Business Litigator Joins Barnes & Thornburg’s South Bend Office
Civil and criminal litigator Michael S. Bergerson Jr. has joined Barnes & Thornburg’s South Bend office as a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department. Bergerson previously was an attorney at the international law firm of Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago.
A graduate of Notre Dame Law School and a native of Northwest Indiana, Bergerson focuses his practice on complex tort and contract litigation, as well as white collar and regulatory defense, including investigations and actions related to alleged fraud, conspiracy, and securities and commodities act violations. His civil litigation experience includes defending and pursuing claims of fraud, defamation, product disparagement, breach of contract, conversion, assault, battery, wrongful death, and negligence in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Bergerson also provides strategic guidance to clients facing unique personal and business concerns, both inside and out of court.
In a release, the firm said Bergerson has been a senior member of the legal team in several high-profile cases, including a 2017 jury trial in South Dakota involving a family-owned beef company against a major television network, reported as one of the largest defamation cases in U.S. history, and a 2018 wrongful death trial in San Diego that garnered national media attention for the unusual circumstances surrounding the plaintiff’s death.
Prior to his private law practice, Bergerson served as a legislative aide to U.S. Rep. Peter J. Visclosky, advising the Northwest Indiana congressman on issues including trade, labor, manufacturing and energy policy. He also served as staff director of the Congressional Steel Caucus, a bipartisan group of Congress members who represent regions with steel manufacturers or care about the American steel industry.
The firm said Bergerson devotes significant attention to pro bono matters in state and federal courts. He is active in the Northwest Indiana community, serving on the board of directors of One Region, a nonprofit supporting economic development and quality of life improvements across the region. He is also a board member for Citizens Concerned for the Homeless in Michigan City.
He has earned honors and awards, including as a member of Law 360’s Trial Group of the Year for 2017 and recognition as an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star for securities litigation in 2014, 2015 and 2018 and as an Emerging Lawyer in commercial litigation for 2018 by Law Bulletin Publishing Company.
Bergerson earned his J.D., cum laude, from Notre Dame Law School, where he served South Bend residents at the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic and was awarded the A. Harold Weber Moot Court Award for oral argument as a member of the Moot Court Appellate National Team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and management at DePauw University, where he was captain of the varsity golf team.
