About Michael Anthony
Michael Anthony Attanasio is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1990. His license is currently in active status. Mr. Attanasio is a partner at Cooley LLP, a full-service law firm located in San Diego, California. He has been practicing law for over 35 years, serving clients throughout the greater San Diego metropolitan area and beyond.
Mr. Attanasio earned his Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School in 1990. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education at Princeton University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987. During his time at Stanford, he served as a law clerk to Judge Rudi M. Brewster of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
Mr. Attanasio concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, white collar defense, securities litigation, and antitrust matters. He represents individuals and businesses in complex legal disputes, including cases involving securities fraud, antitrust violations, and white collar criminal defense. His practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Throughout his career, Mr. Attanasio has handled cases in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He has also appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Prior to joining Cooley, he served as a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., for the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he tried cases in federal courts across the country.
Mr. Attanasio is an active member of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has been recognized by various publications, including being named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in California by the Daily Journal and a "White Collar MVP" by Law360. He has also been recognized by Chambers USA as Band 1 for Litigation: General Commercial in California: San Diego from 2020 to 2025. He serves on Cooley's Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee. He is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing him to serve the diverse communities of San Diego County effectively.
