Overview

Michael Slade is a trial lawyer with a broad commercial and appellate litigation practice. His cases involve all types of complex commercial litigation, including products liability, professional liability, consumer fraud, labor and employment law, trade secrets and construction related matters. Michael also has extensive experience and a proven track record of success in high-stakes bankruptcy and restructuring litigation.

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Thought Leadership

Publications 

“Democracy In The Details: A Plea For Substance Over Form In Statutory Interpretation,” 37 Harvard Journal on Legislation 189 (2000).

“Book Review: Justice Antonin Scalia's ‘A Matter of Interpretation,’” 36 Harvard Journal on Legislation 259 (1999).

Seminars

Speaker, “Modifying Labor and Retirement Obligations in Bankruptcy,” 38th Annual Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, November 2019.

Speaker, “Discovery in Aviation Cases: A Potpourri of Issues and their Practical Implications,” 23rd Annual Institute on Aviation Litigation Conference, American Bar Association, Chicago, June 2017.

Speaker, “Flag of Convenience: Foreign Maintenance of U.S. Aircraft – Ignorance is Not Bliss,” 22nd Annual Institute on Aviation Litigation Conference, American Bar Association, New York, June 2016.

Recognition

Recognized in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators” (2024–2025)

Recognized as “Bankruptcy Litigator of the Year” at the 15th Annual Benchmark Litigation U.S. Awards (2024) 

Recognized by Benchmark Litigation U.S. as a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” (2022–2024)

Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service Award Winner, United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2020–2021)

Named “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer (2019, 2022)

Recognized by The American Lawyer as winner of the award for Transatlantic Litigation (2016)

Recognized in The Legal 500 U.S. for Trade Secrets (2016), Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense: Aerospace/Aviation (2012, 2014–2015), Consumer Products (2013, 2015)

Memberships & Affiliations

Lecturer in Law, University of Chicago Law School, 2019, 2021, 2023 (teaching seminar on Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants)

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1999Texas
  • 2001Illinois

Courts

  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Education

  • Harvard Law SchoolJ.D.cum laude1999
  • Emory UniversityB.A., Political Science & History

    magna cum laude

    1996
    Phi Beta Kappa