BAYVILLE, NY, March 10, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Michael E. Catapano has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Catapano has established a distinguished career as an associate commercial litigation attorney at McKool Smith, where he has served since passing the bar exam in 2021. During his first five years of legal practice, Mr. Catapano has developed a wide array of expertise in complex commercial litigation, including: privacy law, anti-kickback qui tam litigation, false advertising, copyrights, patent infringement (and patent-related disputes), contracts and breaches, antitrust, breaches of fiduciary duty, bankruptcy, trade secret misappropriation, and other multifaceted civil matters. His proficiency in these areas is underscored most by his role as a core member of the legal team responsible for the landmark Meta biometric privacy case, which marked the first-ever enforcement of Texas's biometric privacy statute. The McKool Smith team secured a $1.4 billion settlement—the largest ever for a case brought by a single state—demonstrating his commitment to advancing privacy protections amid evolving technological challenges.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Catapano was a summer associate at McKool Smith from 2020 to 2021. During this formative period, he gained hands-on experience in high-stakes litigation and further honed his skills in trial preparation and legal research.

In 2020, Mr. Catapano served as a criminal division legal extern with the United States Attorneys' Office for the Eastern District of New York. This role provided him with valuable exposure to federal prosecution and deepened his understanding of trials. His legal foundation was further strengthened in 2019 when he worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Joseph F. Bianco of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. This experience offered him insight into appellate court processes and judicial decision-making at one of the nation's most respected courts.

Throughout his legal journey, Mr. Catapano has achieved significant milestones that reflect both his skill and dedication. As a second-year attorney, Mr. Catapano handled a pro bono case representing an elderly couple in need—his first opportunity to independently manage all aspects of litigation from depositions to summary judgment through final disposition. The outcome of this case affirmed his decision to transition from professional sports to law and reinforced his belief in using his competitive drive for advocacy. He also reached other litigation milestones early in his legal career—such as conducting his first live cross-examination during a multi-million dollar arbitration—while in his third year of practice.

Before embarking on his legal career, Mr. Catapano spent five years as a professional football player in the National Football League. He was drafted by Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013—becoming the first Princeton player drafted since 2001. He then joined the New York Jets from 2015 to 2017 under head coach Todd Bowles before concluding his athletic career with the Houston Texans in 2017-18 under then-Defensive Coordinator Mike Vrabel. Notably, Catapano was the first football player drafted into the NFL from Princeton University in over a decade—a milestone that brought renewed attention to Princeton's athletic program.

Mr. Catapano's transition from professional athletics to law was shaped by self-reflection during his final years in football. Recognizing that an NFL career is brief and often unpredictable due to injuries, he sought a profession where he could leverage his "on the field" strengths—painstaking preparation and performance under pressure when stakes are highest—into meaningful work beyond sports. The impending birth of his first child further motivated him to pursue a path that would provide stability and allow him to be someone others could rely on during their most critical moments.

Mr. Catapano's academic background includes graduating from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York, in 2008, and then graduating from Princeton University in New Jersey with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2013—a discipline that has informed his approach to both teamwork on the field and advocacy in courtrooms. Following his 2018 retirement from the NFL, Mr. Catapano enrolled in St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York, after receiving a scholarship later that same year; he went on to earn his Juris Doctor with honors from St. John's in 2021. An active member of the New York State Bar Association and regular pro hac vice counsel in state courts throughout Texas, Mr. Catapano also holds admission to practice in the federal courts of the Eastern District of Texas and the Southern District of New York.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Catapano is committed to civic engagement and mentorship. He serves as a yearly keynote speaker in law schools and courthouses throughout New York as part of the Second Circuit's "Justice for All—Courts and the Community" initiative, and he also serves as a coach for his children's local sports teams in Bayville, New York—demonstrating his dedication to empowering others both inside and outside the courtroom.

His athletic accomplishments have been recognized through numerous awards, including Princeton Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, All-American honors, and four-time All-Ivy League selection and First Team All-Ivy League distinction. A person of faith, Mr. Catapano credits divine guidance for shaping both his personal journey and professional path—from being drafted into the National Football League where he met his wife in Kansas City, to building their family now rooted in New York—trusting that each step unfolds as it should.

Outside of his legal career, Mr. Catapano values time spent outdoors with his dog, chopping wood, chess, running, tackling home projects, and enjoying the occasional pickleball game with local friends. Above all, he cherishes moments with his wife Jenna and their two children, Bella, and Mikey. Looking ahead, he remains dedicated to achieving legal excellence while maintaining balance between his professional responsibilities and his family life. He strives to be recognized as a fierce and trustworthy legal advocate who rises to every occasion, and he seeks his clients' confidence through professionalism, preparation, and integrity. Mr. Catapano's ongoing commitment is to continually earn trust from both his clients and colleagues alike, while consistently delivering winning results in "bet-the-company" litigations.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

# # #