As national counsel for certain clients in product liability matters, he dealt with class actions and federal multi-district proceedings. He also had significant experience in litigation involving securities, antitrust, commercial class actions, duties of corporate directors and officers, and environmental liabilities and injury claims arising from toxic substances, as well as insurance coverage for these and other liabilities. He is very familiar with various forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), having served as an arbitrator in addition to being an advocate in ADR proceedings. He was listed in The Best Lawyers in America' in the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation and recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer'.
Michael graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington, obtaining his A.B. in 1970 and his J.D. magna cum laude in 1973. He was a member of the board of editors of the Indiana Law Journal. He joined Barnes & Thornburg in 1973 and served as a partner from 1980 until his retirement.