Michael W. "Mike" Magner

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.