Michael Poon joined Pacific Legal Foundation as an attorney in 2019. His practice focuses on restoring and strengthening the separation of powers, a distinctively American innovation that protects individual liberty and the rule of law. Within the area of separation of powers, Michael is particularly interested in enforcing constitutional mechanisms that ensure regulators and bureaucrats are accountable to the American people. His commitment to liberty began with an interest in philosophy in high school and college and is particularly informed by the works of Ayn Rand.
In 2020, Michael left PLF for a year to clerk for the Honorable Patrick J. Bumatay of the Ninth Circuit. There, he assisted Judge Bumatay on a wide variety of cases, including notable cases regarding the separation of powers and religious liberty. Prior to joining PLF, Michael clerked for the Honorable Edward M. Chen in the Northern District of California.
Michael attended Stanford Law School, where he was a senior editor on the Stanford Law Review. He also holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from UC Berkeley, where he graduated with honors. When not reading administrative law, Michael enjoys the outdoors, weightlifting, and spending time with his partner and his golden retriever.
Michael is a member of the bar only in the state of California.
