Lawyer Bio : Michael J. Sullivan

Clients turn to Michael Sullivan for senior-level strategic guidance in mass tort product liability litigation and other large-scale commercial litigation.
 
Michael brings nearly three decades of experience in “bet-the-company” cases. He serves in the role of “outside General Counsel” or Coordinating Counsel, providing big-picture advice to craft successful litigation strategies, increase efficiencies and contain costs. Michael collaborates with clients on a wide range of high-end business problems, including mass tort litigation.
 
He spent 10 years as National Coordinating Counsel, Chief Litigator and Case Manager guiding a global automotive company through national asbestos friction litigation. In this role, he coordinated the efforts of a national network of 35 defense firms, as well as the company’s in-house legal team.
 
Michael has particular experience serving the automotive industry, including Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers, as well as closely held and family owned businesses. He also has extensive litigation experience in the software, information technology, pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
 
Michael is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America. He also serves as the Office Managing Partner of Womble Carlyle’s Atlanta office.
 
Additional Practice & Case Highlights:
 

• Served as Local Counsel in mass tort cases involving asbestos and breast implant product liability issues that included the management of thousands of cases and millions of dollars in liability.
• Successfully defended IT outsourcing company against litigious attack by software vendor attempting to bar client from competing for business in the health care industry.
• Represented the world’s largest producer of soft-gelatin capsules in major antitrust and distribution dispute. He created and executed successful litigation strategy involving U.S. and E.U. antitrust and distribution law, contract principles, trade secret misappropriation, and economic issues.
• Represented a wholesale distribution company and litigated to recover monies lost as the result of failed enterprise risk management (ERP) project by one of the world’s largest software developers.

Credentials, Licenses & Affiliations

Memberships: American Bar Association (Member, Litigation Section); Georgia Bar Association; International Association of Defense Counsel; DRI (formerly Defense Research Institute); Georgia Defense Lawyers Association; Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America; Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association (GAMA); Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.
 
Federal: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia; U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. Court of Claims; Pro Hac Vice Appearances in Federal Courts in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Minnesota.
 
Admitted to the bar 2005, GA; 1984, MI (inactive); 1984, MA (Commonwealth of Massachusetts - inactive); Pro Hac Appearances in Courts in Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and South Carolina.
 
AV rated, Martindale-Hubbell.
 
Listed in the Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation and Bet-the-Company Litigation.