Michael J. Gottlieb

Michael J. Gottlieb is a partner in the Litigation Department at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. As Chair of the Crisis Management Group and Co-Chair of the Media & First Amendment and Strategic Motions & Appeals Practice Groups, he handles high-stakes, multidimensional litigation and appeals with a national profile.

Michael earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where he developed a strong constitutional and appellate law foundation. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University. His academic training at these top institutions has shaped his strategic approach to complex litigation and high-level government matters.

Michael represents Fortune 50 corporations, foreign governments, senior executives, and emerging tech companies in trials, appeals, and regulatory disputes. Michael has led clients through simultaneous government investigations and litigation, involving the DOJ, FTC, SEC, state attorneys general, and Congressional committees.

Michael’s practice includes constitutional litigation, securities law, defamation and media cases, cross-border disputes, and Supreme Court advocacy. During high-pressure, enterprise-level crises, his strategic counsel has earned clients’ trust across industries and jurisdictions.

Michael is also widely recognized for his pro bono and public interest work, having secured hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for underserved clients. His contributions have earned him accolades, including Forbes’ Top 200 Lawyers (2024), Lawdragon’s Leading Lawyers and Litigators lists (2024–2025), and multiple recognitions as Litigator of the Week by The American Lawyer.

Michael J. Gottlieb was also a National Law Journal Rising Star and a Cybersecurity Trailblazer. His legal accomplishments and leadership continue to shape the future of litigation practice in the U.S., making him one of the most accomplished attorneys of his generation.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
• Fellow, George Mason University National Security Institute
• Member, Council on Foreign Relations

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• New York

Education

• Harvard Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Northwestern University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges