Since 1998, Long Island Business News has identified 40 outstanding members of the business community on Long Island who are under the age of 40, hence the name "40 Under 40". The event has grown from a gathering of 60 people introducing themselves in a small restaurant to more than 700. Awardees in this program represent entrepreneurs, government, education, law, banking, not-for-profits and the high-tech industry. In 2005, Michael J. Weiner, a partner practicing corporate law at Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP received this award.

Michael advises public and private companies in a broad range of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, public offerings and private placements of debt equity and intellectual property licensing. Since joining Meltzer Lippe, Michael has been involved in numerous deals with a combined transaction value in excess of $400 million.