Michael Avenatti is an American lawyer and entrepreneur who is currently serving a 20-year sentence in prison following multiple convictions, including fraud and embezzlement.

Avenatti is best known for representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against former President Donald Trump.

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The lawsuit sought to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement regarding the alleged affair between Daniels and Trump. The case garnered significant media coverage and thrust Avenatti into the national spotlight.

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Michael John Avenatti was born on February 16, 1971 in Sacramento, California. His childhood was spent in Colorado and Utah.

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Michael Avenatti studied at Parkway Central High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996 and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Washington, D.C. in 2000. He earned his Juris Doctor degree at the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.

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Avenatti began his career at O'Melveny & Myers, a prestigious Los Angeles law firm, where he had the opportunity to work with prominent attorney Daniel M. Petrocelli.

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In 2007, Avenatti founded his own law firm called Egan Avenatti, LLP, which later became Egan O'Malley & Avenatti, LLP.

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Avenatti is known for his participation in several notable cases including a $454 million fraud verdict against Kimberly-Clark and Halyard Health, a high-profile class-action settlement against Service Corporation International, and a malicious prosecution settlement.

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[{"selector":"#anim-34d7e238-4010-4d43-ae1a-02c2bf320425 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Later that year, in December, he was sentenced to an additional 14 years for wire fraud and obstruction against the IRS, resulting in a total sentence of 20 years without the possibility of parole.