Michael Ardeljan
Associate
Michael Ardeljan is an associate in the litigation and enforcement practice group at Ropes & Gray. He has developed a broad litigation practice, representing public and private companies, financial institutions, and other sophisticated clients in complex high-stakes litigation, including contract disputes, business tort claims, antitrust, intellectual property, corporate stockholder litigation, and civil and criminal enforcement matters. Michael advises clients on all stages of litigation, from pre-suit strategy through trial and appeals, and has helped clients navigate sensitive government and regulatory investigations.
Michael also maintains an active pro bono practice and has served as pro bono counsel in cases involving disputed issues of constitutional and disability law.
Prior to joining the firm, Michael practiced at another major international law firm and clerked for the Honorable Barbara C. Moses of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Experience
- Representing major financial institution in litigation filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, concerning alleged business torts arising from client relationships.
- Representing leading pharmaceutical company in connection with vacatur petition filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, concerning alleged breach of contract related to the development of an ophthalmic drug.
- Represented cellular technology company in several simultaneous high-stakes antitrust and breach of contract actions filed by regulators, public companies, and putative consumer classes in U.S. federal court and various fora worldwide that resulted in global settlements and/or successful appeals.*
- Represented public utility company in mass tort litigation and regulatory investigations stemming from natural disasters that resulted in global settlement.*
- Represented public company in government enforcement matters.*
- Represented financial institution in antitrust litigation filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, alleging Sherman Act violations related to securities bid pricing.*
- Represented international telecommunications company in derivative stockholder litigation filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, stemming from merger with a competitor.*
- Represented private home security technology company to prosecute patent infringement litigation against a competitor.*
- Represented public utility company in breach of contract litigation filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, concerning state-backed expropriation of ownership stake in the company.*
- Represented putative class of state prisoners in pro bono constitutional litigation filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, concerning alleged Eighth Amendment violations related to parole release eligibility.*
- Represented disabled individual in pro bono litigation before the Social Security Administration, successfully obtaining retroactive and indefinite prospective disability benefits on appeal.*
*Prior to joining Ropes & Gray
Publications
- Co-author, “US Sanctions,” Global Investigations Review's The Guide to Sanctions, First Edition (August 17, 2020)
- Michael Ardeljan, “Mann und Mann, Frau und Frau: The Jurisprudence and Democratic Theory of German Civil Partnerships,” 49 N.Y.U. J. Int’l L. & Pol. 239 (2016)
- Michael Ardeljan, Book Annotation, “Pivotal Countries, Alternate Futures: Using Scenarios to Manage American Strategy,” 48 N.Y.U. J. Int’l L. & Pol. 1329 (2016)
Education
- JD, New York University School of Law, 2017; Senior Executive Editor, NYU Journal of International Law & Politics
- AB (History & Germanic Languages and Literature), summa cum laude, Harvard University, 2013; Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions / Qualifications
Qualifications
- New York, 2018
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York