Michael Stortz represents clients in consumer protection and data privacy class actions at K&L Gates, and provides related counseling on compliance and litigation risk mitigation efforts, including online disclosures and arbitration provisions in consumer-facing terms of service.
Michael represents companies against claims of unfair competition, false advertising, consumer fraud, and breach of warranty, as well as claims arising under federal and state privacy laws, including the TCPA and federal and state wiretapping statutes. He is adept at devising creative exit strategies, including enforcing arbitration provisions with class action waivers, and resolving cases via dispositive motion. Michael has a robust record of defeating motions for class certification, and sustaining those trial court outcomes on appeal. He also has significant experience in defeating mass arbitration campaigns, including prevailing at individual arbitrations and forcing early dismissal of mass arbitration filings. Michael counsels companies in updating their consumer-facing arbitration provisions in light of plaintiffs' evolving strategies to use such provisions to extract significant settlements.
In addition to his extensive work defending class actions, Michael also represents clients in the technology, retail, and consumer product industries across a wide range of commercial disputes, including antitrust and intellectual property matters.
