Overview

Michael Jones has a national trial practice that has ranged from New York to Hawaii. He has tried cases in Baltimore, Maryland, New Orleans, Louisiana, Bisbee, Arizona, Queens, New York, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Blackburne County, Indiana, Oxford, Mississippi, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois and Jackson, Mississippi. He has conducted arbitrations in Orlando, Florida and Washington, D.C., and has won numerous cases on dispositive motions in a variety of jurisdictions, including Mississippi, Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, and Washington, D.C.

Michael has been featured in The National Law Journal's Defense Verdicts of the Year, The American Lawyer's Big Suits section and Lawyers Weekly USA for his successful defense of NL Industries in the first lead paint case to go to trial. His winning record with dispositive motions has been noted by Corporate Counsel magazine, and his experience in defending against punitive damages has been noted by The National Law Journal. In 26 years, he has never lost a punitive damages case. Michael was recognized for his involvement with youth mentoring in the Legal Times article "Happy Returns." He has authored several articles, including "The Opening Statement: Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You," which appeared in the ABA Automobile Law Committee Newsletter, "Lie-tery Winners," which was featured in The National Law Journal, and "Old Assumptions Die Hard," published in the December 2, 2002 issue of The National Law Journal, to name a few.

In 2007, Michael was named a Leading Lawyer, and selected as one of the top 10 business litigation attorneys in Washington, D.C., by Legal Times. In addition, Michael was selected as one of the top 10 trial attorneys in the nation by The National Law Journal in their feature, "Winning: Successful Strategies From 10 of the Nation's Leading Litigators." He was also chosen as one of the 75 Best Lawyers in Washington by Washingtonian magazine. In 2003, Michael was recognized as one of America's Top Black Litigators by Black Enterprise. Most recently, Michael successfully represented NL Industries in a closely watched lead paint case in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that was the subject of national media attention. He was featured in the American Lawyer's "Top Guns" article, naming Kirkland the "Litigation Department of the Year" in 2008. In 2015, Michael was recognized as Dillard University’s “Male Alumnus of the Year” for his outstanding legal work on behalf of HBCUs.

Michael's cases have been covered by a number of media, including Court TV, The Associated Press, The American Lawyer, Forbes, CBS News, and many others.

More

Thought Leadership

Publications

"Opinion: Ruling on Black Colleges Presents Maryland with Stark Choice," Afro, January 29, 2014

"Md. Fails to Keep Its Promise to HBCUs," The Baltimore Sun, December 28, 2011

"Shirley Sherrod and Lessons for Trial Lawyers," The National Law Journal, August 9, 2010

"When Laughter Is The Best Defense," Legal Times, April 13, 2009

"Litigators' Oratory:  Learn from Obama," The National Law Journal, February 2, 2009

"The Opening Statement: Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You," Automobile Law Committee Newsletter, Fall 2004

"Old Assumptions Die Hard," The National Law Journal, December 2, 2002

Seminars

Presentations have included topics from punitive damages to expert testimony before a variety of organizations, including seminars sponsored by the American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute (DRI), and Andrews Automotive Litigation Reporter.

Author of CD that is used in a number of law school trial advocacy programs. The CD is entitled: “Getting Juries To Listen: Creating Memorable Stories and Images.”

Press Mentions

“Spotlight on ACTL Distinguished Pro Bono Fellow Michael D. Jones,” The American College of Trial Lawyers, Summer 2022

“Flush with pro bono fees, Latham, Kirkland and Cravath take the high road,” Reuters, March 17, 2022 

“Who’s Who in Law 2021,” Baltimore Business Journal, May 14, 2021

Recognition

Recognized as “Black Attorney of the Year,” Lawyers of Color, 2022

Recognized as “Litigator of the Week,” The American Lawyer Litigation Daily, 2021

Top Rated General Litigation Attorney in Washington, DC, Super Lawyers, 2007–2016

Fellow, The American College of Trial Lawyers

Recipient, Georgetown University Law Center's Paul R. Dean Award (presented to outstanding alumni)

Memberships & Affiliations

Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

Board Member, Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights

Board Member, Dillard University, New Orleans, LA 

Board Member, D.C. Council for Court Excellence

Board Member, Equal Justice Works

Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1986, Georgia (inactive)
  • 1989, District of Columbia

Education

  • Georgetown University Law CenterJ.D.cum laude1985

    Thurgood Marshall Award

    Notes and Comments Editor, Georgetown University Law Journal

  • Dillard UniversityB.A.summa cum laude1982

    First in Class

    Luard Scholar

    Samuel Dubois Cook/Benjamin E. Mayes Most Outstanding Student Award