Michael Lyle is the managing partner of Weil Gotshal’s Washington DC office and co-heads the firm’s Product Liability and Mass Tort practice. Mr. Lyle has achieved victories for his clients at trial and on appeal in a wide range of complex cases in federal and state court. He has considerable experience in representing clients in class actions and cases before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Mr. Lyle has represented clients in a number of industries, such as pharmaceuticals, genetic research, industrial chemicals, automotive products, high performance fiber, tires, electrical equipment, and food products. Mr. Lyle has tried to judgment a variety of cases relating to the compensatory damages portion of one of the largest products liability class actions certified in the United States.
Mr. Lyle has also handled complex cases involving a number of substantive areas beyond products liability and mass tort, including intellectual property, managed health care and insurance coverage. He has tried to judgment or jury verdict a number of significant matters, including a multi-million-dollar trade secrets case and a multi-million-dollar trademark case. He has obtained injunctive relief in a number of business disputes including a $50 million insurance coverage case. Mr. Lyle obtained a preliminary injunction on behalf of United Healthcare in a deceptive trade practices case involving the pharmaceutical industry.
Mr. Lyle was the Director of the White House Office of Administration in the Clinton Administration. He was responsible for the overall management of administrative services for the White House complex and testified before Congress in connection with the White House appropriation. He also provided legal advice and counsel in areas such as congressional investigations, constitutional law, federal procurement and contracts, appropriations law and ethics. Drawing on this experience and his litigation expertise, Mr. Lyle has advised a number of US corporations in crisis situations including government investigations and product recalls. He has also counseled clients on how to avoid litigation or achieve extremely favorable, cost-effective settlements.
Mr. Lyle was named one of Chicago’s “Next Generation of Killer Litigators,” by the Illinois Legal Times.
Mr. Lyle received his J.D., cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was awarded the Paul J. Hergenroeder Award for Top Student in Trial Tactics and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award for Most Outstanding Student in Trial Advocacy. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rochester.