Michael G. Scavelli

Partner

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Areas of Work

Commercial Trials & Litigation, White-Collar Defense, Financial Services, Financial Services Litigation

Overview

Mike Scavelli is a first-chair trial lawyer who works passionately for clients in high-stakes situations. He brings deep trial and appellate experience to every engagement, pairing courtroom skill with disciplined project management and eDiscovery savvy. Mike takes a holistic approach to advocacy—grounding his strategies in a genuine understanding of each client’s business, priorities, and long‑term objectives.

Mike represents businesses and individuals in state and federal courts nationwide. He has tried or prepared for trial numerous complex matters—both criminal and civil—involving a wide array of allegations including wire fraud, securities fraud, contractual disputes, insurance coverage, corporate governance issues, and voting‑rights claims. Drawing on this broad experience, Mike excels at guiding clients through the challenges of parallel criminal and civil proceedings and crafting integrated, forward‑looking strategies—in and out of the courtroom— that safeguard both legal and reputational interests.

Mike also brings his trial‑ready mindset to regulatory and enforcement matters. He has successfully advocated for clients before federal, state, and local regulators, and has had leading roles in high‑stakes internal investigations. In particular, Mike has been at the forefront of counseling clients and litigating disputes related to the Department of Defense's Section 1260H List and the Helms‑Burton Act.

Mike serves as the Chair of Steptoe's Professional Training Committee and is responsible for the firm's global training program. Mike also devotes substantial time to Steptoe's pro bono program, investing his time and talent to advocate on behalf of clients in litigation and investigations involving voting rights, policing reform, and wrongful convictions.

Clients hire Mike because he brings unwavering commitment, clear‑eyed strategic judgment, and a calm, trial‑tested presence to every matter. He listens closely, sees around corners, and is relentless in advancing clients' interests—whether that means preparing for a bet‑the‑company trial, navigating a sensitive regulatory inquiry, or solving a problem before it becomes one. Above all, clients know Mike will own their challenges as his own and deliver solutions that are thoughtful, practical, and built for the long term.

New York
Supreme Court of the United States
US District Court, Eastern District of New York
US District Court, Southern District of New York
US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

J.D., Brooklyn Law School, 2011, magna cum laude; Moot Court Honor Society; Articles Editor, Brooklyn Law Review
B.A., Johns Hopkins University, 2007, cum laude; Aitchison Public Service Fellowship, Political Science

Areas of Work

Representative Matters

Trials

Defended the former head of SUNY Polytechnic Institute in a high-profile trial and subsequent appeals (including to the US Supreme Court) arising from claims relating to administration of the Buffalo Billion economic development program. The litigation led to the US Supreme Court issuing a landmark ruling concerning the invalidity of the "right to control" theory of wire fraud.
Served as co-lead trial counsel in AAA arbitration defending a technology company and its executives accused of fraud in connection with a corporate acquisition.
Served as co-lead trial counsel for plaintiffs in first-of-its-kind challenge to the legislative map of Nassau County, NY as a violation of state voting rights laws and obtained favorable outcome, which secured a revised and fair map for Nassau County's racial minority groups.
Defended CFO of real estate investment trust in a first-of-its-kind accounting fraud trial and subsequent appeals.

Commercial Litigation

Represent a leading energy company in a groundbreaking action against certain Cuban state-owned entities under the Helms-Burton Act at both the trial and appellate level.
Represented CFO of real estate investment trust in parallel criminal, regulatory, securities, class action, and derivative proceedings in state and federal court, including one of the largest securities class actions in the past three decades.
Represent a foreign technology company in one of the first challenges under the Administrative Procedure Act to placement on the Department of Defense's Section 1260H List.
Represent technology company in connection with securities dispute.
Represented technology start-up in contractual dispute before AAA.
Represent a major Brazilian bank in defending fraudulent transfer claims.
Represent business executive in bringing and defending claims arising from corporate wind-down.
Represent a foreign technology company in connection with stock ownership dispute.
Represent insurance company in regulatory dispute in federal court involving complex issues of administrative, constitutional, environmental, and insurance coverage law.
Represent insurance company in substantial insurance coverage dispute involving a nine-figure personal injury verdict.
Represent insurance company in connection with substantial insurance coverage dispute involving asbestos-liability claims.
Represented corporate executive in the real estate sector in corporate bankruptcy and related proceedings in Delaware Chancery.
Represented art gallery on issues related to foreign and domestic discovery.

Investigations and Regulatory

Representing multiple foreign companies before the Department of Defense in connection with designation on the Section 1260H List.
Represented media start-up and executive in connection with parallel investigations by the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission.
Represented CFO of real estate investment trust in parallel criminal, regulatory, securities, class action, and derivative proceedings in state and federal court.
Represent numerous companies and individuals in investigations by the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, NY Attorney General's Office, Manhattan DA's office and other regulatory agencies.
Represent C-Suite executive in connection with investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and parallel securities class action.
Conducted years-long investigation of Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department on behalf of the DC Auditor in connection with deadly use of force incidents and drafted report submitted to DC City Council with analysis and policy recommendations aimed increasing public confidence in policing and the investigation of use of force incidents.
Conducted follow-up investigation concerning the implementation of previously made recommendations to the DC Metropolitan Police Department for changes in policies and procedures.
Represented City of Phoenix in connection with Department of Justice "pattern and practice Investigation" into the City of Phoenix Police Department.
Counsel foreign technology companies in connection with placement on the Department of Defense's Section 1260H list, including performing investigation and fact-gathering for each client.
Represented large financial services company in internal investigation and ensuing litigation with the Department of Justice related to mortgage-backed securities.
Represented large financial services company in private, securities fraud litigations relating to mortgage-backed securities.
Performed tax-related internal investigation and provided other regulatory advice for an art gallery.
Represented currency trader in Department of Justice antitrust investigation.
Represented large insurance company in connection with a high-profile investigation by state regulators.
Represented real estate developer in connection with Department of Justice fraud investigation.

Sentencing

Represented accountant for sentencing phase of complex fraud case and successfully obtained non-custodial sentence and defeated multimillion-dollar restitution request.
Represented corporate executive at sentencing and successfully defeated multimillion-dollar restitution request and multibillion-dollar loss enhancement.
Represented former Head of SUNY Polytechnic Institute and successfully defeated multimillion-dollar loss enhancement under the US Sentencing Guidelines.

Speaking Engagements

"Navigating Power Struggles: Resolving Conflicts Among Co-founders, Boards, and Investors," Conflict Resolution Panel, 4th Annual Endeavor US Retreat, Austin, Texas, September 26, 2024
"The Right Team for the Job: Criteria for Selecting an eDiscovery Provider," The Master's Conference Legal New York 2023
eDiscovery at a Crossroads - Mandatory Consultation and Cooperation in Return for Cap on Discovery Spend – Bold New Voluntary Discovery Protocol, April 13-14, 2023