Michael Finkelstein

Attorney

Michael Finkelstein is an attorney at Pandit Law who advocates for homeowners, business owners, and other policyholders facing significant property losses. He helps clients navigate complex insurance disputes arising from hurricanes, fires, hailstorms, tornadoes, and other catastrophic events.

Before joining Pandit Law, Michael built a diverse litigation practice representing individuals and businesses across a wide range of legal matters. That experience allows him to approach property damage and insurance disputes from multiple angles, helping policyholders navigate the legal and practical challenges that often follow a significant loss.

Contact

Email: mfinkelstein@panditlaw.com
Phone: (504) 323-3122

Areas of Practice

● Insurance Bad Faith ● Fire Damage Claims ● Hail Damage Claims ● Hurricane Damage Claims
● Tornado Damage Claims ● Vandalism Claims

Quick Facts about Michael Finkelstein

Expertise: Property damage claims, insurance bad faith disputes, contract-related litigation, and catastrophic loss matters.
Experience: Licensed in Louisiana and Texas, with experience handling complex litigation in state and federal courts, including property damage, insurance disputes, contract matters, and other high-stakes claims.
Personal Background: Outside the office, Michael enjoys travel, good food, live music, tennis, and spending time with his wife, Lauren.
Firm: As a Louisiana property damage lawyer at Pandit Law, Michael works with homeowners and business owners seeking guidance after hurricanes, fires, hailstorms, tornadoes, and other catastrophic property losses.

Biography

Michael represents homeowners, business owners, and other policyholders throughout Louisiana and Texas who are dealing with catastrophic property damage and complex insurance disputes. His practice focuses on helping policyholders address insurance disputes involving hurricanes, fires, hail, tornadoes, vandalism, and other major losses. As an insurance claim lawyer, he draws on a broad litigation background to help clients navigate complex legal issues that often arise after property damage events.

Throughout his career, Michael has handled a broad range of litigation matters, giving him a valuable perspective when evaluating complex property damage and insurance claims. His experience includes:

Property damage and insurance bad faith claims
Breach of contract disputes
Personal injury and defective product litigation
Toxic tort and class action matters
Unfair trade practice and fraud claims
Maritime, Jones Act, and international shipping disputes
Election law, First Amendment, media law, and defamation matters

Michael’s diverse legal background allows him to evaluate insurance disputes from multiple perspectives and develop practical strategies for addressing complex claim issues. He is committed to helping homeowners and business owners understand their rights, evaluate their options, and make informed decisions when navigating complex insurance disputes after a major property loss.

Bar and Court Admissions

Licensed in the States of Louisiana and Texas
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas
United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
United States District Court for the Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Supreme Court
United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi (pro hac vice)
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (pro hac vice)

Education

Louisiana State University, Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy, 2010
Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Diploma in Comparative Law (D.C.L.), with pro bono honors, 2013

Publications

Michael has contributed to numerous legal publications covering litigation, insurance, technology, privacy, arbitration, mediation, and emerging legal issues.
Rule 30(b)(6)’s New (and Welcome) Changes 69 LA Bar Jnl. 290 (2021)
Your Firm Needs a Tech Philosophy 67 LA Bar Jnl. 252 (2019) Co-authored with Scott L. Sternberg
Prescription Interrupted by Timely Filing Suit in Federal Court: Arnouville v. Crowe 64 LA Bar Jnl. 315 (2016)
Recent Development: Kelly v. State Farm 63 LA Bar Jnl. 292 (2015)
Fifth Circuit Clarifies the Chandris Temporal Requirement for Seaman Status 63 LA Bar Jnl. 226 (2015)
An Overview of Data Breach Litigation in Louisiana and a Look Into Its Uncertain Future 63 LA Bar Jnl. 106 (2015) *Winner of the 2016 LSBA Stephen T. Victory Memorial Award
Survival Actions Subject to Prescriptive Rather than Peremptive Period 62 LA Bar Jnl. 141 (2014)
The Summary Judgment Changes That Weren’t (contributed footnotes) Hon. Lee H. Rosenthal 43 Loy. U. Chi. L.J. 471 (2012)
Illusory Arbitration Agreements: It Takes Two to Arbitrate 25 Tex. App. Advoc. 24 (2012)
Sackett v. EPA: Drowning the Agency Enforcement Scheme LSU Energy Law Currents (2012)
The “Flavor” of Arbitration: Disclosure and Confidentiality Under ADR Agreements 60 LA Bar Jnl. 150 (2012)
Obamacare On Your Plate: How the ACA Can Bring About Healthier Living in America Tasty25 Magazine (2012)
Competitive Bargaining Delays 2011-2012 NBA Season 59 LA Bar Jnl. 360 (2012) (also published on mediate.com)
Mediation, Compromises Save 2011-2012 NFL Season 59 LA Bar Jnl. 195 (2011) (also published on mediate.com)

CLE Presentations, Teaching Opportunities, and Panel Discussions

In addition to his legal practice, Michael has taught continuing education programs on litigation, technology, and legal practice management:

Build Your Own Stack — Using Tech to Make Your Firm Smarter (2019) American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Fall Conference
Idea Exchange, Use of technology in Legal Practice (2019), Build Your Brand: Young Lawyers Conference, Louisiana State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section
Fundamentals of Local Personal Injury Procedure (2018), National Business Institute (NBI)
Ethical Considerations Relating to Evidence and Records (2018), National Business Institute (NBI)
Privacy Lawsuits – Guest lecturer (Spring 2018), Law of Mass Communications, College of Arts and Sciences, Loyola University, New Orleans
Confidentiality Issues with Technology (2017), National Business Institute (NBI)
Information Technology 101 (2017), National Business Institute (NBI)
Avoiding Malpractice Mistakes (2017), Panel organizer and panelist discussing topics of legal malpractice, client engagement and disengagement, information security, and cloud computing, New Orleans Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section
Economics of the Practice of Law and Law Firms – Guest lecturer (Fall 2017), Intermediate Microeconomics, College of Business, Loyola University, New Orleans
Privacy Law and Private Lawsuits – Guest lecturer (Fall 2017), Law of Mass Communications, College of Arts and Sciences, Loyola University, New Orleans
Avoiding Malpractice Mistakes: What Every Young Lawyer Should Know Panelist discussing topics of legal malpractice, data security, and cloud computing (2016) New Orleans Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section
Adam, Eve, and the Creation of Tort Law: A Comparison of American and Israeli Products Liability Laws (2016) Partnership Together initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans
Data Breach Litigation and Data Security for the Government Attorney (2015) Louisiana State Bar Association, Government and Public Law Section
Red Rover and Scrambled Eggs: Data Security Basics for Your Business (2015) New Orleans Lawyers Meetup

Professional Honors and Awards

2020-2026 Louisiana Rising Star (Super Lawyers)
2019-2023 Top Lawyer (New Orleans Magazine)
2017 Ones to Watch – Law (New Orleans City Business Magazine)
2016 Jewish Children’s Regional Service (JCRS) Success Story
2016 Cohen-Jacobs Emerging Leader Award (presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans)
2016 LSBA Stephen T. Victory Memorial Award (presented annually to the most outstanding article published in the Louisiana Bar Journal) for Michael’s article “An Overview of Data Breach Litigation in Louisiana and a Look Into Its Uncertain Future”
NCAA/EA Sports Class Action Litigation and Settlement
July 23, 2015, on Double Coverage on WWWL Radio, 1350AM