Overview
(March 11, 2025, New York) — Steptoe LLP has expanded its National Security, International Trade and Regulatory Compliance, and Litigation practices with the addition of Michel Paradis, a recognized international scholar and appellate litigator. Michel joins Steptoe from the US Department of Defense and another international firm, as a partner in New York.
The addition follows recent high-profile hires by Steptoe in expanding its global investigations, business and human rights, and international trade practices, with the addition of partners Kevin Garvey, Jonathan Drimmer and Yousuf Aftab, senior counsel Timothy Dickinson, and a substantial team of lawyers and advisors.
Michel has led dozens of high-profile, high-impact matters, particularly in the area of national security. His experience includes almost every appellate posture and the management of unique challenges presented by multi-district/multi-fora litigation, nuances of jurisdiction, as well as rules of appellate procedures and standards of review. He has conducted final and interlocutory appeals, in civil and criminal cases, in state, federal, and foreign courts, before three-judge panels, en banc panels, and the Supreme Court.
"Michel's deep understanding of complex legal issues related to national security and AI will enhance our ability to tackle the most challenging cases, especially those at the intersection of business, policy, and the courts. We are excited about the strategic approach and insights he will bring to our clients on national security and defense issues, AI, and international trade and regulatory compliance, along with his strong trial and appellate skills," said firm chair Gwen Renigar.
Michel is a world-renowned AI and national security law scholar. With a doctorate degree in artificial intelligence from Oxford, he has been a lecturer at Columbia Law School since 2014, and was previously an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law School, teaching courses on national security law, international law, and constitutional law. He is the author of the critically-acclaimed biography of Dwight Eisenhower, THE LIGHT OF BATTLE (HarperCollins 2024), as well as LAST MISSION TO TOKYO (Simon & Schuster 2020), about war crimes trials in the Pacific after World War II.
Michel worked for and with the US Department of Defense for almost twenty years, focusing on human rights litigation and policy work arising out of Guantanamo Bay. In recognition of his work, he received the US Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense Global War on Terrorism Medal in 2020.
Steptoe has ramped up its already significant national security and international regulatory capabilities over the past 12 months with the recruitment of Dana Dyson, valued advisor to successive Directors and Deputy Directors of the Central Intelligence Agency; Karl Hopkins, Atlantic Counsel, Middle East Institute, and GLOBSEC general counsel; Melissa Mahle, former US intelligence officer; Andrew Adams, former Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Head of the Department of Justice's Russian Sanctions and Export Control Task Force; Jason Wright, the previous chair of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle’s National Security Law and Economic Sanctions practice groups; and Matt Flynn, former Deputy Assistant to President Trump and acting White House Cabinet Secretary.
"I am thrilled to be re-joining my former colleague Jason Wright as part of Steptoe's world-class national security investigations and litigation practices. The firm's resources, reputation, and commitment to excellence will greatly enhance my ability to deliver for clients and I am eager to collaborate with such an accomplished group," said Michel. "With AI becoming a central national security priority, Steptoe is now equipped to combine the technical and legal expertise to meet the challenges of the coming decade."
Steptoe has one of the largest and most experienced International Trade and Regulatory Compliance practices of any major international law firm, counting more than 65 lawyers dedicated to these matters in the United States, Europe and Asia. Steptoe's International Trade and Regulatory Compliance practice is consistently top-ranked by Chambers and has received numerous accolades. Named six times to Law360's list of International Trade Firms of the Year, Steptoe has also been awarded the China Business Law award in international trade for 10 consecutive years.
Michel holds a BA cum laude and a JD magna cum laude from Fordham University, and a D.Phil from the University of Oxford.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
