In re Samuel

OPINION OF THE COURT

Respondent Michael Steven Samuel was admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York by the First Judicial Department on July 12, 1993. At all times relevant to the misconduct which underlies this proceeding, he maintained an office for the practice of law within the First Judicial Department.

In 2003, respondent, whose law practice focused on debt collection and personal injury litigation, founded Sterling Recoveries, Inc. (Sterling), a company which engaged in the purchase of distressed debt portfolios and thereafter, the collection of the debts within those…