Michael C. Deutsch

 

Michael C. Deutsch - a Georgetown University Law Center graduate - is a Partner with, and Co Founder of, Singer Deutsch LLP. Mr. Deutsch was designated as a "New York Super Lawyer" in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 having been chosen for this distinction by both his peers and through independent research conducted by Law & Politics. Only five percent of New York metro attorneys have been named to the list. Mr. Deutsch is designated as a Martindale-Hubbell "AV Preeminent" ranked attorney by his peers in the areas of Labor, Employment, Litigation and Securities Law.

A Member of both the New York and New Jersey Bars, he co founded Singer Deutsch LLP after working for over 8 years at Eclipse Sports Management (previously Impact Sports Management), a sports agency he founded with Scott Greenspun, Esq. Mr. Deutsch has negotiated numerous multi million dollar contracts for professional ice hockey players from around the world, and has represented players in salary arbitrations conducted under the auspices of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement. He continues to represent athletes in conjunction with his securities and employment law practice at Singer Deutsch LLP.

In connection with his nationwide employment law practice, Mr. Deutsch represents high-level individuals affiliated primarily with the Securities and Commodities industries, such as Wall Street traders, investment bankers, private bankers, hedge fund executives, private equity fund executives, research analysts, portfolio managers, financial advisors, brokers, wealth managers, financial planners, wholesalers, compliance personnel, operations personnel, and hedge fund marketers. Mr. Deutsch represents these individuals in both arbitrations and litigations against their former employers and in investigations or enforcement proceedings conducted by the Securities and Commodities regulators.

With respect to Mr. Deutsch's nationwide representation of Securities and Commodities professionals against their former employers, the claims typically involve bonus disputes, wrongful terminations, U-5 defamation, failures to pay compensation (oftentimes involving deferred compensation and stock options), sexual harassment (#MeToo), whistle-blowing, gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, race discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, national origin discrimination, libel, and slander. These actions are typically arbitrated at FINRA (formerly the NYSE or NASD); they are sometimes litigated in Court (Title VII actions and actions involving the Human Rights Laws) and are sometimes arbitrated and/or mediated at the AAA and JAMS as well. Mr. Deutsch's clients range in title from Associate to Senior Managing Director/Partner. Mr. Deutsch also represents FINRA member firms against other member firms in disputes emanating from unlawful solicitations, tortious interferences with business relations, and trading errors.

Mr. Deutsch negotiates multi-million dollar (and other) employment agreements and separation/severance agreements for his clients. Mr. Deutsch also represents high-profile individuals in the entertainment industry including, but not limited to, senior record label executives, music managers, models, actresses, producers, television personalities, and world renowned authors, as well as high-profile individuals in other industries, in connection with employment disputes with their former employers, contract negotiations, and commercial litigation disputes.

With respect to Mr. Deutsch's nationwide representation of Securities and Commodities professionals who are under investigation by the Securities and Commodities regulators, the issues range from market-timing, late-day trading, front-running, "selling away," structuring, money laundering, cherry-picking, expense fraud, and unauthorized, outside business activities to sales-practices issues (unsuitability and churning), forgery, and insider trading.

In connection with his nationwide representation of individual investors, Mr. Deutsch handles diverse, complex matters against investment banks, brokerage firms, hedge funds, financial planners, financial advisors, and investment advisors emanating from investment-related losses. These matters typically involve unsuitable investing, breaches of fiduciary duties, negligence, churning, material misrepresentations, unauthorized trading, material omissions, "selling-away," failures to supervise, blue-sky violations, and fraud. Mr. Deutsch represents these individual investors nationwide in FINRA, NFA, AAA, and JAMS Arbitrations.

Prior to his formation of Singer Deutsch LLP, and on a continuing basis, Mr. Deutsch – in connection with his work at Eclipse Sports Management – has negotiated multi-million dollar contracts for professional ice hockey players throughout the world, including those in the NHL, KHL, Czech Extraliga, Finnish Liiga, Swedish Hockey League and the German Elite League. His clients in North America have played for the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes and Ottawa Senators, among others.

From 1996 through 2002, Mr. Deutsch practiced law at the New York City firm Braverman & Associates, where he was a commercial litigator.

Mr. Deutsch has appeared as a legal analyst on the Fox Business Network, the PBS Nightly Business Report, and New York Metro television stations. Mr. Deutsch’s appearances include a segment on "Your World With Cavuto" to discuss a breaking insider trading scandal, a segment on the PBS Nightly Business Report to comment on General Mills’ since rescinded new legal policy with regard to consumer arbitration, and a segment on the PBS Nightly Business Report to comment on banking scandals at Wells Fargo. Mr. Deutsch regularly provides insights for a variety of print publications, including, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, Business Week, The Street.com, Investment Dealers Digest, Smart Money, The Deal.com, Law360 and Reuters.

Mr. Deutsch has also been a guest lecturer regarding the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement at both New York University and Adelphi University.

Mr. Deutsch previously served on the Board of Directors of Red Star Asset Management, a New York/Moscow based hedge fund.

Mr. Deutsch, an active FINRA arbitrator, is a Member of the New York and New Jersey Bars, along with various federal courts, and is a member of the Public Investors Arbitration Association (PIABA) and the Bar Association of the City of New York. He received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in 1988, and his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1992.

Mr. Deutsch is a member of the Hematologic Oncology Visiting Committee of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Areas of Practice:

  • Securities and Commodities Arbitration
  • Securities and Commodities Litigation
  • Securities and Commodities Mediation
  • Securities and Commodities Regulation
  • Enforcement Proceedings
  • NYSE Member Disputes
  • Employment Disputes
  • Arbitrator, FINRA

National Hockey League Players' Association- Certified Player Agent

Bar Admissions:

  • New York, 1993
  • New Jersey, 1993
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

Certification/Specialties:

  • Arbitrator, FINRA
  • NHLPA Player Agent

Education:

  • Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC, 1992
    Juris Doctor
        - Law Review: Law and Policy in International Business
          Associate Editor / 1991-1992
  • University of Exeter Faculty of Law, Exeter, England, 1990
  • Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 1988
    Bachelor of Arts / Major: History
  • Moscow State University, 1985
    Diploma: Russian Studies

Professional Associations and Memberships:

  • "New York Super Lawyer": 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022
  • "Martindale-Hubbell AV Preemininent Rating"
  • New York City Bar Association: Member, 2000 - Present
  • National Hockey League Players' Association: Certified Agent, 1994 - Present
  • Public Investors Bar Association: Member, 2003 - Present

Past Employment Positions:

  • Eclipse Sports Management (Impact Sports Management)
  • Braverman & Associates, New York City, Commercial Litigator, 1996 - 2002

Languages:

  • English
  • Russian