Michael P. Weisberg

Michael represents businesses and entrepreneurs in complex commercial disputes, with particular depth in the apparel and fashion industry, where he has spent his entire career on both sides of the table.

Michael started his career at a top Los Angeles bankruptcy firm, representing chapter 11 debtors and chapter 7 trustees. He then left firm practice to serve as General Counsel and CEO of a struggling apparel company, successfully navigating it through bankruptcy and guiding it through its reorganization into a top brand. While in the private sector, Michael co-founded two apparel companies and a factoring business serving clients across multiple industries. Acting as general counsel for those companies, Michael handled disputes ranging from breach of contract actions to bankruptcy proceedings.

Michael’s practice covers commercial litigation, partnership disputes, creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, trade secrets, trademark enforcement, and distressed asset acquisitions — across apparel, entertainment, consumer products, hospitality, agriculture, and beyond. His background as an operator and entrepreneur allows him to bring a unique business perspective to every matter he handles.

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 1990)
• University of California San Diego (B.A. 1987)

Admissions

• Admitted to all Federal and State Courts in California.

APPAREL & FASHION

• Obtained $9.7 million settlement in complex partnership dispute involving breach of fiduciary duty, misallocation of profits, and systematic efforts by a majority partner to freeze out and sideline the minority partner, resolving the matter in less than nine months.
• Represented major apparel importer in breach of contract action against a national brand, obtaining a near-seven-figure settlement within one month of filing the complaint.
• Represented overseas apparel manufacturer in breach of contract action, obtaining a writ of attachment and collecting a three-year-old account receivable in excess of $300,000 within 30 days.
• Represented Vietnamese importer of apparel in breach of contract dispute with a domestic brand, obtaining a writ of attachment and settlement at full value within one month.
• Represented textile company in breach of contract action, obtaining a prompt settlement at 100% of the amount claimed.
• Represented apparel company holding nationally recognized licenses in a dispute with a third-party logistics provider, obtaining a favorable resolution for the client.
• Successfully prosecuted breach of contract and fraud action in Los Angeles Superior Court against an overseas supplier that shipped merchandise after the contract cancel date. After defeating defendant’s writ of attachment, obtained summary judgment finding the principals personally liable as alter egos, plus attorney’s fees and prejudgment interest, for a total award in excess of $3.5 million. The judgment was affirmed by the California Court of Appeal.
• Obtained a writ of possession enabling the seizure of valuable merchandise wrongfully held by a defendant to extort unearned payments.
• Defend and prosecute trademark matters for apparel industry clients, including infringement actions and brand protection.

PARTNERSHIP & BUSINESS DISPUTES

•  Obtained writ of attachment in excess of $300,000 on behalf of minority owner within two weeks of engagement in matter involving efforts by majority owner to freeze out and sideline client from company operations and decision-making.
• Represented partner in agricultural products company in arbitration, successfully defeating opposing party’s claims of ownership interest.
• Successfully represented company in partnership dispute in the beverage industry, eliminating former partner’s claims in their entirety.
• Represented importer of consumer hard goods against its factor in breach of contract action, obtaining a favorable outcome for the client.

ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA

• Represented owner of motion picture licenses against a breaching licensee, recovering 100% of damages claimed in the mid-six-figure range.
• Advised LA-based production company in its acquisition of a leading independent entertainment entity, encompassing physical assets, intellectual property, contracts, and key personnel.

CONSUMER PRODUCTS & REGULATED INDUSTRIES

• Represented consumer products company in class action seeking millions in damages, achieving a defense settlement at $0.
• Represented consumer products company in breach of contract action, obtaining a writ of attachment and achieving settlement within one month at 100% of the amount claimed — in excess of $380,000.

BANKRUPTCY & INSOLVENCY 

• Represented client subjected to an involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition, obtaining a settlement in excess of $200,000 from the petitioning creditors based on bad faith filing.
• Obtained seven-figure settlement for Chapter 7 trustee in preference action in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.
• Represented bankruptcy trustee of defunct boutique construction firm, recovering over $1 million in preferential and fraudulent transfers.
• Assist clients in the acquisition of distressed assets across multiple industries.

OTHER INDUSTRIES

• Represented gym equipment rental company in trade secrets dispute, obtaining judgment of approximately $450,000, a permanent injunction, and an award of attorney’s fees.
• Represented a world-renowned event producer in breach of contract action against a client, obtaining a settlement of approximately $300,000.
• Represented boutique hotel in contract dispute with a large national hospitality company, obtaining termination of the contract.

• “The Best Lawyers in America” (2021, 2023-Present)