Mike McGowan

Mike is a tenacious defense attorney, serving as counsel to companies across the country in general liability matters. He successfully litigates matters for manufacturers, retailers, construction companies, government entities and insurance companies in areas like product liability, construction and municipal liability. 

Mike defends product liability cases involving everything from brake systems to ozone generators and destruct units to cosmetic manufacturing processes. In past instances he defended cases involving toxic poisoning, deaths and catastrophic loss due to product defects, fire and explosions. He has designed programs for manufacturers to bring their products into compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act. He also constructed a product compliance/audit program for the world's seventh largest furniture maker and drafted warnings for consumer products of medical device companies. As chair of the Product Liability Practice Group, Mike oversees a team providing these services to clients across the country.

Mike represents general contractors, prime contractors, real estate developers, landowners, second tier contractors and insurers in all types of construction-related litigation including construction defect cases. He has successfully litigated issues of tenders of defense, hold harmless agreements, and indemnification agreements.

Additionally, Mike defends civil rights and municipal tort liability cases. He has used the Illinois Tort Immunity Act to great effect in defending diverse clients such as state agencies, numerous municipalities and various schools, forest preserves, park districts and villages.

Mike is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. In that capacity he is charged with ensuring that the firm’s mission and values are upheld.

• Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers List: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
• Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rated
• Selected by the Leading Lawyers Network as a "Leading Lawyer" in construction and products liability defense law
• Named to the Who’s Who in America editions in 2012, 2013, 2014
• Cambridge Who’s Who; Marquis Who’s Who, 60th, 61st, 62nd, 63rd, 64th, 65th, and 66th editions; Top 100 Illinois Lawyer in 2007; Continental Who’s Who, 2007

• Member: SmithAmundsen Executive Committee