Biography

Michael focuses his practice on trials involving complex business litigation matters, including toxic tort, product liability, pharmaceutical, class action, and commercial litigation. He has represented clients in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Alabama, Washington, Oregon, California, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He also serves as co-chair of the firm's Cannabis Law Practice Group.

He serves as national coordinating and national trial counsel for defendants named in asbestos-related litigation across the country. He has authored articles and given presentations nationwide on various topics, including recent developments in toxic tort law, class actions, environmental litigation, insurance coverage issues, trial techniques, and cannabis law.

Michael was named the "Lawyer of the Year" for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants in Chicago by The Best Lawyers in America© for 2023 and 2025. He was also selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Leading Lawyers Network has recognized him as one of the Top 10 Leading Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Lawyers in Illinois. He has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer in the areas of Class Action / Mass Torts and Business Litigation. Michael is Peer Review Rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell for his excellent legal ability and professional ethics.

Michael has served as a Governor on the American Bar Association (ABA) Board of Governors and as a member of the ABA House of Delegates. He is a Past Chair of the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section and of the ABA Section Officers Conference.

Practices

Toxic Tort Litigation
Insurance
Asbestos Litigation
Product Liability
Pharmaceutical and Medical Device
Class Action Defense
Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes
Environmental Law
Cannabis Law

Memberships & Affiliations

• American Bar Association
  
  • Governor, Board of Governors, 2019-2022
  • Member, House of Delegates, 2015-2022
  • Chair, Section Officers Conference, 2015-2017
  • Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
    • Section Chair, 2014-2015
    • Section Delegate, ABA House of Delegates, 2015-2019
    • Council Member, 2005-2019
    • Past Chair, Cannabis Law and Policy Committee
    • Past Section Revenue Officer
    • Past Chair, Fellows of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
    • Past Chair, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Board
    • Past Chair, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee
  • Past Member, 2015 Magna Carta Anniversary Committee
  • Past Member, Standing Committee on Silver Gavel Awards
  • Section of Litigation
  • Law Practice Division
• Illinois State Bar Association
• State Bar of Texas
• State Bar of Wisconsin
• International Association of Defense Counsel
• Defense Research Institute
• Society of Trial Lawyers
• Trial Attorneys of America
• International Cannabis Bar Association
  
  •  Member, Advisory Board
• American Brain Tumor Association Board of Directors, Past Member

Awards

• Named 2025 "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America® for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Chicago
• Recipient of the 2024 James K. Carroll Leadership Award by the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) of the American Bar Association
• Named 2023 "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America® for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Chicago
• Named as one of the Top 10 Leading Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Lawyers in Illinois by Leading Lawyers Network
• Selected for inclusion in Leading Lawyers Network, Class Action/Mass Tort Defense
• Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2015-present
• Peer Review Rated "A/V Preeminent," Martindale-Hubbell
• Selected for inclusion in Illinois Super Lawyers in Class Action/Mass Tort
• “Bill of Rights in Action Award,” Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, 2008
• “Law and Public Service Honor Roll,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, 2005
• "Innovative Excellence in National CLE Programming Award," American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2004
• “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch,” Chicago Lawyer and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2001
• Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Life Fellow, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association
• Named to Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, 2020-present

