CONTACT INFORMATION

Chicago t 312.258.5561 f 312.258.5600 E-mail Download vCard

PRACTICE AREAS

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Illinois
  • New York
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

News

J. Michael Showalter

Associate

J. Michael (Mike) Showalter is a litigator whose practice is focused on resolving complex commercial and environmental disputes. Mr. Showalter’s past clients span diverse industries including manufacturing, mining, power generation and transmission, the financial and insurance sectors, and process outsourcing.

While much of his current work focuses on disputes arising under federal statutes including CERCLA, RCRA, and the Clean Water Act, Mr. Showalter has significant experience representing parties involved in class action, toxic tort and regulatory litigation in courts across the United States. Mr. Showalter’s practice has focused on distilling complicated technical information into the format most appropriate to a given forum, and resolving problems in a manner protecting his clients’ long-term business interests. He has also provided advice on legislative and product safety issues geared toward litigation avoidance, and by significant experience advising parties regarding electronic discovery and document retention, including litigating discovery disputes.

In his practice, Mr. Showalter has worked with experts in various fields, including medicine, physical sciences, industrial hygiene, toxicology, environmental engineering and risk assessment. Mr. Showalter has maintained a significant pro bono practice, and has litigated civil rights, immigration, and post-conviction criminal cases in state and federal courts and administrative tribunals.

Publications

"Scientific Evidence in the Fourth Circuit," in Cynthia H. Cwik et al. (eds.), Scientific Evidence Review: Admissibility of Expert Evidence, Monograph No. 8, American Bar Association Section of Technology & Law (2008)

"Judicial Deference to Educational Judgment," Journal of College and University Law, vol. 30 (2004) (with E. Stoner II)

Note, "A Cruel Trilemma: The Flawed Political Economy of Remedies to WTO Subsidies Disputes," Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, vol. 37 (2004)

Speeches and Presentations

"'Ban Asbestos' Legislation, Regulation, and Asbestos Litigation," Defense Research Institute Seminar on Asbestos Medicine, San Diego, Calif. (2010)

Education

Vanderbilt University Law School(J.D., 2004)
Dean's List
Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law
Moot Court Board
Jessup Moot Court Team
Columbia College — New York(A.B., Political Economics and Religion, 2000) Henry S. Coleman Scholarship

Clerkships

Honorable David A. Faber, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Charleston, West Virginia (2005-2006)

Honorable Michael F. Urbanski, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Roanoke, Virginia (2004-2005)

Professional Memberships

New York State Bar Association

American Bar Association

Defense Research Institute