Michael R. Turco

• Location: Birmingham, Michigan
• Phone: 248-971-1713
• Fax: 248-971-1801
• Email: Turco@BWST-Law.com

Areas of Practice

• Business and Commercial Litigation
• Construction Litigation
• Information Technology Litigation

Awards

• Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers
• Martindale Hubbell AV peer-review rating since 2008
• Top 100 Michigan Business Super Lawyer since 2015
• First recognized as Michigan Super Lawyer in 2007 and listed as Super Lawyer each year since 2010

Mike Turco is a Fellow in the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. He specializes in litigating and arbitrating high risk, complex business, employment, construction, and information technology disputes. His successes include securing one of the largest verdicts in the state of Michigan in a 2015 trade secret dispute, securing a defense verdict in a multi-million dollar business dispute in 2018, and successfully defending prominent national and international corporations and high-worth individuals in various disputes in Michigan and elsewhere throughout the country. Mike also frequently serves as a court-appointed and private mediator or arbitrator in commercial and business disputes.

Results

• Prevailed in two-week federal court jury trial by securing a defense verdict in multi-million dollar business dispute
• Secured $5,300,000 jury verdict for client in state court trade secret dispute
• Obtained summary disposition on behalf of firm client in a contract dispute with potential exposure in excess of $10,000,000 and argued before the Michigan Court of Appeals, which affirmed the trial court’s decision
• Settled commercial contract arbitration in client’s favor for projected royalty payments in excess of $13,000,000
• Secured $3,000,000 judgment for automotive client in state court trade secret dispute
• Secured a jury verdict for no cause for action while defending a Fortune 500 client in $4,000,000 federal court race discrimination trial
• Obtained jury verdict for no cause for action while defending hospital client in $3,000,000 wrongful death state court trial
• Successfully defended industrial general contractor in $3,000,000 contract dispute
• Successfully represented public university in dispute to replace a varsity athletic stadium playing surface
• Successfully represented property owners in case of first impression involving lake access dispute; case established new state law upholding easement rights
• Resolved and secured dismissal of $2,000,000 in motor carrier claims against automotive client
• Won summary judgment of a trade secret claim against firm client in dispute involving one of the world’s leading membrane sail manufacturers
• Successfully represented international information technology company in contract and misappropriation dispute with alleged damages in excess of $10,000,000, plus a demand for exemplary damages
• Secured summary judgment on behalf of firm automotive client in federal court employment discrimination lawsuit

Education, Professional Associations, and Awards

• University of Detroit School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1993)
• Michigan State University (B.A., cum laude, 1989)
• AV Peer-Review Rated: very high to preeminent ability from Martindale Hubbell (2008 to present)
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (Inducted 2020)
• Michigan Super Lawyer (2007, 2010 to present)
• Top 50 Michigan Business Super Lawyer (2015 to 2018)
• Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyer (2015 to present)
• The Best Lawyers in America (2012 to present)
• Top Lawyers in Michigan, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2018)
• Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, dbusiness (2012, 2017)
• Top Attorneys in Michigan, Crain’s Detroit Business (2013, 2014)
• Member, State Bar of Michigan
• Member, Eastern District of Michigan
• Member, Western District of Michigan
• Member, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Board of Director, Aqua Clara Foundation (2008 to 2018)
• Board of Director, Tricia Myers Foundation (2007 to present)
• American Inns of Court, Oakland County Bar Association (2014 to 2017)
• Board of Trustees, Oakland County Bar Foundation (2016 to present)

Speaking Engagements

• Guest Lecturer, University of Michigan, Biology Seminar, Brain Death in Michigan, January 2020
• Presenter at Michigan Judicial Institute, Non-Compete And Trade Secret Litigation, May 2018
• Guest lecturer at Western Michigan University, Cooley School of Law, State Of Mental Health In The Legal Profession, February and June 2016
• Presenter at Oakland County Bench\Bar Conference, Business Litigation, January 2012
• Presenter at Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, Use Of Experts At Trial, 2010
• Panel member ICLE Arbitration Forum, Best Practices For Commercial Arbitration, 2009
• Presenter on commercial arbitration at State Bar Paralegal Section Meeting, 2008