Michael Montgomery

Overview

Michael Montgomery litigates differently. Before advocating for a client, Michael listens intently so that he fully understands what a successful outcome in any given dispute looks like for his client. And then he drives himself to deliver that result.

This involves far more than a “paint-by-numbers” approach to litigation. Unafraid to challenge convention, Michael brings a creative perspective to his advocacy that helps his clients resolve disputes without wasting their time and money. He stays in close contact with his clients throughout a dispute—never billing his time for providing frequent updates—so that he can deftly change course if a new strategy is necessary to achieve the right result. Although no one wants to find themselves in a legal dispute, Michael partners with his clients to help them navigate the litigation process as painlessly as possible, and he takes the time to counsel his clients to help them avoid getting entangled in litigation moving forward.

Michael has the tools to clear the high bar of excellence he sets for himself in every matter. After graduating in the top one percent of his law school class (and scoring in the top one percent among his fellow bar examinees), he spent three years as a law clerk for two federal judges at both the trial and appellate levels. Michael has now spent more than two decades applying his knowledge and insights to bring wins to his clients in trials and appeals all over the United States. He has done so in a staggeringly wide range of matters, including everything from high-stakes commercial disputes and product-liability actions to complex environmental litigation and actions to recover assets for Ponzi scheme victims.

But Michael strives to accomplish more than successful outcomes for his clients. Legal disputes are inevitably challenging and stressful for everyone involved. With this in mind, Michael treats everyone involved in the legal process with unfailing kindness and genuine respect. He is also known for cracking a joke from time to time, and he remains certain one of them will eventually elicit laughter in response.  

*Matter completed prior to joining Benesch.