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Michael W.
Magner

Position
Partner
Office
New Orleans

Mike Magner is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. An acclaimed former federal prosecutor, he delivers practical advice and offers a steady hand to clients facing a wide range of commercial disputes, internal investigations, and white collar criminal matters.


Mike is a preeminent, highly respected trial attorney and Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Drawing on his more than 40 years of experience handling complex criminal and civil matters — including nearly 50 jury trials — he provides preemptive, proactive litigation services for businesses and individuals in an extensive range of complex commercial disputes, internal investigations, and audits. Following his decades of work as a federal prosecutor focused on domestic and international fraud and anti-corruption issues, Mike also has particular experience defending businesses and individuals in white collar criminal matters, grand jury investigations, and other law enforcement and governmental actions.

He regularly counsels and defends clients in Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, bribery, and money laundering matters; copyright and trademark infringement and related intellectual property disputes; environmental crimes; cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, and securities matters; mail, wire, and tax fraud and healthcare fraud and abuse cases; export control disputes; and other criminal proceedings. Mike understands the complex pressures facing individuals and businesses under public scrutiny as well as the priorities and processes of law enforcement officials, regulatory agencies, and federal and state judges across the country. With this knowledge, he helps his clients gain a clear understanding of the options available to them and develop and implement effective defense strategies.

Mike routinely works with clients to document and submit voluntary and mandatory disclosures and self-reports, often enabling them to minimize penalties, negotiate favorable deal terms and settlements, and avoid indictments and criminal charges. His negotiating skills also help him achieve favorable settlements in commercial litigation and civil disputes. However, when such options are unavailable or inappropriate, Mike provides strong, effective advocacy before judges and juries in trial and appellate courts.

Among other recent trial successes, Mike has helped several high-profile clients secure favorable verdicts in cases that received significant press coverage. These include the acquittal of a judge accused of four counts of tax fraud and — after a nine-day trial — securing a not guilty verdict on all 10 counts of conspiracy and tax fraud lodged against a New Orleans lawyer. Mike’s arguments on behalf of the owners of a well-known chain of convenience stores resulted in acquittals on 70 criminal tax counts and dismissal of the remaining immigration charges. He has also obtained not guilty verdicts on several federal criminal environmental indictments.

Recent trial victories include:

  • United States v. Hamdan, et al., No. 2:19-cr-60 – USDC, EDLA
  • United States v. Ernestine Anderson-Trahan, No. 2:22-CR-2 – USDC, EDLA
  • United States v. Jason R. Williams and Nicole E. Burdett, No. 20-55 – USDC, EDLA
  • United States v. Gary M. Wiltz, M.D., No. 6:21-CR-00312-02 – USDC, WDLA
  • United States v. Ehab Meselhe and Kelin Hu, No. 19-SDD-EWD – USDC, MDLA
  • United States v. Vjaceslavs Birzakovs, No. 2:18-CR-335 – USDC, WDLA
  • United States v. David Rainey, No. 12-CR-291 – USDC, EDLA

Prior to joining Jones Walker, Mike served as a federal prosecutor in New Orleans for 20 years. During this time, he served — often as lead prosecutor — on a number of teams that successfully pursued high-profile corruption, fraud, and civil rights cases. In recognition of his work, Mike was awarded the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) highest award for litigation, the John Marshall Award, as well as the Director’s Award for Superior Performance. He has also served as a supervisor of the US Attorney’s Office’s Anti-Terrorism/Crisis Response Unit, Organized Crime Strike Force, and Violent Crime Unit, and he has tried cases in virtually all sections of the US District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana.

Mike provides training on ethics, corruption, compliance, investigations, and prosecutions to regulatory and law enforcement officials, attorneys in private practice, and business leaders across the United States and worldwide. In 2011, Mike served as the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s advisor to the Kenyan Anti-Corruption Commission in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was embedded in its principal headquarters for nearly two months. He was the DOJ’s first counsel for emergency management and crisis response in the Executive Office for US Attorneys in Washington, DC, for 18 months, where he represented the DOJ at various White House-level emergency exercises and planning meetings related to the federal government’s response to major criminal events, natural disasters, and pandemics.

Mike is also an adjunct professor at Tulane Law School, where he teaches a course in trial advocacy.

