Education:
Southern Methodist University, J.D., 1975
University of Virginia, B.A., 1972
Trial Experience:
Mike has tried to verdict approximately 90+ civil and criminal jury trials and over 100 non-jury and injunction matters, and won for his clients in trial or by settlement approximately $300 million.
Admitted:
The United States Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and all U.S. District Courts in the State of Texas.
Practice Areas:
Complex Commercial Litigation; Business Torts; Trade Secrets; Financial Fraud; Lender Liability Law; Bad Faith Litigation.
Recognition:
Chosen as a "Leader in His Field" by Chambers & Partners 2009 and 2010 Guide to Leading Lawyers Directory (USA Guide: General Commercial Litigation). Selected a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide To America’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys for 2009. Selected by the National Law Journal in 1999 as having tried the "Toughest Defense Win In US for 1998". Selected again by the National Law Journal for Top Defense Win in 2002. Selected by The Dallas Business Journal as one of the Top 10 Trial lawyers in Dallas, April 2003 and as part of the annual list "Defenders" in 2009. Selected by D Magazine, as one of the "Best Litigators in Dallas," 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2009. Selected in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 by Law & Politics Magazine (as seen in Texas Monthly) as A Super Lawyer of Texas. Selected as one of "500 Top Litigators in America", Lawdragon, 2006. In 2000, recovered what we believe is the largest settlement in DFW history.
Background:
Born in Buffalo, New York, April 15, 1950; admitted to bar, 1975, Texas. Preparatory education, University of Virginia (B.A., 1972); legal education, Southern Methodist University (J.D., 1975); Member SMU Law Review; National and State Moot Court (Winner of State and Regional Contests) and Mock Trial Inter School Teams, 1973-1975; Law Clerk to Hon. Robert W. Porter, Northern District of Texas 1977-79; Senior Trial Partner with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld 1979-80; 1982-93; Assistant Criminal District Attorney, Dallas County Texas, 1980-1981; Teaching Assistant to Hon. Patrick Higginbotham, Complex Federal Litigation, Southern Methodist University, 1977. Adjunct Professor of Law, Trial Advocacy, Southern Methodist University, 1985-1986.
Sample Writing and Teaching:
Co-Editor, "Model Jury Instructions for Business Tort Litigation," American Bar Association, 2d edition, 1988. Co-Author, "Business Torts Handbook," 1991, 1998. Co-Author (with Eric W. Pinker), "Inevitable Disclosure," Texas Lawyer, 1997. Speaker: "Parallel Civil and Criminal Prosecution of Industrial Espionage," Southwestern Computer Law & Technology Institute, 1986-1988 and Southwestern Legal Foundation, 1988; "Criminal and Civil Enforcement of Environmental Laws," Executive Enterprises Institute, 1990; "Crooks, Schnooks & Cooking the Books," Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, Dallas Chapter, 1991; "Parallel Civil and Criminal Proceedings-Things That Go Bump in the Night: Strategic and Ethical Elements to Consider When Involved in Trade Secret Litigation," Advanced Intellectual Property Law Course, State Bar of Texas, 1998. Chairman: "LBO's Under Attack," ABA Program, 1990; "Old Guns v. New Guns, A National Closing Argument Shoot-Out By America's Best Trial Lawyers," ABA Program, 1996, 1997. Program Chair, 1999 Litigation Meeting, Summary Jury Trials, Chair, Texas Advanced Civil Trial Program on Opening, Cross, and Closing Argument; various articles on the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act in the SMU Law Review and St. Mary's Law Review; Cross Examination published by Litigation Section of the American Bar Association, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Family
Mike has two children, and is married to the Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn, United States District Judge, Northern District of Texas.
Selected Quotes
Fiserv, Inc.
"I had the pleasure of watching Mike Lynn work on my company's behalf in a federal court case involving significant exposure for my company. Mike's an incredibly skilled cross-examiner...Lawyers do make a difference and Mike Lynn's work illustrated beautifully the lawyering 'art'."
Charles Sprague, General Counsel
Navigant Consulting, Inc.
"Mike Lynn is one of the finest trial lawyers I have ever met. He repeatedly anticipated the other side's arguments and turned them to our advantage, he is a brilliant cross-examiner, he has a flair for courtroom drama, and no one will ever out-work him and his superb team. Beyond this, he is an wise, decent and honest man. Mike somehow finds a way to get the very best from others -- the court, the jury, his own team, his witnesses, and even his clients. There is no one I would rather have on my side."
Philip P. Steptoe, former Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Alcatel, Inc.
"As Alcatel's General Counsel, I have engaged many trial lawyers. Mike Lynn and Eric Pinker of Lynn Tillotson & Pinker are among the best at what they do that I have ever seen. They relate complex issues in antitrust and trade secret cases to juries in a manner that makes them clearly understood."
George Brunt, Former Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Selected Organizations:
Council Member: Litigation Section, American Bar Association, 2008 & 2009, Member: American Law Institute (ALI); Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation. Member: Dallas and American Bar Association (Co-Chair, ABA Section of Litigation Professional Liability Committee, 1993-1996; Co-Chair, ABA Section of Litigation Business Torts Committee, 1998-1999; Co-Chair August 2002 Litigation Section Meeting in Washington, D.C.; Co-Chair of Division III (National Institutes). Committee Member of Electronic Evidence Committee, Litigation, Section 2004; Co-Chair Federal Rules Committee, Litigation Section, 2004-2005).
