Attorney Profile

Michael John Avenatti #206929

License Status: Not Eligible to Practice Law

CONSUMER ALERT

This attorney is suspended from the practice of law. As a result, the attorney is ineligible to practice law in California. The State Bar posts consumer alerts online when attorneys are suspended from practice. Anyone who believes they have been the victim of attorney misconduct is urged to file a complaint with the State Bar.

CONSUMER ALERT

This attorney has been charged with a felony. The felony matter is pending in United States Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit (21-1778) (United States District Court, Southern District of New York, S1:19-cr-00373). For more information, contact the court in the jurisdiction where the case is pending. The State Bar posts consumer alerts online when lawyers are charged in a criminal court with a felony or felonies. Anyone who believes they have been the victim of attorney misconduct is urged to file a complaint with the State Bar.

DISCLAIMER: The filing of criminal charges does not constitute a finding of guilt or professional misconduct. Criminal defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
CONSUMER ALERT

The State Bar has placed this attorney on involuntary inactive status. As a result, the attorney is ineligible to practice law in California. The State Bar posts consumer alerts online in most instances when attorneys are placed on involuntary inactive status. The decision(s) or order(s) are posted on the State Bar Court Smart Search. Anyone who believes they have been the victim of attorney misconduct is urged to file a complaint with the State Bar.

CONSUMER ALERT

The State Bar of California has filed disciplinary charges against this licensee, alleging that the licensee engaged in a major misappropriation of client funds. You may read the Notice of Disciplinary Charges filed by the State Bar against the licensee, and any Response filed by the licensee on the State Bar Court Smart Search. You may also learn more about the general nature of misappropriation of client funds.

DISCLAIMER: Any Notice of Disciplinary Charges filed by the State Bar contains only allegations of professional misconduct. The licensee is presumed to be innocent of any misconduct warranting discipline until the charges have been proven.
CONSUMER ALERT

The State Bar of California has filed a petition to enroll this licensee on interim inactive status, alleging that the licensee’s conduct poses a substantial threat of harm to clients or the public. The petition involves a charge that the licensee engaged in a major misappropriation of client funds. You may read the Petition filed by the State Bar against the licensee, and any Response filed by the licensee on the State Bar Court Smart Search. You may also learn more about the general nature of misappropriation of client funds.

DISCLAIMER: Any petition filed by the State Bar seeking interim suspension based in part on a major misappropriation charge contains only allegations of professional misconduct. The licensee is presumed to be innocent of any misconduct warranting discipline until the charges have been proven.

Address: c/o Jay Manheimer, 229 Dimmick Ave., Venice, CA 90291

Phone: Not Available  |  Fax: Not Available

Email: Not Available  |  Website: Not Available

  • More about This Attorney

License Status, Disciplinary and Administrative History

All changes of license status due to nondisciplinary administrative matters and disciplinary actions.

Date License Status  Discipline  Administrative Action 
Present Not eligible to practice law in CA    
10/1/2020 Not eligible to practice law in CA   Suspended, failed to pay fees  
5/4/2020 Not eligible to practice law in CA   Interim suspension after conviction 20-C-30155
3/13/2020   Conviction record transmitted to State Bar Court 20-C-30155
7/29/2019   Disciplinary charges filed in State Bar Court 19-O-30366
6/1/2000 Admitted to the State Bar of California

State Bar Court Cases

The listing below is partial, as the State Bar Court is transitioning to online dockets. Please refer to the License Status, Disciplinary and Administrative History section above for a record of discipline cases. Case dockets and documents may be available using the State Bar Court Search for a Case feature; see instructions below.

Effective Date  Case Number Description 
Pending 19-TE-30259 Initiating Document [PDF]
Pending 19-TE-30259 Response [PDF]

Here is what you need to know to access discipline documents in public cases:

Documents are added to the State Bar Court’s online docket as events occur.


To search for a case, please copy the case number displayed above and click Search for a Case. In the search box, paste the complete case number. If the case number begins with “19” or higher, you must add the prefix SBC to the case number, e.g., SBC [CASE NUMBER]. If a case number begins with 18 or lower, there’s no need to add SBC.

Most public case records since 2000 are available through search. Older case records are available on request. The State Bar Court began posting public discipline documents online in 2005.

NOTE: Only Published Opinions may be cited or relied on as precedent in State Bar Court proceedings.

DISCLAIMER: Any posted Notice of Disciplinary Charges, Conviction Transmittal or other initiating document, contains only allegations of professional misconduct. The licensee is presumed to be innocent of any misconduct warranting discipline until the charges have been proven.

Additional Information:


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