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  • Michael D. Pinnisi
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Michael D. Pinnisi

Before commencing private practice, Mr. Pinnisi first served as an Honor Program trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, devoted to civil rights enforcement and general criminal prosecution. He also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New York City for Rudy Giuliani and others, where his work was primarily in the investigation and prosecution of frauds and included cases of national significance.

Mr. Pinnisi also served for several years as General Counsel and Vice President of Business Development for Kionix, Inc., a world leader in microelectromechanical systems. His work for this high technology company included the supervision of a complex merger and spinout transaction, the design and management of a portfolio of over 100 patents; the conduct of intellectual property litigation; negotiation and drafting of joint venture, strategic supply, licensing and all other high level company contracting; legal aspects of corporate finance, including secured and convertible debt transactions; corporate governance, and internal training regarding security and other matters. As Business Development officer, in addition to the finance and contracting matters described above, he also oversaw the selection and development of new product lines, service offerings and strategic business relationships.

Mr. Pinnisi previously co-founded a law firm based in Ithaca, New York that was focused primarily on intellectual property and commercial litigation and that grew rapidly to become the largest firm in the city. Mr. Pinnisi's practice included patent and trade secret litigation, commercial litigation, contract negotiation, liability management, and criminal defense. He resigned from that firm to join Kionix.

Mr. Pinnisi's other legal experience includes litigation work for major international law firms Shearman & Sterling in New York City, and Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in Washington, D.C.; and service as an adjunct professor of law at Cornell Law School, where he offered classes in legal negotiation, trial practice, and appellate advocacy.

Mr. Pinnisi received his AB cum laude and JD from Cornell University. He is recognized in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in American Finance and Industry, and by the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity as an Honorary Inductee for exemplary ethical conduct in practice.

His work has been covered by CNN, The New York Times, Time Magazine, the Journal of Commerce, Corporate Legal Times, CFO Magazine, and various wire services and local media. He is a member of various corporate boards of directors and committees, and is a frequent lecturer for diverse legal, business and academic organizations.