Michael R. MacPhail

Representing clients nationwide in securities litigation, Michael R. MacPhail holds over three decades of experience in handling disputes and trials in a variety of high-stakes litigation. Working from Spencer Fane LLP in Denver, Colorado, he counsels publicly traded companies, investment advisors, broker-dealers, accounting firms, and transfer agents in investigations and enforcement actions. He also holds experience in general litigation and white collar crimes.

Mr. MacPhail draws on his 13 years of experience as a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement attorney to defend his clients in cases that include investigations of possible federal securities law violations. He frequently advocates for clients in securities litigation before the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the Colorado Division of Securities, the Colorado State Board of Accountancy and other state securities regulators. His previous experience investigating violations in his SEC enforcement role helps him expect and prepare for an investigation.

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and Conservatory, Mr. MacPhail pursued his law degree from the University of California, School of Law, San Francisco. He earned his Juris Doctor in 1988 and earned his license to practice law in Colorado in 1995. He is further admitted to appear before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Starting his career serving as a staff attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, he gained experience advising panels of judges.

Throughout his career, Mr. MacPhail has advocated for hundreds of clients in various securities litigation matters. He notably achieved a favorable settlement for a Fortune 500 public company when representing them in an SEC investigation concerning its financial restatement. His continuous efforts and ethical standards have earned him recognition in Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Banking and Finance, in 2023 and as an Enforcement Elite by the Securities Docket. He is also an active member of the Securities Subsection of the Colorado State Bar Association.