Mr. Michael Edward Elsner, Member

Michael Elsner litigates complex civil matters on behalf of people and businesses victimized by commercial malfeasance, violations of human rights, acts of terrorism, occupational disease and environmental disasters. He manages large-scale cross-border litigation and conducts detailed factual investigations.

Michael's understanding of the complex legal challenges in international litigation is critical to uncovering admissible evidence and developing opportunities for client recovery. He tracks historical corporate conduct and uncovers illicit finances, money laundering and terrorist financing through a maze of international banking and financial regulations. His investigations have aided victims of human rights abuses and plaintiffs harmed by financial crimes. Through these efforts he has held global institutions and organizations accountable.

Michael leads the firm in its role as consultant to South African human rights lawyer Richard Spoor, seeking justice for tens of thousands of gold mineworkers who are suffering from silicosis. Few class actions have been brought in South Africa, and this is the first of its kind for sick workers. Michael assisted Spoor as a lead negotiator of the settlement agreement reached for sick gold miners and their dependents. The settlement generated an unprecedented means of recovery and helped ensure meaningful access to justice for the indigent and rural workers who are dying from this entirely preventable yet incurable disease.

Michael was lead plaintiffs' counsel in the historic litigation, Linde et al. v. Arab Bank, a suit brought by victims of terrorist attacks in Israel that alleged Arab Bank played a role in financing Hamas and other Israeli terrorist organizations. This litigation marked the first time a financial institution was brought to trial under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The case resolved through a confidential settlement. Michael was also co-lead counsel in a parallel suit, representing thousands of non-U.S. citizens, Jesner v. Arab Bank, which was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court under the Alien Tort Statute regarding violations of customary international law by foreign corporations.

School	Degree	Major	Graduation
Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, University of Memphis	J.D.	Law School	1997

State / Court	Date
South Carolina	2004
New York	2002
Florida
Virginia

• American Association for Justice
  American Bar Association
  New York Bar Association
  South Carolina Bar Association, International Law Committee
  Virginia Bar Association
  National Crime Victims Bar Association
  Public Justice Foundation

• Lawdragon
  2020–2023 Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
  2019–2021 Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Financial Lawyers
  2014–2015 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
  2010 Lawdragon™ 3,000
  
  Benchmark Litigation
  2016–2018 South Carolina “Litigation Star”: personal Injury, product liability, general commercial, professional liability
  
  Public Justice Foundation
  2016 Trial Lawyers of the Year
  
  South Carolina Lawyers Weekly
  2014 Leadership in Law Honoree
  
  National Law Journal
  2014 Litigation Trailblazers

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