Michael John Avenatti (born February 16, 1971) is an American attorney and entrepreneur. He has appeared on broadcast, as well as in print, media as a legal commentator and has represented parties in a number of prominent lawsuits, including cases brought against the National Football League, various celebrity defendants, high-ranking business executives, and Fortune 100 companies. He is also a professional race car driver, having participated in races in the United States and Europe.Avenatti sued President Donald Trump on behalf of actress Stormy Daniels in an attempt to void a non-disclosure agreement she had signed. A related defamation suit filed by Avenatti on behalf of Daniels was dismissed by a federal judge in October 2018 with Daniels ordered to pay Trump's legal fees, a decision Avenatti said he would appeal. In 2018, Avenatti publicly contemplated running for president in 2020 and released a list of policy positions on issues ranging from immigration to healthcare.
