Practice Areas
Industries
Education
IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 2005
University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.S., 2002
Admissions
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio
Michelle believes in one core principle that guides her legal career: always put the client first. For more than 15 years, Michelle has brought tenacity and dedication to each case and every client. She prides herself on finding creative opportunities to resolve cases and works to avoid costly and lengthy litigation. But, when litigation is imminent, Michelle is strong to push her opponents while always maintaining the utmost integrity and honesty in the profession.
Michelle practices out of Columbus, Ohio and serves as lead litigator for many of the firm’s clients in Ohio and Indiana. She regularly counsels on matters pertaining to commercial litigation, business disputes, and complex negligence issues. She also works comfortably with civil practice and procedure cases, including catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death cases, and retail litigation.
Outside of her legal career, Michelle is passionate about helping other women succeed, both in the legal field and the business world. She serves as the chair of SmithAmundsen’s Women’s Attorney Group and is the President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (Columbus Chapter). She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two children.
Honors
- Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" List: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- National Association of Women Business Owners – Member of the Year (2016)
Memberships & Involvement
- SmithAmundsen Women’s Attorney Group: Chair (2019 – Present)
- National Association of Women Business Owners – Columbus: President (July 2020 - Present); President-Elect (June 2020); Vice President of Programming for NAWBO - Columbus Chapter (2016 - 2018); Member of Programming Committee for NAWBO – Columbus Chapter (2014 – 2016); Member of Communications Committee for NAWBO – Columbus Chapter (2014 – 2016)
- Member: American Bar Association; Ohio State Bar Association; Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Vice Chair (2011 – 2012); Indiana State Bar Association; Lake County Indiana Bar Association
Experience
- Obtained summary judgment for a large trucking company in a wrongful death case involving the death of a 45 year old father with damages exceeding $1 million
- Successfully barred the plaintiff’s expert from testifying in a federal case, leading to the grant of summary judgment on behalf of a national retailer in a case where the damages exceeded $500,000
- Negotiated a settlement of under $200,000 in a multi-party complicated constructed defect case against a homeowner’s association where the alleged damages to more than 40 units in the development exceeded $14 million
- Obtained a jury verdict for a local motorcycle club accused of negligence stemming from a fight that broke out at a motorcycle race resulting in three plaintiffs’ alleged injuries valued at over $300,000
- Successfully argued to limit the damages for a trucking company and its driver in a catastrophic wrongful death case that involved the dragging death of a pedestrian where the jury awarded $600,000 to the estate, after the plaintiff’s counsel argued that the jury should award $5 million in damages
- Taken and defended more than 500 depositions of plaintiffs, witnesses, employees, managers, doctors and experts
News & Press Releases
- NBC4 News, December 1, 2020
- November 16, 2020
- January 24, 2019
- National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), February 24, 2017
- SmithAmundsen, January 13, 2017
- April 7, 2016
- SmithAmundsen, January 8, 2016
- Columbus BizTV, December 21, 2015
- March 17, 2015
- January 12, 2015
Presentations & Events
- Premises Liability Issues in Ohio, Indiana and IllinoisClient Presentation; Raleigh, NC, June 2019
- Evaluating Bodily Injuries and Damages in Tort LitigationClient Presentation; Sheboygan, WI, October 2018
- UIM and TBI ClaimsClient Presentation; Chicago, IL, September 7, 2017