Overview
Relentless advocates for our clients’ interests
From high-stakes trials to complex commercial disputes and arbitration, having a litigation team that understands your business and delivers results is essential. Michael Best’s team of over 60 seasoned attorneys and professionals provide strategic, battle-tested representation across the full spectrum of disputes—inside and outside the courtroom.
Chambers & Partners, USA
Our Litigation practice group received Band 3 recognition.
Best Lawyers in America 2026
Michael Best is proud to announce the selection of 104 firm attorneys to The Best Lawyers in America 2026 list, with representation across 48 different areas of legal practice nationwide.
Distinguished in Litigation” Firm by BTI Consulting Group
We proudly announce our recognition as a "Distinguished in Litigation” firm in BTI Consulting Group’s Outlook 2025 report.
Benchmark Litigation Stars
Four Michael Best attorneys are named 2025 Benchmark Litigation Stars in the eighteenth edition of Benchmark Litigation, determined through extensive research, client and peer interviews, and casework examination.
Our Approach: We don’t just litigate, we strategize
Our litigation practice is rooted in a genuine commitment to understanding the unique business objectives, industry dynamics, and operational realities of every corporate client we serve. We recognize that effective litigation strategy begins long before entering the courtroom - it starts with listening, learning, and building a deep partnership with our clients’ businesses. Our team of trial-tested advocates, including former federal prosecutors, combines legal acumen with strategic business insight to deliver solutions that protect and advance corporate interests.
Our collaborative process is designed to keep clients informed and empowered. We provide regular updates, transparent cost management, and practical guidance at every stage - so corporate decision-makers can plan with confidence and avoid surprises. This business-first approach sets us apart and ensures that our litigation strategies are always aligned with our clients’ broader objectives.
"They provide fantastic client service. They are very responsive, flexible, and quick. I think we get tremendous value out of skills and services they offer.”
Focus Areas
Resolving Your Legal Disputes at Every Stage
We represent creditors across the full spectrum of collection, insolvency, and bankruptcy matters, from negotiating and litigating bankruptcy plans to resolving contract disputes and successor liability claims. Our team also advises on the strategic acquisition of assets from receiverships and bankruptcy estates.
Protecting businesses from consumer class action lawsuits requires a strategic, proactive approach. With deep industry experience, our team focuses on early resolution, class decertification, and cost-effective alternatives like arbitration to reduce disruption. We also provide forward-looking legal counsel to help you avoid litigation altogether, keeping your operations smooth and your reputation strong.
Assisting clients in resolving a broad spectrum of commercial disputes, including matters related to contracts, unfair trade practices, antitrust, dealership and franchise relationships, business torts, corporate governance, derivatives and securities, trade secrets and unfair competition, insolvency and restructuring, privacy and data security, land use, insurance, and financial services litigation.
Representing employers in individual and class action lawsuits, administrative agency proceedings, and alternative dispute resolution involving a wide range of employment issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour compliance, workplace safety, family and medical leave, disability accommodations, unfair competition, trade secrets, employee benefits, and executive compensation.
Assisting clients with all facets of corporate criminal defense, government investigations, and internal investigations in areas as diverse as antitrust, securities fraud, RICO, FCPA, accounting irregularities, healthcare fraud, IP crimes, money laundering, and environmental crimes.
Helping clients maximize the value of their insurance assets. We provide end-to-end support, from policy review and risk mitigation to claims advocacy and litigation, ensuring our clients are well-positioned to recover losses and protect their operations in the face of uncertainty.
Offering litigation defense, risk management, and alternative dispute resolution across a wide range of product categories, including automotive, food and beverage, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, garments, heavy equipment, and personal watercraft. Our team brings industry-specific insight to help clients navigate complex liability issues and proactively reduce exposure.
Resolving federal and state tax disputes, primarily involving corporate income, sales and use, property, and excise taxes, through representation before the IRS, state revenue departments, tax commissions, and the courts.
Experience
Results Powered by Industry Experience
Represented a global developer and manufacturer of chemicals and materials in personal injury litigation surrounding white lead carbonate pigments that were used in residential paints prior to a ban in the 1970s. Plaintiffs in Wisconsin sued the historic manufacturers of such pigments, and in 2005 the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted an unprecedented “risk contribution” theory of liability that allows the suits even if plaintiffs cannot identify the manufacturers of the specific pigments they were exposed to. More than 170 cases were filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and state court in Milwaukee County against our client and others—the only cases of their kind in the country.
Served as lead counsel to a global manufacturer of colors, flavors, and fragrances in toxic tort liability litigation related to the chemicals diacetyl and 2,3 pentanedione. In recent years, more than 100 lawsuits alleging respiratory injury have been brought against flavoring companies and others involved in the production of food and beverage products that use these chemicals. We represent our client in two pending cases involving three claimants in two jurisdictions (Illinois and Iowa). These cases are groundbreaking because flavoring chemicals have never previously been the target of products liability/personal injury claims.
