Leonard Trial Lawyers is recognized as Chicago's premiere criminal defense firm. We are nationally known and recognized trial lawyers.
We have enjoyed unparalleled success in Federal criminal trials in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago).
Michael Leonard is believed to be the only practicing attorney in the country to have attained 7 or more NOT GUILTY jury verdicts in Federal criminal prosecutions brought by the United States Attorneys' Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
Michael and his colleagues have defended against virtually every type of Federal criminal offense, including: mail fraud; wire fraud; "white collar" offenses of all kinds; conspiracy; cryptocurrency offenses; drug offenses of all kinds, including drug conspiracies; bank robbery; carjacking; Hobbs Act robberies; assaults upon Federal officers; offenses arising out of the January 6 events at the United States Capitol; health care fraud; mortgage fraud; bank fraud; securities fraud; Ponzi schemes; embezzlement; tax fraud; conspiracy to commit murder of a U.S. citizen in a foreign country - just to name a few.
Leonard Trial Lawyers has been just as successful in the Illinois State courts in criminal defense cases, including in Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane LaSalle, Winnebago, McLean - and a variety of "downstate counties." Indeed, for example, the Firm recently obtained a complete not guilty jury verdict in a lengthy and contentious trial in Kane County, which involved numerous Class X felonies. Michael has also obtained not guilty verdicts in a variety of other State court criminal cases, including for murder.
Michael and his colleagues have also handled cases across the county, including in Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey. Massachusetts, and Oregon.
Michael has been retained to provide the defense in numerous high-profile "media" cases, including in a recent murder for hire case involving a famous reality television star; in the Heather Mack case; and in the R. Kelly cases.
Michael Leonard and his colleagues are known for their devotion to preparing a case for trial from the very outset of a case; for their aggressive and creative cross-examinations; and compelling closing arguments.
In civil cases, and because of their vast trial and litigation experience, Leonard Trial Lawyers is also regularly retained to represent individuals, including in cases involving civil rights, employment discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower actions, qui tam actions, non-competes, breach of contract, defamation, tortious interference and other business torts, securities-related matters, and Law Division and Chancery Division matters of all types.
Michael Leonard has had a long association with Northwestern University (Chicago) Pritzker's School of Law, where he serves as an Adjunct Professor teaching students and lawyers the art and science of Trial Practice.
Michael also regularly speaks and writes on trial practice and litigation related matters.
Michael is also an Arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association for employment-related matters.
