Michael M. Berger

Michael M. Berger is an eminent domain and land use lawyer at the firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. His focuses include condemnation, due process, and equal protection. Berger received his undergraduate degree at Brandeis University. He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law and his LL.M. in real property from the University of Southern California. He has argued before the Supreme Court as well as state Supreme Courts and Federal Appellate Courts. Notable cases he has argued include Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council, Inc. v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, City of Monterey v. Del Monte Dunes at Monterey, Ltd., Preseault v. United States, and First English Evangelical Lutheran Church v. Los Angeles County.

In 2014, Berger was awarded the Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Prize by the College of William & Mary School of Law for his steadfast defense of private property rights in the courts and his contributions to takings jurisprudence. He is the first practicing lawyer to receive the honor.