Mike Margolis

Mike Margolis
Partner
Business Litigation

Biography

ASIA PRACTICE CHAIR

SHANGHAI OFFICE CHAIR

Mike Margolis has been a trusted adviser, and trial and appellate lawyer, for over 30 years. Chambers Global reported that Mike “draws acclaim for his broad litigation expertise.” (2015) His major cases have included:

  • Cross-border and multi-jurisdiction litigation and arbitration
  • Intellectual property, trade secret, and non-compete disputes
  • Financial institution and real estate disputes
  • M&A break-ups, failed deals, and corporate governance disputes
  • Compliance disputes
  • Employment, fiduciary, and fraud disputes
  • Anti-Terrorism Act litigation
  • Class actions

Mike also “heads the Blank Rome LLP group dedicated to representing Chinese companies and individuals working in the USA.” (Chambers Global) For over 20 years, Mike has traveled regularly in Greater China. He has advised many Chinese companies and investors about how to use law and strategy to succeed in the United States. Representative clients include Bank of China, CTBC, Esong, Gemdale, Great Wall Motor, ICBC, JD.com, OnePlus, Tencent, XGIMI, and ZTE. The China Business Law Journal named Mike to its prestigious “A-List” in the “Visionaries” category (2023–24).

Mike’s opinions about cross-border issues have been featured on National Public Radio and in the Wall Street Journal, London Financial Times’ FDI Magazine, Los Angeles Times, China Daily, and South China Morning Post (Hong Kong). 

Mike has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America (2024). In the category of International Attorneys, Mike was one of four Finalists in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Leaders in Law” awards (2017). He is repeatedly rated a “Super Lawyer,” and Los Angeles Magazine called Mike one of its “Top 100 Super Lawyers in Southern California.” (2014)

Mike was appointed as an Arbitrator for the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Commission (2018) and as a Distinguished Professor at the Lawyers Institute of the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, one of China's top law schools (2020).

Experience

  • Obtained dismissal of a U.S. federal court lawsuit against a Taiwanese bank based on a contractual provision choosing Hong Kong as a forum for disputes.
  • Prevented dismissal of a manufacturer’s lawsuit in California and defeated the distributor’s attempt to enforce a contractual provision choosing China as the forum for disputes.
  • Obtained a jury verdict against commercial real estate brokers for fraud and punitive damages.
  • Obtained a jury verdict defeating multiple employment law claims, finding the worker was an independent contractor.
  • Obtained a jury verdict in favor of a large law firm, defeating massive malpractice claims and recovering a seven-figure award for unpaid legal fees.

News & Views

See all News and Views

Recognitions

  • 2023–2024, A-List Visionary, listed by China Business Law Journal
  • 2025, Litigation - Intellectual Property in Los Angeles, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
  • 2024 (and prior years), “Super Lawyer,” listed by Super Lawyers
  • 2017–2018, Finalist, “Leaders in Law,” listed by Los Angeles Business Journal – International Lawyers
  • 2015, Chambers Global
  • 2014, “Top 100 Super Lawyers in Southern California,” listed by Los Angeles Magazine

Affiliations

Memberships

  • Asia Society Southern California
  • Cornell Law Association
  • Hong Kong Association of Southern California
  • World Trade Center LA
Professional Activities
  • World Trade Center LA, Advisory Board
  • Asia Society of Southern California, Advisory Board (formerly)
  • Hong Kong Association of Southern California, Board (formerly)
  • Cornell Law Association, Executive Board (formerly)

Credentials

Admissions

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • California
  • U.S. District Court - Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of California

Education

  • Cornell Law School, JD
  • Hampshire College, BA

A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolades are based can be found here.

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