Michael J. Pacelli

310.229.5423

Experience

Michael Pacelli is a commercial litigator who represents both individuals and corporations in a wide range of legal disputes, including fraud, breach of contract, and consumer protection issues. He has found success in his legal practice through hard work, tenacity, and never taking “no” for an answer.

Prior to joining Robins Kaplan, Michael worked his way up from law clerk to legal assistant in a small plaintiffs firm in San Francisco. Michael obtained his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as a Notes Editor for the Georgetown Law Journal. Michael also attended the University of California at Berkeley for his undergraduate degree, majoring in Political Science and English.

In re Farm-Raised Salmon & Salmon Prods. Antitrust Litigation: As lead defense counsel for a Norwegian salmon sales and distribution company, reached global cost-of-defense settlement, resolving a series of putative nationwide class actions alleging a global price-fixing conspiracy among sellers of Norwegian farmed Atlantic salmon.

Yoakum, et al. v. Genuine Parts Company, et al. (W.D. Mo.): Serving as lead defense counsel, reached a favorable global settlement resolving a nationwide consumer class action against Genuine Parts Company (commonly known as NAPA Auto Parts). Plaintiffs challenged the labeling and marketing of various economy brands of tractor hydraulic fluid, which defendants were marketing for use in older tractors and other agricultural equipment.

In re Cattle Antitrust Litigation, 19-cv-01222 (D. Minn.): Represents cattle ranchers in an antitrust suit against various meat packers regarding the alleged suppression of the price of fed cattle.

In Re: ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation, 19-ml-02905 (C.D. Cal.): Represents consumers in a class action against various vehicle manufactures related to the alleged installation of defective airbags.

Carder v. Graco Children's Products, Inc. et al., 20-cv-00137 (N.D. Ga.): Represents consumers in a class action against car seat manufacturers related to the alleged sale of defective booster seats.

Crawford v. FCA US LLC, 20-cv-12341 (E.D. Mich.): Represents consumers in a class action against vehicle manufacturer regarding alleged sales of vehicles with defective EGR coolers.

In re LIBOR-Based Financial Instruments Antitrust Litig., 11 MD 2262 (S.D.N.Y.): Represents a Fortune 500 company in an antitrust suit against various financial institutions related to the purchasing of products tied to the BBA LIBOR benchmark.

In re: Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep EcoDiesel Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, No. 3:17-md-02777 (N.D. Cal.): Represents a consumer and used car dealer class in suit against Fiat Chrysler and Bosch related to installation of an emissions cheating device in over one hundred thousand EcoDiesel® vehicles.

In re: Equifax Inc. Consumer Data Security Breach Litigation, No. 1:17-md-2800 (N.D. Ga.): Represents financial institutions in class action suit against Equifax Inc. and Equifax Information Services LLC related to the Equifax Data Breach.

Twin Cities Diversity in Practice Racial Equity Challenge 2021 Certification
Northstar Lawyer
  • Awarded the Wiley M. Manuel Pro Bono Certificate by the California Lawyers Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2023)
  • Named a “North Star Lawyer” by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2022)
  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice Minnesota Racial Equity Challenge Certification (2021)
  • Tubman Family Crisis & Support Services
  • Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Citizenship Workshop
  • Veterans' Legal Clinic
  • Jeremiah Project Pro Bono Legal Clinic 
Bar Admissions
  • California
  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Education
  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. (2017); Georgetown Law Journal, Notes Editor (2016-2017), Staff Editor (2015-2016)
  • University of California, Berkeley, College of Letters and Science, B.A. in Political Science and in English (2012)
Professional Associations
  • American Bar Association
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Board of Directors, At-Large Member (2022-2023)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Finance and Planning Committee (2022-2023)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Sections Representative to Board of Directors (2021-2022)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Co-Chair of the Business and Securities Law Section (2018-2022)
  • Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
  • National Italian American Bar Association
  • Class Action Litigation Developments 2022-2023
    Hennepin County Bar Association, Webinar (May 17, 2023)
  • Class Action Litigation Developments 2021-2022
    Hennepin County Bar Association, Webinar (May 3, 2022)
  • Class Action Litigation Developments 2020-2021
    Hennepin County Bar Association, Webinar (April 6, 2021)
  • The Equifax Data Breach Litigation Basics
    Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 19, 2018)

RESOURCES

Links to full publications and news releases.
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