Michael Galdes represents companies in high stakes civil litigation.

Michael is a litigator who focuses on securities litigation, professional liability disputes, internal investigations, and other complex commercial litigation. He is experienced in all aspects of civil litigation, from drafting and answering complaints, to developing critical facts through discovery, writing and arguing case-dispositive motions, and trying cases to judges and juries.

Michael also maintains an active pro bono practice, where he primarily handles housing disputes. Michael has negotiated favorable settlements for multiple clients facing illegal evictions, helped other families stay in their homes, and recently tried a case to a successful jury verdict.

Michael received his JD from the University of Chicago Law School. Prior to joining Latham full time, Michael was a paralegal at a renewable energy company. He also previously served as a judicial extern for Judge George H. Wu of the United States District Court, Central District of California.

Michael's achievements include:

Securities Litigation

  • Led an associate team in a multi-billion dollar securities class action after the government canceled its contracts with his client. Michael’s efforts were central in obtaining a settlement for a fraction of the claimed damages
  • Successfully defended an investment fund faced with a years-long SEC investigation. The SEC withdrew all allegations of intentional misconduct, and the case promptly settled
  • Representing clients across a broad spectrum of industries including healthcare, biotech, public utilities, accounting firms, and more

Other Civil Litigation

  • Represented an up-and-coming fitness franchise in an intellectual property dispute. Michael aggressively pursued affirmative claims to achieve a favorable settlement. His client received the right to use all of the disputed intellectual property
  • Achieved a complete victory for an investor in a for-profit medical college. Michael negotiated the most favorable settlement possible (complete dismissal of all claims for no payment). Compounding this win, a federal judge subsequently dismissed the case with prejudice, giving Michael’s client a rare double victory
  • When Latham was retained after a client received an unfavorable tentative ruling, Michael stepped in and convinced the judge to first reverse her tentative ruling before then awarding attorneys’ fees for his client
  • Served as lead trial counsel in a pro bono lawsuit. The jury delivered a unanimous verdict in favor of Michael’s client less than 30 minutes after he delivered the closing argument

Bar Qualification

  • California

Education

  • JD, University of Chicago Law School, 2018
  • BA in History, University of California, Irvine, 2014
    cum laude