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Overview

Overview

Michael D. Berman is a member of the firm’s Complex Commercial and Civil Litigation and Electronically Stored Information (ESI) practices.  Mike is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Baltimore School of Law through 2025.  He has published extensively, including as the editor-in-chief and a contributing author in “Electronically Stored Information in Maryland Courts” (Maryland State Bar Ass’n. 2020), co-editing two American Bar Association books on electronic discovery, as well as co-authoring law review and other articles regarding electronically stored information (“ESI”).  He has presented widely in venues ranging from local to national events.  Mike’s white paper, “It is Time to Replace Maryland’s ‘Safe Harbor’ Rule,” has led to the amendment of Maryland Rule 2-433(b).

Notable Representations

  • Guthrie v. Vincenti, Pet. 461, __ Md. __ (2025)(certiorari denied)
  • Mayor and City Council of Havre de Grace v. Vincenti, et al., C-12-CV-738 (Cir.Ct.Harford Co. 2022)(redistricting)
  • Graham v. Famous Dave’s of America, 2020 WL 6874323 (D.Md. Nov. 23, 2020)
  • Gonzalez v. TCR Sports Broadcasting Holding, LLP, 2018 WL 4292018 (S.D. Fl. 2018)
  • Doe v. Alternative Medicine MD, LLC, 455 Md. 377 (2017)
  • Estate of Adams v. Continental Ins. Co., 233 Md.App. 1 (2017)
  • State Center, LLC v. Lexington Charles Ltd. P’shp., 438 Md. 451 (2014)
  • The Town of La Plata v. Faison-Rosewick, LLC, 434 Md. 496 (2013)
  • Canvan v. Md. State Bd. of Elections, 430 Md. 533 (2013) (summary affirmance of validity of Gaming Expansion Act referendum)
  • Citizens Against Slots at the Mall v. PPE Casino Resorts Maryland, LLC, 429 Md. 176 (2012)
  • AFCO Credit Corp. v. Md. Insurance Admin., 198 Md.App. 218 (2011)
  • Anne Arundel County Taxpayers Association, Inc. v. Anne Arundel County Board of Elections, et al., 415 Md. 433 (2010)(summary affirmance by per curiam order)
  • Citizens Against Slots at the Mall, et al. v. PPE Casino Resorts Maryland, LLC, et al., 414 Md. 117 (2010)(decision of Court; opinion to follow)
  • Laurel Racing Assoc., Inc. v. Video Lottery Facility Comm’n, 409 Md. 445 (2009)

Achievements

  • SuperLawyers® (2019-2025)
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent® (2020-2025)
  • Adjunct faculty member, University of Baltimore School of Law (2009- 2025)
  • Member, Transition Advisory Group, Brian Frosh, Attorney General of Maryland-Elect, 2014 Policy Forum
  • Order of the Coif
  • Bernstein Prize, University of Maryland
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society
  • U.S. Department of H.E.W. Public Service Fellowship at Institute for Urban Studies, University of Maryland
  • Chief’s Commendation, Maryland Transportation Authority Police
  • Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018
     
     

Publications & Presentations

  • “It is Time to Replace Maryland’s ‘Safe Harbor’ Rule,” Whitepaper, MSBA, October 2022.
  • Editor-in-Chief, Electronically Stored Information in Maryland Courts (Md. State Bar Ass’n. 2020);
  • Co-editor, Perspectives on Predictive Coding And Other Advanced Search Methods for the Legal Practitioner (American Bar Assoc. 2016);
  • M. Berman, C. Barton, and P. Grimm, eds., Managing E-Discovery and ESI: From Pre-Litigation Through Trial (American Bar Assoc. July 2011).
  • Author, “The Duty to Preserve ESI (Its Trigger, Scope, and Limit) & the Spoliation Doctrine in the Maryland State Courts,” 45 U.Balt.L.Forum 129 (2015).
  • Co-author, “Referenda in Maryland: The Need for Comprehensive Statutory Reform,” 42 U.Balt.L.Rev. 655 (2013)(printed Feb. 2014).
  • Co-author, “Discovery About Discovery: Does The Attorney-Client Privilege Protect All Attorney-Client Communications Relating To The Preservation Of Potentially Relevant Material?,” 37 U. Balt. L. Rev. 381 (2008).
  • Co-author, “Proportionality In The Post-Hoc Analysis Of Pre-Litigation Preservation Decisions,” 37 U. Balt. L. Rev. 413 (2008).
  • Co-author, “New ESI Principles in the District of Maryland,” The Maryland Litigator (January 2017).
  • Co-author, “Commentary: With ESI, difference between federal, state rules,” The Daily Record (June 17, 2016).
  • Author, “Taxation of e-discovery costs,” The Daily Record (Aug. 12, 2012).
  • Author, “High Profile E-Discovery Plaintiff’s Memoir Provides Inside View of Judicial Process,” Bloomberg BNA Digitial Discovery & e-Evidence (Aug. 2, 2012).
  • Co-author, “Maryland’s Discovery Protocol,” LexisNexis Discovery Services (2007).
  • Co-author, “ESI Protocol,” The MSBA Litigator (2007).
  • Co-author, “Construction Trust Fund Act May Dramatically Impact Industry,” Maryland Builder (Sept./Oct. 1988).
  • Co-author, “Maryland’s U.S. Courts Need Detention Center,” Baltimore Sun, June 6, 2001, p.19A.
  • Co-author, “The Use of Sanctions in Federal Court,” Maryland Bar Journal (Nov./Dec.1988).
  • Co-author, “Termination of Extraordinary Medical Treatment,” Maryland Law Forum (April 1984).
  • Co-author, “Civil Trial Procedures in Maryland,” National Business Institute, 1992.
  • Co-author, “Effective Motion Practice in Maryland,” National Business Institute, 1998.
  • Author, “When Does a Litigation Hold End?,” Digital Discovery and e-Evidence (Bureau of National Affairs (Oct. 2009).
  • Author, “General Adverse Inference Instruction For Intentional Breach Of Duty To Preserve —Goodman v. Praxair Services, Inc., Digital Discovery and e-Evidence (Bureau of National Affairs, July 2009).
  • Author, “Tips to Avoid Mistakes with ESI Vendors,” ABA Technology for the Litigator (Summer 2009).
  • Author, “Motions to Compel ESI Denied,” ABA Litigation News (Fall 2009).
  • Author, “Give Peace a Chance: Lawyers Are Ethically Required to Cooperate in Discovery,” ABA Litigation News (Winter 2009).
  • Author, “Discovery Lapse Could Result in Loss of Privilege,” ABA Litigation News (Fall 2008).
  • Author, “Electronically Stored Information,” The MSBA Litigator (2007).
  • Author, “Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision,” The Back Bench (Oct. 2002).
  • Author, “Low Cost Litigation Technology,” Maryland Bar Journal (Nov./Dec. 2000).
  • Author, “Religious Holidays, Public Schools,” Maryland Bar Journal (May/June 1995).
  • Author, “Unsealing Adoption Records,” Maryland Bar Journal (Sept./Oct. 1989).