Michael E. Lackey

In his more than 25 years of private practice, Mike has represented major companies and individuals in numerous state and federal proceedings, including multi-district and class actions with billions of dollars of potential liability at stake.  He has also represented clients in grand jury proceedings and governmental investigations (including congressional investigations), using his experience as a former federal prosecutor in the Office of Independent Counsel David M. Barrett.

Mike has been recognized as a Washington DC SuperLawyer® by Thomson Reuters, a DC “Power Player” by SmartCEO magazine, and by The Washington Post magazine as one of the top attorneys in the city. Mike also has been listed for many years in Marquis Who’s Who in the World® and Who’s Who in American Law®.

Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Mike clerked for the Honorable Jacques Wiener, Jr. of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He also has served as an Associate Independent Counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel David M. Barrett. Before entering the legal profession, Mike was a lieutenant in the US Navy and graduated from the "Top Gun" school. He has a degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from MIT. Mike has long volunteered for his alma mater and serves as the Regional Chairperson for the MIT Educational Council. Because of his military, engineering, class action, criminal, and appellate background, Mike is often sought to handle high-profile litigation involving complex technical and legal concepts.

Mike led the defense of a well-known defense contractor in the civil litigation, and related governmental inquiries, that arose after a high-profile incident that arose during the Iraq War. The incident was the subject of substantial national and international press coverage and governmental scrutiny. After several years of successful litigation, the contractor settled the civil matter on very favorable terms.

Mike led the defense of one of the largest multinational agricultural companies in the world against bid-rigging allegations, brought by the Ohio Attorney General, in another highly publicized case. Pretrial motions severely undercut the AG’s case, allowing it to be settled on the courthouse steps on very favorable terms. 

Mike defended a multinational company in the marine supply industry at a bench trial in a case, brought by the Federal Trade Commission, challenging its acquisition by another multinational company.

Mike represented a military officer who provided testimony to the US Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations related to enhanced interrogation techniques during Congress’s investigation into torture during the Global War on Terror.

Mike represented a CEO in the offshore construction industry in the criminal trial of the former CEO for alleged bid rigging.

Mike worked on the defense of a large multinational agricultural company in a criminal and civil litigation matter that was the subject of the book and movie “The Informant.” The client won one of the class action cases on summary judgment and settled the other case on very favorable terms. 

Mike defended a large, multinational company in a class action seeking tens of millions of dollars, which was tried by a jury. The jury returned a verdict, but for far less than what plaintiffs had been seeking, and the entire verdict was subsequently thrown out on appeal.

For large, multinational defense contractors, Mike has litigated high-profile cases involving government contracts valued in the billions of dollars.

As a young lawyer, Mike served as an Associate Independent Counsel in the high-profile investigation and prosecution of President Clinton’s HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros and others.