Michael Solton is one of the founding partners of the law firm of Solton Rosen & Balakhovsky LLP, founded more than 10 years ago.  Michael specializes in corporate and international law practice, intellectual property litigation and transactions and international business transactions. Michael also focuses his current practice upon and has developed a recognized expertise in representing computer software and high technology clients on all corporate, international law, transactional and litigation matters, including copyright, trademark, patent and other intellectual property matters.

Michael Solton is also a recognized expert in Russian law and particularly in intellectual property, corporate matters and litigation under the laws of the Russian Federation. He has served as an expert witness on foreign law issues, and, in particular, on Russian copyright law and on enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in the Russian Federation.  Michael received his LL.M from the Georgetown University Law Center, and a degree in International Law, with distinction, from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, where he also completed significant Ph.D. course work.  He is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the Russian Federation. Michael has given lectures and seminars and has written articles on Russian business law and intellectual property law.  He has been a contributing author to the Russia/Central Europe Executive Guide, writing a monthly column on Russian legal news.

Representative Highlights
Over his many years of practice, Michael Solton has represented many companies in Russia and the U.S. in such complex transactions as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and financing, as well as in state enterprise privatizations and auctions. Michael's international corporate clients have included some of the largest international and Russian finance institutions, telecommunications and aerospace corporations, U.S. and Canadian venture capitalists, and Russian and U.S. high-tech companies.  He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of several large investment companies in the Russian Federation and advises on issues of corporate compliance, international transactions and public offerings. 

In his litigation practice he has represented the largest distributors of copyrighted Russian DVDs in the United States in licensing and copyright disputes, conducted international investigation and litigation involving stock fraud committed against foreign and domestic investors and handled litigations involving complex real estate transactions. He also frequently prepares and negotiates technology-related agreements, provides legal opinions on corporate matters and renders trademark and copyright advice on acquisition, management and enforcement of IP rights worldwide and resolution of any existing or potential disputes. 

Prior to forming Solton Rosen & Balakhovsky LLP, he served as an attorney at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, an international law firm with offices in Washington, D.C. and Moscow, Russia.  Michael Solton also served as General Counsel and Deputy General Manager of Stanbet, a Soviet-U.S. joint venture in the entertainment business where he advised the company on all corporate licensing and intellectual property issues, negotiated and drafted contracts with various international corporate entities, as well as individual artists, musician, producers and athletes.

Michael Solton also served as a diplomat in the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he held the diplomatic rank of third secretary. 

Courts and Admissions

• New York
• Russian Federation
  
  

Education
Georgetown University Law Center (L.L.M)
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (J.D. and Ph.D. course work).

Professional Affiliations
Member of the American Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
Contributing author to the Russia/Central Europe Executive Guide
Served as a diplomat in the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Served as a senior Research Fellow at the International Publishing Bureau of the Russian Academy of Science

Foreign Languages
Russian
French