From Duke to the Supreme Court
Michael Machat graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University in 1980, where he studied business, economics, and philosophy. He earned his J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 1983, grounding himself in the elite legal networks of Southern California.
Trained in contract drafting by his father Marty Machat — before the era of word processors and boilerplate templates — Michael learned the art of meticulous, bespoke legal language. Every clause deliberate. Every agreement built for the specific client, not pulled from a template library.
Seven Years in London. Then Vampire Vineyards.
What was meant to be a four-week business trip to London in the late 1980s became a seven-year immersion in the UK music scene. During the peak of the rave and house music explosion, Michael managed top-ten charting artists including Seal, Adamski, and Guru Josh. Under his management, Seal and Adamski's "Killer" topped the European charts.
In 1985, driving through the Nevada desert, he envisioned a red wine brand called Vampire. The wine trade told him he was insane. One distributor threw him out of his office. Undeterred, he sold his first 500 bottles to Alice Cooper and MCA Records in London, secured retail at Selfridges, and eventually moved production to Transylvania. Today, Vampire Family Brands spans wines, Belgian chocolates, coffee, and the former Vampire Lounge & Tasting Room in Beverly Hills.
42 Years. Every Level of Court.
Michael returned to full-time legal practice bringing something no textbook teaches: the operational perspective of a founder and CEO. He has since built a record of landmark victories, from a 9-0 Supreme Court win to the largest California trademark verdict of 2018 ($710,000), to a $3.1 million judgment in 2024.
He is a trial attorney at his core — willing to take cases to jury verdict when others push for quick settlements. His practice spans trademark litigation, music and copyright law, beverage industry disputes, and complex commercial cases.
Bar Admissions & Court Credentials
Admitted to practice in multiple federal circuits and the highest court in the United States — capable of pursuing cases from trial through the final appeal.