Bio

Mike has amassed a truly impressive record before juries in Federal and State courts throughout the country. He is one of the few presently practicing attorneys to have attained at least five or more not guilty jury verdicts in favor of his clients in Federal criminal prosecutions brought by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. His last six Federal criminal jury trial have resulted in three not guilty verdicts on all charges, a dismissal of all charges during trial, and a mistrial. In the last two federal health care prosecutions that Mike has defended, his clients have walked out of court with a total of zero months prison time, after facing the possibility of dozens of years in prison. Mike’s results in civil jury trials in the Illinois state courts, including Cook, Kane, and Lake County, as well as in the Federal courts, including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Virginia, has been equally impressive. Mike's clients have prevailed before juries in those jurisdictions in cases involving employment discrimination, employment retaliation/whistleblowing, securities fraud, civil rights violations, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.

Mike has been recognized as a top trial lawyer and commercial and criminal litigator by the following: The National Trial Lawyers; America’s Best Attorneys; Super Lawyers; Leading Lawyers Network; American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys; and Crain’s Chicago Business.

Many of his cases have been the subject of national and local media attention, stirring recognition in publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, Law 360, and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

Mike has a keen interest in the craft and science of trial practice, and he is a frequent lecturer on trial and litigation related subjects. He is an Adjunct Professor in Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s prestigious trial practice program, where he has also coached its Mock Trial teams. Mike also regularly lectures on the art and science of trial practice.

MICHAEL IRVING LEONARD

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