Michael S. Zullo
Partner
Duane Morris LLP
30 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196
USA

Phone: +1 215 979 1178
Fax: +1 215 689 4966
Email: MSZullo@duanemorris.com

Michael S. Zullo concentrates his practice in litigation matters within the financial services industry, including the defense of lender liability claims; FINRA arbitrations; securities matters; and disputes under various loan agreements. Mr. Zullo regularly counsels clients in matters involving diverse federal and state statutes, such as antitrust and trade laws; the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO); the Securities Exchange Act of 1933; the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA); and the New Jersey Franchise Practices Act (NJFPA). Mr. Zullo has significant experience counseling clients in franchise and distribution law. He has served as first chair in a variety of commercial arbitrations before AAA, FINRA and the Philadelphia arbitration center. In addition, Mr. Zullo has defended clients in various civil and criminal matters before state and federal courts.

Mr. Zullo is an alumnus of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy. He earned his J.D. with honors in 2003 from the George Washington University Law School, where he served as senior notes editor of the Public Contracts Law Journal. He is a 2000 magna cum laude graduate of Boston College, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Representative Matters

• Obtained dismissal of class action suit against one of the 15 largest U.S. banks alleging it violated the federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act, which prohibits ATM transaction fees unless ATM operators post a notice of ATM fees on both the machine's screen and in a prominent and conspicuous location on or near the machine.
• Defending large brokerage firm in multiple arbitrations before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
• Defending large international pharmaceutical company against failure to warn claims brought by multiple plaintiffs in state and federal courts.
• Represented a wrongfully terminated distribution business in an international arbitration and obtained a multimillion-dollar award.
• Obtained multimillion-dollar settlement for franchisee against international franchisor for breach of franchise agreement.
• Part of a team that obtained seven-figure settlement on counterclaims for failed implementation of a software solution.
• Successfully prosecuted multiple parties for infringement of design patents.
• Defended the former owner of a professional sports franchise in a dispute with one of the largest concessions providers in the U.S.

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
  - Section of Litigation
  -- Co-Editor,ABA Section of Litigation Antitrust Litigation, The Antitrust Litigator Newsletter

Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey

Civic and Charitable Activities

• Co-leader: St. Peter's Youth Group

Selected Publications

• Co-Author, "The Shifting Landscape of e-Discovery," e-Discovery Law and Strategy, July 2006
• Co-Author, "The Supreme Court's Review of Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc.: Time for Dr. Miles to 'Kick The Bucket'? or "I'm Not Dead Yet'," Distribution & Franchising Committee Newsletter
• Co-author, "High Court Gun Case Could Impact Proposed Philadelphia Regulations," The Legal Intelligencer, April 4, 2008
• Contributing author, ABA Franchise and Dealer Termination Handbook, 2nd Ed. (in process)