Mike Leonard

Mike Leonard is a nationally recognized “go to” trial lawyer. His trial practice concentrates in the areas of Federal and State criminal matters, in addition to civil employment, whistleblower, retaliation, qui tam (False Claims Act), commercial and business, and injury matters. He has successfully tried to verdict dozens and dozens of cases in the Federal and State courts, including in Illinois and across the country. Mike has spent his entire thirty-year career as a courtroom trial attorney and litigator. Mike is believed to be the only presently practicing attorney to have attained at least six or more complete not guilty jury verdicts on all counts and charges in favor of his clients in Federal criminal prosecutions brought by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Mike’s recent Federal criminal jury trials include four not guilty verdicts on all counts and charges, a dismissal of all charges during trial, and a mistrial. This includes one of the very few Federal criminal not guilty jury verdicts in the Northern District of Illinois in 2020. Mike’s results have been equally impressive in civil trials in the Illinois State courts, including in Cook, Kane, DuPage, and Lake Counties, as well as in Federal courts throughout the country - ranging from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and Virginia. Mike’s clients have prevailed before juries in those jurisdictions in cases involving employment discrimination, retaliation/whistleblowing, securities fraud, civil rights violations, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and a variety of other commercial claims. Mike has been repeatedly recognized as an outstanding trial lawyer by, among others, Super Lawyers, Leading Lawyers, American’s Top Criminal Defense Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and America’s Top High Stakes Litigators. Mike has litigated or tried to verdict Federal and State cases in at least the following Federal or State jurisdictions outside of Illinois: Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Kansas, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, California, and Oregon. Mike has appeared, briefed, or argued numerous appeals, including before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; the United States Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit; the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; numerous Illinois State Appellate Courts; the California Court of Appeals; and the Idaho Supreme Court. Mike also regularly represents and advises clients on employment-related matters, ranging from discrimination of all types, retaliatory discharge, False Claims Act/qui tam matters, employment contracts and separation agreements. Mike is a long-serving Adjunct Professor of Trial Practice at the prestigious Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. He regularly lectures and instructs on the art and science of trial practice. Mike is a 1991 graduate of Loyola (Chicago) School of Law, where he was a member of the Trial Team and the Law Journal. Mike completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Mike Leonard included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors International Human Rights Law Group Pro Bono Service Award Super Lawyers Leading Lawyers America's Top Trial Lawyers Criminal Defense Top 10 Other Sources of Feedback About Mike Leonard Included on the 2026Illinois Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2020 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2019 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2018 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2017 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2016 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2014 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2013 Illinois Super Lawyers list

• Partner

• Phelan Pope & John/Pope & John, Associate, 1991 - 1994
• Meckler Bulger & Tilson, Partner/Associate, 1994 - 2013

• Trial Practice, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 2008- Present
• Federal Trial Bar Training Program
• Pincus Education Programs

• Illinois, 1991
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

• American Bar Association (Member)
• National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers (Member)
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Pi Kappa Alpha