Michael Norman Berke

Michael Berke has been licensed to practice law in California for over 38 years and is also admitted to appear before the California Federal Courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  

College undergraduate studies completed at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, graduating in 1973; law school at San Fernando Valley College of Law, Woodland Hills, CA, graduating in 1977 with California State Bar admission in 1978. 

In addition to general trial work and business experience, Mr. Berke has been a principal of and general counsel for American Recovery Service Incorporated (ARSI) since 1986, a commercial collection agency, located in Thousand Oaks, CA, devoting his practice solely to the Agency for 23 years, semi-retiring in March 2009.  As General Counsel for the Agency, he was responsible for overseeing all litigation in California and supervising litigation nationwide.   Mr. Berke has managed tens of thousands of cases, tried thousands of matters, and recovered millions of dollars for the Agency’s clients.  Many of the Agency’s clients are Fortune 1000 companies with lengthy, ongoing and successful relationships.  In addition to general collections, the Agency’s expertise lies in the commercial insurance premium, leasing, specialized banking products, and advertising industries. 

Since retirement from ARSI in 2009, Mr. Berke, while continuing as “Of Counsel” for the Michael Legal Group, his successor at ARSI, entered private practice focusing on creditors’ rights and remedies, concentrating on judgment and attorney fee recovery .