Michael B. De Leeuw

Michael is a skilled litigator whose experience includes a variety of high-profile matters spanning many areas of law in federal and state courts throughout the country. He has extensive experience in securities litigation, antitrust litigation, First Amendment and defamation matters, and disputes arising out of mergers and acquisitions, both at the trial and appellate levels. Michael is a member in Cozen O’Connor’s Commercial Litigation Department and vice chair of the firm’s Business Litigation Group.

In 2019, Michael briefed, argued, and won a major First Amendment case at the United States Supreme Court: In Manhattan Community Access Center v. Halleck, the Supreme Court reversed the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and clarified the critical constitutional question of when private parties can be deemed “state actors” and thus potentially liable for constitutional violations.

Michael is active in bar and civic organizations. He is on the board of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; served as co-chair of the Antitrust Litigation Committee in the Litigation Section of the ABA; and is also an elected member and vice president of the Board of Education in Glen Ridge, N.J.

Michael earned his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law, graduating with honors and as a member of the order of the coif. He was editor-in-chief of the Rutgers Computer & Technology Law Journal. He received his bachelor's degree from Montclair State University, majoring in philosophy and then continued his study of philosophy in graduate school at Rutgers University.