Michael Scanlon

Practice Areas

Michael Scanlon is a member of the public policy and law group in the Washington, D.C. office of the global law firm K&L Gates. Michael engages in a wide-ranging federal practice that concentrates on the maritime, postal, and financial services industries, administrative procedure, and litigation.

Michael advises and represents both large and small clients on a broad range of commercial and administrative law issues. His litigation experience includes numerous federal court and agency proceedings at both the trial and appellate levels.

Michael also advises and helps lobby on behalf of a wide range of companies and industry associations pursuing legislation, seeking regulatory implementation of newly-enacted laws, and representing their interests before Congress and federal agencies.

Before joining the firm, Michael clerked for Chief U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin of the Northern District of New York. He received a master's degree in public administration along with his law degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Prior to studying law, Michael was the director of research and communications with a national financial services trade association based in Washington, D.C.

Postal

Michael is also a member of the postal law practice. He represents mailing, shipping, and ecommerce clients, mail service providers, mail technology companies, and industry trade associations on a wide-range of postal matters, including: strategic business counselling, contractual, and compliance advice, defending and resolving investigations and enforcement actions by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and litigation before the Postal Regulatory Commission and federal courts.

Michael has extensive experience representing clients in rate and classification proceedings, rulemakings, and complaint proceedings. He represents clients in USPS revenue deficiency claims and investigations alleging violations of the False Claims Act in connection with USPS Move Update and other complex mailing eligibility requirements.

Michael has experience with both domestic and international mail policy and rate issues and in negotiating contract pricing arrangements with the USPS. Michael has extensive experience working with industry associations and providing strategic advice on regulatory and legislative postal policy matters.

Maritime

Michael’s practice involves domestic and international maritime matters. He represents U.S. and foreign shipping companies, including container shipping companies, tanker operators, cruise lines and bulk carriers, marine terminal operators, and marine service providers before the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Federal Maritime Commission, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Congress and federal courts.

Michael has significant experience in areas of vessel documentation, citizenship, operation and crewing, operating support (VISA, Maritime Security Program), and national defense shipping. His maritime representations include extensive work on the coastwise laws and their enforcement.

Michael has significant fisheries litigation experience representing seafood harvesters, processors, trade associations, and environmental groups in federal court.

Publications

"Biden Competition Order May Shift Ocean Carriers' Course," Law360, 20 July 2021

Education