocurrency issuer on compliance with US securities laws
Counseled foreign cryptocurrency exchange on setting up unclaimed property law compliance program
Other Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Defending AI company going public via SPAC against claims it breached contract to issue convertible note
Defended venture capital firm focused on gaming against claims it tortiously interfered with SAFE investment in gaming company
Defending private fund investing in manufactured housing communities against claims of securities fraud
Represented medical device distributor in lawsuit and companion arbitration against manufacturers alleging product defects
Defended professional race truck team against lawsuit by race promoter alleging violations of race contracts
Defended large music festival promoter in lawsuit arising from cancellation of festival
Counseled medical technology company in prelitigation dispute with former director over trade secret theft and
Defended fitness SAAS company in class action alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
Defended credit reporting agency in over a dozen cases filed under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, obtaining multiple dismissals
Represented foreign bank in litigation seeking to draw down on US$103 million line of credit, defeating motion by counterparty bank to enjoin draw down
Represented investment bank in litigation over enforceability of interest rate swap
Products Liability Litigation and Counseling
Led internal investigation of alleged environmental contamination in coworking spaces
Served as national coordinating counsel for international automaker, supervising the defense of hundreds of lawsuits across the U.S. and abroad, and obtaining myriad dismissals on the merits and without payment
Led team of multiple law firms in defense of bus manufacturer and distributor in over sixty related lawsuits across multiple jurisdictions arising from a severe accident, obtaining dismissal with prejudice without payment
Defended auto manufacturer in class action alleging defects in wheels, obtaining denial of class certification
Obtained dismissal at trial, affirmed on appeal, for auto manufacturer and distributor against lawsuit by estate of deceased individual involved in a bus accident
Defended airplane manufacturer in lawsuit alleging fuel line defects leading to crash
Michael also has experience with direct defense of aging services facilities in lawsuits asserting professional liability, personal injury, negligence, elder abuse, wrongful death and other related claims.
Education
J.D., Harvard Law School 2006
B.S., Physics, Pennsylvania State University 2003
Awards
Cryptocurrency/Blockchain/Fintech Trailblazer 2018, National Law Journal
Pro Bono
Michael has argued and won several pro bono appeals and currently sits on the Ninth Circuit pro bono panel. Representative wins:
Peasley v. Spearman, 2022 WL 2301992 (9th Cir. 2022) (obtained reversal of summary judgment dismissing prisoner's Eight Amendment claim he was denied medical care)
People v. Spells, 66 A.D.3d 924 (N.Y. App. Div. 2009) (appearing as Special Assistant District Attorney, obtained affirmance of criminal charges for murder in second degree and criminal possession of weapon in third degree)
People v. Pena, 60 A.D.3d 1089 (N.Y. App. Div. 2009) (appearing as Special Assistant District Attorney, obtained affirmance of criminal charges for robbery and grand larceny)
Court upholds New York AG's Martin Act authority to investigate virtual currency fraud, State Attorney General Watch blog, 14 July 2020
Court confirms Telegram injunction covers non-US purchasers, 2 April 2020
Court grants SEC's motion for preliminary injunction against Telegram's sales of Gram cryptocurrency; Telegram appeals, 30 March 2020
"NY Attorney General Files Fraud Claims Against Bitfinex and Tether," National Law Review, May 7, 2019
"New York Federal Court Denies Motion to Dismiss Securities Class Action Against Digital Token Issuer," National Law Review, April 9, 2019
"SEC Issues Long-Awaited Cryptocurrency Guidance," Lexology, April 5, 2019
"Preliminary Injunction in Blockvest Provides New Fodder for SEC Regulation of Digital Assets and Raises Scrutiny of Marketing Materials," National Law Review, February 20, 2019
"Security Token Offerings: Old Wine in a New Bottle?," National Law Review, February 18, 2019
"In re Tomahawk and the Securities Law Implications for Airdropped Tokens," September 7, 2018
"Foreign Cryptocurrency Issuers Must Beware of U.S. Securities Advertising Restrictions," Oracle Times Cryptocurrency News, May 7, 2018
"SEC and CFTC Offer Views on Regulation of Virtual Currency," IP Tech Blog, February 27, 2018
Seminars
Speaker, "Legal Matters in the Web3 Economy at the University of Chicago Law School," University of Chicago Law School Blockchain Conference, January 19, 2023
Speaker, "Non-Fungible Tokens: Securities Law, Entertainment Unions and Licensing Strategies, " Lexology, November 15, 2022
Speaker, "BHBA NFT Week: Regulatory Implications in the NFT and the Metaverse Spaces," Beverly Hills Bar Association, Zoom webinar, March 25, 2022
Speaker, "Tokenizing Creativity: Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and Intellectual Property," American Intellectual Property Association Mid-Winter Institute, February 3, 2022
Moderator, Panel Discussion "The State of Blockchain Law 2020," Northern California Harvard Law School Alumni Association, March 5, 2020
Speaker, "Blockchain 101: An Introduction to Blockchain Technology, Industry, and Regulation for Attorneys," California Lawyers Association, July 18, 2019
Speaker, "Blockchain 101", 3DHEALS Global Healthcare Conference, April 21, 2018
Moderator, Panel Discussion "Emerging International Issues in Regulation of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies," DRI Annual Meeting, October 17-21, 2018
Panelist, Panel Discussion "Funders Fire," AI Global Tech Summit, May 11, 2018
Panelist, "ICO? Where to Go?" German-American Chamber of Commerce sponsored event, September 7, 2018
Presenter, "Everything Is the Same/Nothing Has Changed," NorCal eDiscovery Retreat, July 18, 2016
Presenter, "A Closer Look at Social Media eDiscovery and Governance," Actiance Webinar, May 19, 2015
Presenter, "Establishing InHouse eDiscovery Playbooks, Procedures, Tool Selection, and Implementation," NorCal eDiscovery & Information Governance Retreat, April 26-27, 2015
Panelist, "The Three Rs of Enterprise Discovery Management," Legal Tech New York, February 2014
Panelist, "The Why of eDiscovery Understanding the Frameworks: eDiscovery Goals," Laguna Beach eDiscovery Retreat, July 2013
Panelist, "An Analytical Primer: Assessing the Pros & Cons of Established & Emerging Review & Analysis Paradigms," Carmel Valley eDiscovery Retreat, July 2013
Panelist, "Laying the Foundations for eDiscovery Competence," Carmel Valley eDiscovery Retreat, May 2013
Panelist, "The Unforeseen: eDiscovery Project Management," Legal Tech New York, January 2013
Media Mentions
"Should you still care about cryptocurrencies?", ITPro., March 6, 2019
Marc J. Lane, Representing Corporate Officers and Directors and LLC Managers (Third) § 11.01[B] n. 168.46
Clerk Experience
Clerkship for the Honorable Warren Matthews, Alaska Supreme Court, 2006-2007
Clerkship for the Honorable William Martini, United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, 2007-2008
