S. Michael Lee is Senior Counsel at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP and is located in the Walnut Creek office. He is a member of the Firm’s Data Security, Privacy & Technology and Tort & Catastrophic Loss practice sections, and is actively involved in the Compliance & Pre-Breach Services interdisciplinary team. Michael brings substantial experience to FMG, having served as Head of Legal or General Counsel for three Silicon Valley startups, including an AI chip design company, a social networking platform and an AI chatbot builder. He previously worked as a civil regulator and white-collar crime prosecutor with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and as a Senior Associate on the complex trial team of an AM Law 200 firm. Michael has handled 47 jury trials in state and federal court, including matters involving automobile negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and theft of trade secrets in civil trials, as well as white-collar prosecutions such as tax evasion, embezzlement and fraud.

Michael represents clients in general liability, intellectual property, privacy and data breach matters. He is known for his strategic approach to litigation and his commitment to providing practical, business-focused solutions.

He is admitted to practice in California. Michael earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and his B.A. with honors from the University of California, Berkeley.

California