Überblick
Michael Dockterman is the go-to trial lawyer for his clients, trusted to lead them through their most complex and high-profile commercial disputes – both civil and criminal. Nationally recognized for litigating “once-in-a-lifetime” cases, he has represented clients in landmark trials and precedent-setting appeals across securities, antitrust, intellectual property, real estate, and government contracting.
Throughout his wide-ranging trial practice, Michael has handled the full spectrum of business litigation and led multinational litigation over matters pending simultaneously in courts in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He regularly counsels boards and audit committees on corporate governance, compliance, and executive evaluation and succession. He also guides companies through disputes with institutional investors and investigations by federal, state, and local regulators.
Michael’s clients include some of the world’s most profitable corporations, financial institutions, consumer brands, manufacturers, advertising agencies, and media companies navigating sensitive, high-stakes disputes. He represents and advises corporations such as the Publicis Groupe and its agencies – Tract Capital, KeyBank, Saks Global, and Revlon – on matters spanning contract, securities and derivatives, commercial real estate, bankruptcy, fraud, privacy, data center development rights, hard and soft intellectual property issues, indemnification, and rights of publicity disputes.
A frequent thought leader, Michael has written several articles and chapters on litigation strategy, investigations, privilege and work product, class actions, and corporate governance. He has also taught a course on civil trial practice as a senior lecturing fellow at Duke University School of Law every spring semester for more than 15 years.
Referenzmandate
- Obtained a successful jury verdict in the landmark “Clickity-Clack Track” case, which established the standard for proving trade secrets under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act after a jury awarded lifetime royalties to inventors whose design had been misappropriated*
- Served as lead trial lawyer for Toys “R” Us in successful litigation over control of its website, resulting in a decision returning control to the company, affirmed on appeal with additional damages added and ultimately settled for an additional $51 million*
- Secured a defense jury verdict in favor of a utility company in the trial of business interruption claims brought by a refinery following the failure of a co-generation plant in San Francisco*
- Successfully defended Toys “R” Us in one of the largest multidistrict consumer class actions ever brought, twice defeating certification and ultimately resolving suits by settlement to recover statutory damages for more than 16 million claims in alleged violation of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act*
- Negotiated a global settlement with all 50 states and six US territories resolving an investigation into pharmaceutical marketing practices, including related insurance issues*
- Obtained dismissal of a nationwide class action opioid claims brought by school districts and third-party payors*
- Defeated claims against KeyBank Real Estate Capital in litigation over servicing a $3.9 billion pool of loans arising from the default of the mortgage on The Bryant Park Hotel, which was affirmed by an appellate court*
- Defended the City of Chicago in a two-month trial challenging the largest public works project in the US at the time, successfully vindicating the city’s procurement process and disposing of all challenges to the city’s award of the contract*
- Successfully defended Archer Daniels Midland Corporation directors through criminal and civil litigation following a raid by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the company’s headquarters, including negotiating a groundbreaking settlement affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States*
- Obtained dismissal of a major financial institution against claims arising from servicing mortgage pools exceeding $4 billion, which was affirmed on appeal*
- Obtained dismissal of the former head of a business unit of a publicly traded company from securities class actions in New York alleging financial misrepresentations and breach of fiduciary duty*
- Obtained dismissal of securities class action claims against the largest investor in a public company asserting failure to disclose fully both the nature of the investor’s interests and his preferred position over other investors*
- Successfully defended antitrust, copyright, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act claims against the board of a standard-setting body and its related entities for alleged exclusionary and predatory conduct*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott Will & Schulte.
Auszeichnungen
- Global Law Experts, Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Illinois, 2025
- Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, 2007-2025
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Litigation: General Commercial, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2010-2026
- BTI Consulting Group, Client Service All-Star, 2020
- Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes, 2020
- Legal 500 US, Litigation: Commercial Litigation, 2016-2017
- National Law Journal, Trailblazers in Litigation, 2016
- Law360, Inaugural Trial Ace, 2015
- Super Lawyers, Illinois, Business Litigation, 2005-2023
- Leading Lawyers, Commercial Litigation, 2019-2023
- International Law Office (Lexology), Top Illinois Litigator Client Choice Award, 2013
Mitgliedschaften
- President’s Circle of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, member
- National Association of Corporate Directors, member
- Chicago Bar Association, member
- American Bar Association, member
- American Bar Foundation, fellow
- Duke University School of Law Board of Visitors, former chair
- Duke University School of Law Alumni Association, former president
Qualifikation
Education
Duke University School of Law, JD, 1978
Yale University, BA, 1975
Admissions
Illinois
Courts / Agencies
Supreme Court of the United States
US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
US District Court for the District of Colorado
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
US District Court for the Western District of Michigan
US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
