Partner Michael McNamara Recognized as Top Professional Responsibility Lawyer by The Daily Journal for Fifth Consecutive Year

The Daily Journal has recognized Partner Michael McNamara as a Top Professional Responsibility Lawyer for the fifth year in a row. The list honors the top performing attorneys in legal malpractice matters and ethics.

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Mike is Co-Chair of the firm's nationally recognized Law Firm and Professional Services Defense Practice. His profile highlights his 43 years of experience defending law firms against complex liability claims.

Mike's path as a trial lawyer began in his first year as an associate, when he served as second chair on a defamation case in federal court. "This early experience helped to form my desire and passion to become a jury trial lawyer," he said. "There is really no better feeling than standing tall for your client before a jury."

The profile spotlights Mike's recent victory in Vander Ark Trust v. HAF Corp., where the federal court dismissed securities fraud claims against his client. The plaintiff alleged the firm prepared an opinion letter falsely representing that HAF Corporation owned intellectual property associated with green technology. In a 24-page opinion, the court found the letter did not misrepresent ownership and the plaintiff had not sufficiently alleged scienter. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal on December 4, 2025.

"This matter stands out as an example of a growing trend by parties to allege duties by outside counsel that were never accepted by the lawyer," Mike said. "The plaintiffs tried to blame the patent lawyer, who had no involvement in the plaintiff's decision to invest, for the plaintiff's imprudent investment decision."

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© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

Partner Michael McNamara Recognized as Top Professional Responsibility Lawyer by The Daily Journal for Fifth Consecutive Year

The Daily Journal has recognized Partner Michael McNamara as a Top Professional Responsibility Lawyer for the fifth year in a row. The list honors the top performing attorneys in legal malpractice matters and ethics.

Read More

Mike is Co-Chair of the firm's nationally recognized Law Firm and Professional Services Defense Practice. His profile highlights his 43 years of experience defending law firms against complex liability claims.

Mike's path as a trial lawyer began in his first year as an associate, when he served as second chair on a defamation case in federal court. "This early experience helped to form my desire and passion to become a jury trial lawyer," he said. "There is really no better feeling than standing tall for your client before a jury."

The profile spotlights Mike's recent victory in Vander Ark Trust v. HAF Corp., where the federal court dismissed securities fraud claims against his client. The plaintiff alleged the firm prepared an opinion letter falsely representing that HAF Corporation owned intellectual property associated with green technology. In a 24-page opinion, the court found the letter did not misrepresent ownership and the plaintiff had not sufficiently alleged scienter. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal on December 4, 2025.

"This matter stands out as an example of a growing trend by parties to allege duties by outside counsel that were never accepted by the lawyer," Mike said. "The plaintiffs tried to blame the patent lawyer, who had no involvement in the plaintiff's decision to invest, for the plaintiff's imprudent investment decision."

Related Locations

© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.

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Amanda Shafer Berman to Speak on Energy and Administrative Law at WEN-DC Webinar

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October 14, 2026

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Partner Amanda Shafer Berman Quoted in Bloomberg Law on Senate Permitting Overhaul Bill

Partner Amanda Shafer Berman was quoted in an October 5 Bloomberg Law article, "Permitting Deal Gives Projects Defense Against Litigation Delays," on the Senate's new permitting overhaul package and its expected impact on litigation over federal permitting reversals.

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Partner John Storino to Speak at Sandpiper Partners' “AI and Outside Counsel Guidelines Roundtable”

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Partner Meghan Greenfield to Speak on Supreme Court Climate Case at Edison Electric Institute's Fall Legal Conference

On Wednesday, October 7, Partner Meghan Greenfield will speak on a panel titled "Boulder County v. Suncor Energy: What the Supreme Court's Climate Case Means for the Energy Industry" at the Edison Electric Institute's Fall Legal Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

October 7, 2026

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The Form Rules Everything: A Seventh Circuit Ruling on ERISA's Substantial Compliance Doctrine

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October 5, 2026