In remembrance of Michael Brewer

The payments industry is mourning the loss of Michael A. Brewer, who passed away Nov. 20, 2015. After graduating from Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif., with a Juris Doctorate degree in 1985, Brewer went on to become the founding principal of the Law Offices of Michael A. Brewer APC in 2011, operating offices in Los Angeles and Irvine, Calif.

In his work as a civil and trial lawyer, Brewer represented a broad spectrum of clients in business, commercial, credit card, retail, manufacturing and developing industries in California and Asia. During his career, he also participated in several high-profile cases, which included serving as co-lead counsel in the wrongful death civil lawsuit brought against O.J. Simpson that resulted in a $33 million verdict for plaintiffs.

Mentor and friend

Those who knew him from his work within the payments industry said Brewer will long be remembered for his integrity and generosity, which extended into all aspects of his life.

"Mike started as my attorney over four years ago and we grew to becoming friends, as he was like a father figure, a mentor and an advisor to me," said Jeff Brodsly, President and Chief Executive Officer at Chosen Payments. "Mike was by far one of the most loyal, trustworthy men of principle I have ever met in my life."

Brodsly noted that as his payments business grew, Brewer advised him both personally and professionally with a true passion toward watching him succeed. "The world needs more men like Mike Brewer, and I will always cherish the relationship we did have, and the logical guidance he provided so much of to me. I wish sincere condolences to his family in their time of grieving." Brewer is survived by his spouse, three daughters and a grandchild.

Brewer's generous spirit was openly expressed by members of his law firm, and his solid expertise in contracts was evidenced in interviews with The Green Sheet. In one such interview, he offered this advice to merchant level salespeople negotiating partner agreements: "My recommendation to these agents is to get a lawyer; make sure the lawyer is familiar with the industry. That's the most important thing, because the folks that are not in the industry don't understand the unique needs of an agent."

Editorial Note:

Whether you want to upgrade your POS offerings, find a payment gateway partner, bone up on fintech regs or PCI requirements, find an upcoming trade show, read about faster payments, or discover the latest innovations in merchant acquiring, The Green Sheet is the resource for you. Since 1983, we've helped empower and connect payments professionals, starting with the merchant level salespeople who bring tailored payment acceptance and digital commerce tools, along with a host of other business services to merchants across the globe. The Green Sheet Inc. is also a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals.

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