Michael Mestitz focuses his practice on complex civil matters and appellate litigation. He has been the primary or substantial author of more than 100 briefs representing individuals and businesses in high-stakes litigation in trial and appellate courts around the country, and his work has been praised by courts and clients alike. In the words of one in-house litigation counsel at a major global company: “I wish all of my outside counsel wrote like this.”

Michael has experience in a broad range of substantive areas. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants at trial, and has argued appeals in the Ninth and D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeals, as well arguing matters in other trial and appellate courts. He has represented several Fortune 10 companies in appeals, trial courts, and government investigations. His representations of individual clients have ranged from pro bono representation of indigent criminal defendants to representation of former heads of state and high-level government officials. He has also authored a wide array of amicus briefs on behalf of a variety of national civil rights organizations, and serves as the co-chair of Williams & Connolly’s LGBTQ+ affinity group.

Michael grew up in Minnesota and graduated from Vassar College with general honors, as well as departmental honors in each of his three majors. He received his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School, where he served as the President of the Stanford Law Review. While at Stanford, he also participated in the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, the Community Law Clinic, and the Kirkwood Moot Court Competition. He clerked for Judge Raymond C. Fisher of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit before joining Williams & Connolly in 2016.