Manning & Kass Bolsters Team with Addition of Michael Brave, Former Department of Justice Official and Prominent Law Enforcement Attorney

Los Angeles, Calif., Phoenix, Arizona, November 16, 2021 – Manning & Kass today announced that Michael Brave, Former Department of Justice (DOJ) official and renowned law enforcement attorney, has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the Government Entity Liability Practice in the Phoenix, Arizona office. His primary focus will be law enforcement defense.

Brave has invested more than 25 years in complex civil and criminal law enforcement actions and litigations, including serving for several years as the Chief of the Intelligence and Investigative Operations Unit of the DOJ’s Office of Enforcement Operations, Criminal Division, in Washington, D.C. In that position, he oversaw numerous highly sensitive law enforcement programs. Concurrently, he was Deputy Director for International Operations of the Federal Witness Security Program where he coordinated the foreign aspects of the Program.

“Given Mike’s background leading high-profile positions at DOJ, his deep expertise in law enforcement issues, and the extraordinarily high esteem in which he is held in the law enforcement community, he’s a strong addition to our well-respected law enforcement defense practice,” said Steven Manning, Founding Partner at Manning & Kass. “We continue to focus on expanding our capabilities with the addition of top talent. Mike immediately deepens our bench strength and the services we provide to our clients both in Phoenix and nationally.”

According to Michael Brave, “Manning & Kass is known for its track record in legally complex and sophisticated matters — and law enforcement defense is one of these. I’m excited to join a firm whose strong national reputation, significant investment in its law enforcement defense practice, and commitment to our communities set it apart. I look forward to working closely with this incredible group of litigators and to put my experience to work to assist the firm’s clients with their most complex legal and compliance matters.”

Brave’s Justice Department background is bolstered by his long-time involvement in a wide range of comprehensive law enforcement and private security risk/liability and litigation management services including: training programs, policy development and review, liability/risk assessments, training appraisals and post critical incident analysis. He has reviewed 400+ arrest-related deaths (ARDs) and served as a litigation consultant or expert witness in 200+ cases involving state and federal civil rights issues.

As a certified, and nationally recognized instructor in facets of deadly force, many non-lethal, and less-than-lethal programs, law enforcement vehicle operation programs, and others, Brave has presented hundreds of law enforcement legal, risk, liability, or operational training and management classes across the country, and numerous ones internationally.

In addition to his Of Counsel role at Manning & Kass, Brave is the Manager/Member of LAAW International, LLC. He is also Legal Advisor and an Advisory Board member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), and a former Executive Board member of the American Society for Law Enforcement Training (ASLET). Mike has published over 90 articles and book chapters

Brave holds a Juris Doctor degree from Hamline University School of Law, a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a Master's Degree in Management Technology from the University of Wisconsin - Stout. He is a Certified Protection Specialist and Certified Security Trainer. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th, 8th, and D.C. circuits, all Wisconsin and Minnesota State Courts, and others.