Noteworthy

  • Lawdragon, "Leading Litigators in America," (listed annually since 2024)
  • Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star (listed annually since 2022)
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Corporate Compliance Law, New Orleans, Louisiana (2020, 2022, 2024 and 2026)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Compliance Law and Criminal Defense: White-Collar (listed annually since 2018); and Energy Law (2026)
  • New Orleans Magazine, Top Lawyer (listed annually since 2018) 
  • Chambers USA, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (listed annually since 2017)
  • The American Lawyer, "Litigator of the Week" (June 2015)
  • National Law Journal, White Collar Trailblazers Award (2015)
  • Law360, White Collar MVP (November 2015)
  • Corporate Counsel and The American Lawyer magazines, "Top Rated Lawyer," International Law (2013)
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White Collar (listed annually since 2013)
  • Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Distinguished Service Award (2011)
  • Metropolitan Crime Commission Award, Excellence in Law Enforcement (2000–2004)
  • Department of Justice, Director's Award (for superior performance of a litigative team); John Marshall Award (for excellence in litigation)
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell

Publications

  • "Developments in Corporate Compliance and Enforcement," Compliance and White Collar Defense Team 2024 Mid-Year Report, 2024
  • "Seaman's Manslaughter," Marine News, May 2024
  • "Firms Can Fight IRS and DOJ Overreach With Records of Good Faith," Bloomberg Tax, October 3, 2023
  • "Developments in Corporate Compliance and Enforcement," Compliance and White Collar Defense Team 2023 Mid-Year Report, 2023
  • "Real-Time Strategies for Healthcare Providers: Preparing for Government Investigations and Litigation Arising From the COVID-19 Pandemic," Jones Walker LLP Healthcare & Litigation Client Alert, April 2, 2020
  • "The Creeping Criminalization of Maritime Incidents," Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, June 2019
  • "Prosecution of BP Deepwater Horizon Well Supervisors Ends With a Misdemeanor Plea For One and a Trial Acquittal of the Other," Benedict's Maritime Bulletin, Second Quarter, 2016
  • "DOJ and SEC Release Much-Anticipated Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA")," Jones Walker LLP Corporate Compliance EBulletin, November 16, 2012
  • "The United States Attorney's Role in Emergency Management and Crisis Response: A Primer," Crisis Response and Related Litigation, U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for United States Attorneys, 2009
  • "Section 506 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936," Permanent Waiver of Domestic Trade Restriction Upon Repayment of Construction-Differential Subsidy - Seatrain Shipbuilding Corp. v. Shell Oil Co., 5 Maritime Lawyer 281, 1980

Presentations

  • "What Do I Do In The Event Of A Joint U.S. Coast Guard And National Transportation Safety Board Investigation For A Serious Marine Incident, And Who’s Going To Help Me And How?" Greater New Orleans Barge and Fleeting Association 40th River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 24–26, 2024
  • "Cryptocurrency – Virtual Assets, Real Enforcement Issues," 14th Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, April 22, 2022
  • "Criminal Liabilities and Exposure in Maritime Cases," CMA Shipping Virtual Conference & Exhibition, October 15, 2020
  • "The New Era of the War on Opioids," Leading Your Practice to 2020 Vision, Alabama Medical Group Management Association's 2020 Winter Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, March 5, 2020
  • "What To Do When The Feds Come Knocking, Practical Advice for Navigating Modern Healthcare Fraud Investigations in 2020," Leading Your Practice to 2020 Vision, Alabama Medical Group Management Association's 2020 Winter Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, March 5, 2020
  • "Civil Representation of a Party Arising from Criminal Allegations," International Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, Asheville, North Carolina, July 8 and 9, 2019
  • "IADC Talks: Go Pro Bono!" International Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, Asheville, North Carolina, July 8 and 9, 2019
  • "Criminal Prosecutions and Defenses Relating to Maritime Operations and Activities," Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 27–29
  • "White Collar Pre-Trial Motions and Trials - Special Considerations," LSBA's Ninth Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 7, 2017
  • "Selected Evidentiary Issues," LSBA's Eighth Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 8, 2016
  • "Parallel Proceedings - Pending Civil and Criminal Proceedings Covering the Same Facts," Louisiana State Bar Association's Sixth Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, April 16, 2014
  • Jones Walker’s Banking & Financial Services Practice Hosts Birmingham Seminar, Birmingham, Alabama, November 1, 2012
  • Investment Management Legal Services Quarterly Roundtable Luncheon Series, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 23, 2012
  • "Company Indemnification of Employees for Criminal Matters," 4th Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, April 2, 2012

Memberships

  • American Bar Association, Co-Chair, Louisiana Region Subcommittee, Section of Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime Subsection
  • International Association of Defense Counsel, Chair, White Collar Defense and Investigation Committee
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • Tulane Law School, American Inn of Court
  • English
  • Español
New Orleans
201 St. Charles Ave
New Orleans, LA 70170-5100
D: 504.582.8316
F: 504.589.8316
Emailmmagner@joneswalker.com

Education

  • Tulane University School of Law
    JD, cum laude, 1982
    Managing Editor, The Maritime Lawyer
  • The George Washington University
    BA, Political Science/International Relations, 1979

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana
  • Texas

Court Admissions

  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
  • US District Court for the Central District of California
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
  • US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
  • US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
  • US District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
  • US District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Related Practices

  • Corporate Compliance & White Collar Defense
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Energy Litigation
  • Energy Regulatory
  • Environmental Criminal Defense
  • Environmental Enforcement & Litigation
  • International
  • Latin America
  • Litigation
  • Maritime Regulatory and Government Relations
  • Offshore Energy

Related Industries

  • Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources
  • Maritime Industry
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