I am the principal of Michael J. Betts LLC and have over thirty-eight years of experience handling a broad range of civil litigation matters, with an emphasis on commercial litigation and business disputes, securities litigation, FINRA arbitrations and other investment-related claims, trade secret and restrictive covenant litigation and professional negligence claims.
I also serve as an alternative dispute resolution neutral and have been selected by litigants to serve as mediator in numerous cases. I am certified as a mediator by the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. I also am on the national arbitrator rosters for the American Arbitration Association and FINRA.
I began my legal career with the law firm of Reed Smith Shaw and McClay (now Reed Smith LLP) and was a litigation attorney with Reed Smith until 1994. I became a Partner of the Firm effective 1989. I left Reed Smith in 1994 to establish a boutique litigation firm in the Pittsburgh area and have been engaged in private practice handling civil litigation matters since then, except for a five-year period of time during which I served as Senior Litigation Counsel for PNC Bank.
- Stockbroker & Investment Fraud
- Securities Law
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business - Arbitration/Mediation, Consumer - Arbitration/Mediation, Family - Arbitration/Mediation
- Employment Law
- Employment Contracts, Whistleblower
- Credit Cards Accepted
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Contingent Fees
Contingent fee arrangements are used in appropriate cases. The contingency percentage varies from matter to matter based upon various factors, including the amount and likelihood of a potential recovery and the complexity of the matter.
- Pennsylvania
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- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Courts
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- Supreme Court of the United States of America
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- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
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- U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania
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- English: Spoken, Written
- Principal
- Michael J. Betts LLC
- - Current
- Principal
- Post & Schell, P.C.
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- Principal
- Betts Law Office LLC
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- Senior Counsel - Litigation
- PNC Bank, National Association - Legal Department
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- Member/Principal
- Betts, Hull & Klodowski LLC (and predecessor firms)
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- Litigation Partner/Associate
- Reed Smith Shaw & McClay (Reed Smith LLP)
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- University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- J.D. (1980)
- Honors: Law Review, Cum Laude
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- Dickinson College
- B.A. (1977)
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- AV Preeminent Rated Lawyer
- LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- American Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Federal Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Member
- Current
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- Association for Conflict Resolution
- Member
- Current
- Activities: Commercial Section; Online Dispute Resolution Section; and Workplace Section.
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- Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania
- Member
- Current
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- National Association for Community Mediation
- Member
- Current
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- PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL OF MEDIATORS
- Member
- Current
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- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- Court's Roster of Neutrals and Roster of Approved E-Discovery Special Masters and Mediators
- Current
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- E-Discovery Special Master and Mediator
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Michael J. Betts | Commercial Litigation
Michael J. Betts LLC, has extensive experience addressing a wide range of commercial litigation, business litigation and business disputes. Mr. Betts has handled numerous lawsuits and litigation matters in the...
Michael J. Betts | Firm Overview
At Michael J. Betts LLC, our accomplished litigator works closely with clients to explain their options and to pursue their case goals. We can advise you in a range of...
Michael J. Betts | Securities Litigation
Michael J. Betts LLC represents clients in securities litigation matters and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration proceedings, i.e., securities/investment-related arbitrations administered by FINRA. Mr. Betts has extensive experience with...