Presentations

• Panelist, "Trial Masters—Trial Preparations from Our TIPS Chairs Emeritus," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association's 10th Annual Section Conference (Washington, DC, May 2025)
• Moderator, "Asbestos Litigation Update: Current Trends and Challenges," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association's 33nd Annual Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference (Scottsdale, AZ, April 2025)
• Speaker, “Social Equity,” 2024 DRI Cannabis Law Virtual Seminar (September 2024)
• Panelist, "Trial Masters—Use of Storytelling at Trial and Expecting the Unexpected," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association's 9th Annual Conference (Los Angeles, May 2024)
• Moderator, "Dealing with Friction: Recent Developments in Asbestos Cases," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association's 32nd Annual Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference (Scottsdale, April 2024)
• Panelist, "Dealing with Friction: Recent Developments In Asbestos Cases," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association's 31st Annual Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference (Scottsdale, April 2023)
• Moderator, "A Blunt Analysis of Employment Issues Related to Cannabis Laws," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Business Law Committee CLE Meeting (New Orleans, February 2023)
• Panelist, Trial Masters: Lessons Learned," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association 2021 Section Conference (Virtual, April 2021) 
• Program Co-Chair, “From Regs to Riches: Navigating The Rapidly Emerging Fields of Cannabis & Hemp Law,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association (Chicago, September 2019).
• Moderator, “Ethics – Keeping Your License AND Your Cannabis Clients.” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association (Chicago, September 2019).
• Panelist, "Trial Masters - Knowledge We Wish We Had Years Ago," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association 2019 Section Conference (New York, May 2019)
• Moderator, "Current Issues in Cannabis Law and Policy," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association 2019 Section Conference (New York, May 2019)
• Speaker, "The Millennial Juror – Friend or Foe?" 36th Annual National CLE Conference on Civil Litigation (Snowmass, January 2019)
• Speaker, “Examining the Resurgence of Personal Jurisdictional Challenges Impacting Asbestos Cases in the Wake of BMS,” American Conference Institute’s 23rd National Forum on Asbestos Claims & Litigation (Chicago, May 2018)
• Panelist, "Trial Tips from the Trenches: Jury Selection," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association 2018 Section Conference (Los Angeles, May 2018)
• Panelist, "Understanding the Talc Surge: A Primer on the Latest Developments in the Field: Evaluating the Key Legal and Strategic Issues,” Perrin Conferences Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conference (Beverly Hills, March 2018)
• Speaker, "Tic Tac Talc! What’s the Next Move in Talc Litigation?" Law Education Institute National CLE Conference (Vail, January 2018).
• Panelist, "Communicating with Millennial Jurors," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association 2017 Section Conference (Chicago, April 2017)
• Speaker, "An Update on Talc Litigation," Law Education Institute National CLE Conference (Snowmass, January 2017)
• Panelist, "Communicating with Millennial Jurors," Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association 2016 Section Conference (Atlanta, May 2016)
• Speaker, "Police Liability – Where Is the Line and When Is It Crossed?" Law Education Institute National CLE Conference (Vail, January 2016)
• Speaker, "Mass Tort Perspectives: Plaintiff v. Defendant," Law Education Institute National CLE Conference (Vail, January 2015)
• Panelist, “Bankruptcy Filings, Confirmations & Estimations and the Transparency Between Bankruptcy Trusts and Tort Litigation,” American Conference Institute’s 14th Annual Asbestos Claims & Litigation Conference (Chicago, June 2013)
• Speaker, “Bankruptcy Filings, Confirmations & Estimations and the Transparency Between Bankruptcy Trusts and Tort Litigation,” American Conference Institute’s 13th Annual Asbestos Claims & Litigation Conference (Philadelphia, January 2013)
• Speaker, “MDL Update and MDL 875 Lessons Learned,” American Conference Institute’s 12th Annual Asbestos Claims & Litigation Conference (Philadelphia, January 2012)
• Speaker, “MDL 875 – Update on Current Development & Status,” Harris Martin’s Midwest Asbestos Litigation Conference (St. Louis, September 2011)
• Panelist, “Conduct-Based Claims & Juror Perceptions: Punitive Damages and Intentional Torts,” HB Litigation Conferences 4th Annual Emerging Trends in Asbestos Litigation (Chicago, April 2011)
• Moderator and Panelist, “Some Like It Hot: Emerging Issues in Toxic Tort and Environmental Law,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee’s Nineteenth Annual Spring CLE Meeting (Phoenix, April 2010)
• Program Co-Chair, “The Future of Class Action Litigation in America,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association (Washington DC, October 2007)
• Speaker, “Staff Counsel: The Changing Litigation Environment," American Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Staff Counsel Committee Meeting (Philadelphia, September 2006)
• Speaker, “Hot Topics in Toxic Tort and Environmental Law,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (Honolulu, August 2006)
• Program Co-Chair, “The Future of Class Action Litigation in America,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association (Washington DC, November 2005)
• Speaker, “The Truth Is Out There: Trade Associations and Conspiracy Theories,” Andrews Asbestos Litigation Conference (New Orleans, April 2004)
• Panelist, “Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Round Up: Preparing for Litigation Beyond the Asbestos Horizon,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee’s Thirteenth Annual Spring CLE Meeting (Phoenix, March 2004)
• Program Co-Chair, “The Future of Class Action Litigation in America,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association (Boston, October 2003)
• Program Co-Chair, “Mealey’s Practical Skills Series: “Toxic Tort Litigation,” Mealey’s Publications and Conferences Group (Philadelphia, September 2003)
• Program Chair, “The Future of Mass Tort Litigation in America,” Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee’s 11th Annual Spring CLE Meeting (Phoenix, March 2002)
• Program Chair, “Tort Reform in the New Millennium,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (Chicago, August 2001)
• Speaker, “Hot Topics in Environmental Law,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Section of Energy, Environment and Resources (New York, July 2000)
• Program Chair, “The Method to the Madness: Understanding the ‘Scientific Method’ and ‘Peer Review’ under Daubert and Kelly Frye,” Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee’s 8th Annual Spring CLE Meeting (La Jolla, March 1999)
• Speaker, “Class Actions and Mass Torts – History and Recent Developments,” Midwest Environmental Claims Association Fifth Annual Seminar (Chicago, September 1997)
• Speaker, “Hot Topics in Environmental Law,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (San Francisco, August 1997)

