With a diverse background aiding clients across industries and countries, Max focuses on class action and other complex commercial cases that require more than a cookie-cutter approach to litigation. Max partners with clients to understand the client’s business and strategic goals so that success in litigation takes into account both the client’s bottom line and future growth. Experienced in all stages of litigation, Max is well equipped to guide clients from pre-litigation strategy through post-trial and appellate practice, always working to place the client in the best possible position. In doing so, Max helps clients simplify their complex facts so that the court, jury, or arbitrator can see that their position is just, fair, and right.
Max is a proven thought leader and practitioner in the developing areas of privacy, biometrics, and data-related class actions. Most recently, Max represented three trade associations as amici curiae before the Illinois Supreme Court, arguing against an interpretation of the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act (BIPA) that would expose businesses to devastating liability. Max has also represented clients in class action litigation arising from the alleged exposure of personally identifiable information (PII) and the alleged unlawful collection of private information.
Max is an experienced appellate attorney, who represents numerous defendants, including retailers, in complex BIPA class actions. Max represented appellate amici in the Cothron v. White Castle case when it was pending before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Illinois Supreme Court. He is co-leading a team developing cutting-edge BIPA defenses for technology providers facing increasingly volatile BIPA case law. Max has also handled multiple data breach class actions — including for major transportation industry and health care clients — and has deep knowledge of the data breach litigation and settlement landscape. Max has particular experience defending claims brought under federal privacy statutes, such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and a host of state consumer protection laws, including California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
In 2018, Max was selected to serve as an assistant district attorney through Cozen O’Connor’s secondment program with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. As an assistant district attorney, Max prosecuted hundreds of misdemeanor trials and felony preliminary hearings in the Philadelphia Municipal Court. Max regularly handled firearm, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, DUI, robbery, identity fraud, multi-stage burglary, and other felony and misdemeanor theft offenses.
Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor, Max was an associate with a global law firm in New York. There, he gained thorough experience working in state and federal court, as well as before arbitrators and mediators. Max also has worked extensively with international clients, helping them navigate the intricacy of the U.S. judicial system.
Active in pro bono work, Max has successfully litigated claims against the Department of Justice and city of New York for violations of prisoners’ civil rights and has aided a number of inmates seeking clemency for crimes for which they are serving disproportionate sentences. Max has also provided pro bono services to clients seeking relief in immigration and family court.
Max earned his J.D. from the New York University School of Law where he served as an executive articles editor for the Annual Survey of American Law. He earned his B.A. in philosophy magna cum laude from Columbia University.