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MIKE HISSAM

304-206-0405

  • J.D., George Washington University Law School — Highest Honors; Order of the Coif; Executive Editor, George Washington Law Review

  • B.A., The Ohio State University — Honors and Distinction; magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa

Mike’s practice focuses on trying complex civil cases, federal criminal defense, environmental cases, administrative and licensure proceedings, and internal investigations. Mike is dedicated to solving his clients’ most difficult problems. Mike is mostly known as a trial lawyer, having successfully tried fifteen cases to verdict since 2012. Mike has tried - and won - cases in multiple state and federal courts on behalf of small and large companies, doctors, business executives, elected officials, the State of West Virginia, and individual plaintiffs. In three trials in just the last year, Mike’s clients have prevailed in each: an acquittal of an office manager in a federal criminal case involving prescription drugs; a dismissal of a publicly traded gas company in a Public Service Commission proceeding; and a complete defense verdict for a well operator in an environmental case.


Before returning to private practice in 2012, Mike worked for the Hon. Booth Goodwin as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. As a federal prosecutor, Mike focused on white-collar and public corruption investigations. The grandson of an Eastern Kentucky coal miner and former state mine inspector, Mike was privileged to work on the criminal investigation of the Upper Big Branch coal mining accident in which 29 miners lost their lives. That investigation resulted in a $209 million corporate settlement – the largest resolution of a mining case in history.


Previously, Mike served as a law clerk to the Hon. Robert B. King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Hon. Joseph R. Goodwin of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.


A native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Mike graduated from The Ohio State University and The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. Following law school, Mike practiced at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Washington, focusing on labor and employment, white-collar criminal defense, and government contracts litigation.


Representative Matters

  • Lead counsel in successful defense of Supreme Court Justice in first impeachment trial in West Virginia since 1875

  • Lead outside counsel pursuing antitrust claims involving the asphalt industry on behalf of the State of West Virginia, resulting in a $101.35 million settlement – the largest single-state antitrust settlement in West Virginia history

  • Hired as lead counsel for a well operator just six days before trial of a complex environmental case – after deliberating for less than an hour, the jury returned a complete defense verdict

  • Obtained complete dismissal after trial for a publicly traded gas company in a state Public Service Commission proceeding

  • Defense at federal trial of medical office manager charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription substances, resulting in a full acquittal after a two-week jury trial

  • Defense at federal trial of a CEO accused of criminal campaign finance violations and false statements – after a deadlocked jury, the federal government dropped the case

  • Lead trial counsel in a federal criminal tax prosecution of a coal operator – the jury acquitted our client of 23 charges and the federal government was forced to return $10 million that had been seized from our client

  • Defense at federal trial of doctor charged with unlawful prescribing of prescription medications and facing two life sentences – after a three-week trial resulted in a deadlocked jury, the case was resolved on favorable terms in a binding plea agreement

  • Representation at federal bankruptcy trial of state environmental agency, resulting in a multimillion recovery for the State to clean up abandoned coal mining operations

  • Appointed class counsel in multimillion dollar settlement of federal telemarketing case

  • Defense at trial of client charged with first-degree murder for which the State sought a life sentence without parole – the jury instead returned a verdict of voluntary manslaughter

  • Representation of medical practice employees in federal grand jury investigation

  • Representation of the Attorney General in enforcing generic drug pricing laws against pharmacies, resulting in multimillion recoveries for the State of West Virginia

  • Representation of companies in False Claims Act investigations and defense of claims pursued by the federal government

  • Representation of lawyers, doctors, and pharmacists before disciplinary and licensing boards in multiple states

  • Representation of publicly traded companies in products liability actions, antitrust claims, and responding to governmental subpoenas

  • Representation of several employees of a publicly traded medical device manufacturer in a federal grand jury investigation


Admissions

  • West Virginia

  • Virginia

  • Ohio

  • Kentucky

  • District of Columbia

  • Pennsylvania

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio 

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio


Professional Background

  • Partner, Bailey & Glasser LLP, Charleston, WV

  • Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia

  • Law Clerk, Hon. Joseph R. Goodwin, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

  • Law Clerk, Hon. Robert B. King, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

  • Associate, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Washington, D.C.


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