Publications

• "Cannabis: Legal and Business Issues Abound in a Growing Industry," TortSource (Fall 2018)
• “A HIPAA Primer,” 37 The Brief 3 (Spring 2008)
• Co-Author, “Recent Developments in Toxic Tort and Environmental Law,” 40 Tort & Insurance Law Journal 810 (2005)
• Co-Author, “Declaratory Relief,” Illinois Civil Practice, Vol. II, Ch. 5, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (1997 & Supplement 2000)
• Co-Author, “Recent Developments in Toxic Tort Law,” 33 Tort & Insurance Law Journal 711 (Winter 1998)
• Co-Author, “Recent Developments in Toxic Tort Law,” 32 Tort & Insurance Law Journal 635 (Winter 1997)

News

Chicago, March 11, 2025
Drumke to Speak at the 2025 ABA Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Partner Michael W. Drumke will serve as a moderator at the 2025 Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section on April 24, 2025, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

February 24, 2025
California Jury Returns Defense Verdict for Automobile Company in Asbestos Trial
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. secured a defense verdict on February 20, 2025, following a three-week jury trial in Santa Monica, California alleging exposure to asbestos in automobile brakes that were once distributed by American Honda. (Jose Manuel Estrada and Isabel Estrada v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court, 24STCV15531.)

January 10, 2025
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Recognized as Leading Lawyers and Emerging Lawyers for 2025
Fifty-three Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 edition of Leading Lawyers, published by Law Bulletin Media. This honor highlights their outstanding skill and leadership in the legal field. Attorneys selected were nominated by their peers as among the top in Illinois. Leading Lawyers recognizes the most qualified and trusted attorneys within their respective practice areas and geographical regions.

September 05, 2024
Drumke to Present at 2024 DRI Cannabis Law Virtual Seminar
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Partner Michael W. Drumke will co-present "Social Equity" at the 2024 DRI Cannabis Law Virtual Seminar on September 19, 2024.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, St. Louis, Madison County, Indiana, Kansas City, August 15, 2024
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2025 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Fifty-six Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named to the 2025 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® lists. In addition, Partners Michael W. Drumke and Gary C. Pinter were recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" in their respective practice areas.

April 10, 2024
Drumke to Participate in Trial Masters Panel at 2024 ABA TIPS Section Conference
Swanson Martin & Bell, LLP Partner Michael W. Drumke will serve as a panelist at the ninth annual American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Conference on May 2 in Hollywood, California.

February 26, 2024
Drumke to Speak at the 2024 ABA Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference
Partner Michael Drumke will moderate a panel at the 32nd Annual Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference, hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, on April 11 in Scottsdale, AZ.

October 18, 2023
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Partners Sponsor American Heart Association's Counsel for a Cause
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Partners John P. Arranz, Ross W. Bartolotta, Steven E. Danekas, Michael W. Drumke, P. Stephen Fardy, George F. Fitzpatrick, Jr., McRay Judge, Timothy G. Nickels, John J. O'Sullivan, David F. Pardys, Gary C. Pinter, T. Allon Renfro, Kristine C. Reveille, Christopher T. Sheean, Robert W. Stephens and Marcie J. Vantine are proud sponsors of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) 8^th Annual Chicago Counsel for a Cause event on October 19.