Michael Ferrari
Founding Partner
Michael Ferrari is a founding partner of Farber Balsam Papain Ferrari LLP. Mr. Ferrari brings with him the legacy of his partnership with his father, Robert V. Ferrari, who built a vanguard practice serving the restaurant, food and beverage industry over the course of a half-century.
Mr. Ferrari has successfully negotiated leases for restaurant groups, bars and cafes, advised on purchases and sales of businesses, managed liquor license applications before the State Liquor Authority and sidewalk cafe applications before the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and defended extensive disciplinary actions brought by governmental agencies as well as litigation and regulatory actions brought against such businesses. Upon joining his father, Mr. Ferrari enhanced their firm’s reputation as one of the premiere practices in that industry.
In this practice, Mr. Ferrari has become a savvy negotiator, able to navigate an often murky landscape of different state and city agencies, as well as community boards in achieving clients’ aims. He modeled his advocacy after the high bar set by his father’s decades-long practice.
Mr. Ferrari began his legal career as a prosecutor in the Kings County District Attorney's Office. There, he became an experienced trial attorney and developed an acute ability to quickly assess the strength, veracity and credibility of witnesses and case evidence, gaining a track record of successful outcomes.
He has also advised numerous clients in connection with Real Estate purchases and sales, including cooperative and condominium apartments and houses, and continues in criminal defense practice.
Mr. Ferrari tailors his style of advocacy to meet his client’s needs, whether circumstances dictate an aggressive or more nuanced approach. In meeting his philosophy that the client deserves the best advocacy at all times, he commits to providing reliable and honest communication and a seat at the table for devising case strategy.
Mr. Ferrari, born and raised in Manhattan, received his B.A. in History from Denison University in Granville, Ohio. After serving two years in the United States Peace Corps in Zambia, he attended Brooklyn Law School, receiving his Juris Doctor in 2004.
Education
BROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL
Juris Doctor, 2004
DENISON UNIVERSITY
B.A., History, Political Science, 1994
Admissions
New York