Newport Beach, California (August 16, 2016) – In an effort to further the firm’s deep ties to the automotive community, Jonathan Michaels has been granted admission to the Michigan state bar. This adds to Michaels’ existing standing with the California and Colorado state bars, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.
Michaels has built an illustrious career in the automotive industry, litigating cases against nearly every major auto manufacturer in the world. In his tenure, Michaels has litigated against GM, Audi, Maserati, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Honda, AM General, Isuzu, Toyota, Hyundai, Harley-Davidson, Mercedes, Kia, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Aston Martin, Porsche, Land Rover and Ford.
Michaels is also responsible for bringing some of the most important cases in the automotive industry, many of which have helped shape the nation’s jurisprudence. This includes Ponce v. General Motors – a national class action against GM for the fraudulent concealment of a deadly safety defect in its vehicles for 13 years; and Spitzer Motor City v. U.S. – where he represents numerous terminated Chrysler dealers against the United States for the unlawful “taking” of their franchises in 2009, a violation of the 5th Amendment.
“It is an honor to have been invited to the Michigan bar,” said Michaels, founding member of MLG Automotive Law. “This will allow us to take the fight for our clients to the doorstep of America’s automotive industry.”
Michaels’ efforts have earned him the respect of his peers. He has received the prestigious “Super Lawyers” award every year since 2012, a distinction reserved for no more than 5 percent of the lawyers in the state. Michaels is also frequently called upon by the press for relevant comment, and he has authored more than 75 articles for the Los Angeles Daily Journal – all of which have appeared on the front page of the respected publication. In 2015, Michaels’ journalistic work on the GM ignition switch recall earned him consideration for a Pulitzer Prize in Journalism.
Michaels maintains close ties to the academic community. In 2012, he was named “Attorney of the Year” by his law school alma mater, and he is frequently asked by some of the nation’s most prestigious universities to teach classes to both practicing attorneys and law students regarding effective litigation strategy.
All of this follows a strong scholastic beginning. Michaels graduated from the USC Marshall School of Business in 1992, and then attended Whittier Law School where he graduated in 1995 in the top four percent of his class. In law school, Michaels served as an Editor of Law Review, he competed in several national Moot Court Honors Board competitions, and he published a winning Law Review article that is permanently housed in the U.S. Library of Congress.
About MLG Automotive Law
Located in Newport Beach, California, MLG Automotive Law is a full service business law firm, concentrating on representing the legal interests of businesses and people in the automotive industry. Its clientele includes car dealers, high performance manufacturers, motorsports personalities, race teams, car collectors and automotive associations. Follow MLG Automotive Law on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
