Tom Branigan is a trial lawyer. He has spent his entire legal career in the courtroom where he has tried cases from coast to coast. Through his national trial practice, he has appeared as trial or lead counsel in over 30 states and he has obtained major verdicts and judgments for automotive OEMs and suppliers, major financial institutions and international franchisors.
Among his notable accolades, Tom has been described by Chambers USA as "an admired product liability defense lawyer," (2011) and The Legal 500 (2009), in which his clients describe him as "determined, aggressive and perceptive – an excellent trial lawyer that they are happy to trust going into a big case – and an outstanding lawyer providing excellent legal service.”
Tom's clients come from a broad array of business and industry sectors including automotive, financial, chemical, consumer, franchising, hospitality, insurance, recreational vehicles, public utilities and emerging technologies. Tom has a proven track record of aggressive and cost-effective management and resolution of all facets of complex and high-exposure litigation including class actions, multidistrict litigation, appeals, arbitrations and mediations. He is routinely retained as lead counsel in “bet the company” cases and he has been counsel in many of the largest class action and MDL matters in history. He brings a solution-focused, analytical approach to problem solving and a leadership style that is in alignment with the objectives and culture of his clients.
Tom is currently an elected member of the firm's Executive Committee and Chair of the firm's Policy Committee. He routinely speaks and writes about issues that are important to his clients and his practice, including autonomous driving technology, cybersecurity and is the co-author of: Michigan Product Liability and Automobile No-Fault Reform Legislation.