Murchison & Cumming LLP

Murchison & Cumming’s Michael B. Lawler Retires

LOS ANGELES - Michael B. Lawler, recognized as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” and a Senior Partner at Murchison & Cumming, LLP, has announced his retirement after a distinguished 43 year legal career, during which he tried well over 100 jury trials in the federal and state courts. He will remain Senior Counsel at the firm. 

 
A quintessential trial lawyer, Mr. Lawler has defended clients in matters ranging from the basic to the complex, including those involving employment, nursing homes and elder and clergy abuse. Known for being a creative visionary and having embraced technology early, Mr. Lawler is a lawyer’s lawyer, respected for being the consummate professional.
 
“Michael Lawler gets more done with a soft smile and a handshake than most lawyers can do with 100 sets of interrogatories. Michael exemplifies the fact that there's a great deal of benefit in decency. His credibility with opposing counsel is truly incredible. We need more lawyers like Michael,” said Thomas A. Girardi of Girardi Keese.
 
Mr. Lawler graduated from Southwestern Law School, following in the footsteps of his father Judge Bernard Lawler, who was named to the bench at the age of 26, and his great-uncle Oscar Lawler, a renowned lawyer and founder of Lawler, Felix & Hall. As an attorney with the firm for more than half of its 85 years, Mr. Lawler has mentored and developed hundreds of young lawyers, some of whom are his partners today. He was instrumental in opening the firm’s Orange County, Las Vegas, and San Francisco offices helping to grow the firm into the “Go To” law firm for litigation in California and Nevada that it is today.
 
Most recently, Mr. Lawler served as Co-Chair of the firm’s Employment Law practice group, having previously Chaired both its General Liability and Health Law practice groups. He is a Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, "AV Preeminent" rated by Martindale Hubbell, and has been recognized by the Daily Journal as a “Leading Employment Lawyer in California.” He is a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, International Association of Defense Counsel, Defense Research Institute and the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance.
 
“We wish Mike the very best in retirement and are grateful every day for his many contributions to Murchison & Cumming and the defense bar as a whole, each of which is the better thanks to his active leadership, vision, and ability to make things happen,” said Managing Partner Dan L. Longo. “The impact he has had on future generations of California lawyers, thanks to his mentoring of hundreds of lawyers during his career, is immeasurable.”
 
In retirement, Mr. Lawler looks forward to spending more time at Bass Lake and with his grandchildren, as well as perfecting his golf game.

 

For More Information, Contact:

Arleen Milian
Director of Client Relations
213-630-1071
amilian@murchisonlaw.com

 

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