Michael Clayton is a "Cleaner (crime)" for a prestigious New York City law firm, using his connections and knowledge of legal loopholes for clients' benefit. Michael is $75,000 in debt from a restaurant investment he entered with his brother Timmy, which collapsed when Timmy used the restaurant's funds to fuel his drug habits. Michael, having gone to a loan shark to raise the money, refuses to give up on his brother and is held responsible for the debt and given one week to come up with the money.