Michael S. Burg was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1976. He founded Burg Simpson in 1977. Today, Burg Simpson comprises 40 attorneys with offices in four states. A veteran of over 175 jury trials as lead counsel, Mr. Burg has obtained ten verdicts in excess of $1M. Clients have received settlements, judgments and verdicts in excess of $500M.
Judicial Appointments
The Honorable Jack Weinstein, United States District Judge, Eastern District of New York - Plaintiff Steering Committee for the Zyprexa Multi-District Litigation;
The Honorable Eldon Fallon, United States District Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana - State Liaison Committee for the Vioxx Multi-District Litigation;
The Honorable David A. Katz, United States District Judge, Northern District of Ohio - Co-Lead Counsel, Ortho Evra Products Multi-District Litigation;
The Honorable David Herndon, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois - Co-Lead Counsel, Yaz/Yasmin Multi-District Litigation.
Honors / Awards
· Top 100 Most Influential Attorneys, The National Trial Lawyers
· Top 100 Attorney, The National Trial Lawyers
· Lawyer of the Decade, Colorado Law Week, 2000-2010
· President, National Trial Lawyers, 2010
· National Trial Lawyers, Executive Committee, 2009
· Super Lawyer, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012
· "Best of the U.S." 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011
· Best Lawyers in America, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012
· Barrister's Best, Overall Litigator, Colorado Law Week, 2010
· Barrister's Best, Personal Injury, Colorado Law Week, 2009, 2010, and 2011
· Barrister's Best, Mass Tort Lawyer, Colorado Law Week, 2011
· Colorado Lawyer of the Year, Colorado Law Week, 2008
· AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
· President's Club, American Association for Justice
· Heavy Lifting Award, American Association for Justice, 2011
Other Appointments and Accomplishments
· Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates
· Co-Lead Counsel, Investor Litigation, Collateralized Debt Obligation Litigation
· Adjunct Professor; University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 1995 to present
· Life Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates
· Sustaining Fellow, Roscoe Pound Institute
· Board Member, Mizel Museum
· Sponsor, Study Hall at University of Denver
· Sponsor, Moot Court Trial Room at University of Wyoming
Professional Affiliations
· The National Trial Lawyers
· Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA)
· Colorado Bar Association
· Denver Bar Association
· Arapahoe County Bar Association
· Fellow Emeritus of the Arapahoe County Bar Foundation
· American Association for Justice (AAJ)
· Member, Presidents Club (AAJ)
· Member, Plaintiff Steering Committee for Zyprexa Multidistrict Litigation
· Member, State Liaison Committee For Vioxx Multidistrict Litigation
· Co-chair, Zyprexa Litigation Group for the American Association for Justice (AAJ)
· Plaintiffs' Co-lead and Liaison Counsel in the Ortho Evra Products Liability Multidistrict Litigation
· Co-Lead Counsel, Plaintiffs Steering Committee in the Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation
· American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
· Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Civic and Community Involvement
· Craig Hospital
· Ali Meyer Foundation
· Kaps for Kendall
· Toys for Tots
· Habitat for Humanity
· Denver Bar Association Community Action Network
· Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Lectures and Seminars
· National Trial Lawyers Summit - Flourishing in the Age of Tort Reform: A Brainstorming Session; January, 2012
· Panel Member; Judicial Forum on Mass Torts; January, 2012
· Defining Mental Anguish; September, 2011
· Moderator - Civil Court Judicial Forum: Advanced Discovery & Trial Practice; Denver, Colorado; May, 2009 and October, 2010
· Trial of the Plaintiff Personal Injury Case; September, 2010
· Statutes Which Affect Liability Evaluation in Personal Injury Actions; September, 2010
· PI Litigator's Summit; Las Vegas, Nevada; March 7-9, 2010
· The Plaintiff Practice Goes Green; Maximizing the Value of Your Cases and Your Practice. Napa, California; September 19-20, 2010
· The Art of Negotiation. What Makes Some Lawyers Poor Negotiators and Other Lawyers Superb Negotiators. The Art, Science and Skill of Mastering Negotiation Methods in Order to Maximize the Benefit for your Clients. April, 2010
· The Challenge of Proving "Physical" and "Mental" Pain and Suffering; February, 2010
· How to Get the Big Verdict (Personal Injury, Product Liability, and Commercial); October, 2009
· Snow Skiing and Other Head Injury Cases; February, 2009
· The Collapse of Wall Street and What Only Trial Lawyers Can Do About It; February, 2009
· If You Build It They Will Come. The Steps to Building a Successful Law Firm. Various presentations - 2009 to present
· Florida Justice Association: 2008 Workhorse Seminar; Orlando, Florida; February, 2008
· Moderator - What Civil Court Judges Want You to Know; Denver, Colorado; June, 2008
· How and Why Economic Damages Drive a Case; September, 2008
· Proof and Argument of Damages: Wrongful Death Cases; September, 2008
· Obtaining the Best Settlement for Personal Injury Clients; Denver, Colorado; March, 2007
· Pharmaceutical & Human Tissue Litigation Conference; Charleston, South Carolina; June, 2006
· Plaintiff's Personal Injury: Practice Tips and Application; October, 2006
· Faculty; Emerging Drugs Conference; Chicago, Illinois; October, 2006
· Trying the Pharmaceutical Case; Pharmaceutical Litigation 101; New Orleans, Louisiana; June, 2005
· Practical Aspects of Being a Trial Lawyer; Sturm College of Law; February, 2005
· Faculty Member; Trends and Hot Topics in Phamaceutical Litigation; Las Vegas, Nevada; September, 2005
· Pharmaceutical Torts Cases in Colorado: Ethical Consideration for Practitioners; Denver, Colorado; November, 2005
· Drug Litigation Conferences; Zyprexa Litigation; November, 2004
· Advanced Expert Witness Deposition Tactics in Colorado; 2002
· Successfully Presenting the Complex Case to A Colorado Jury; 2001