Co-founder & Partner
Michael K. Ross
(202) 737-3373
mross@aegislawgroup.com
Biography
Mr. Ross is a partner and co-founder of the Firm. An experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Ross has litigated over two hundred commercial litigation and arbitration matters in dozens of states throughout the country. Mr. Ross’s clients are diverse, ranging from large companies such as Verizon, Johnson Controls, Clark Construction, and Sodexo, to emerging industry leaders such as Cvent and Crescent Hotels & Resorts. Mr. Ross has extensive experience litigating contract disputes, fraud and commercial torts, real estate disputes, trade secret theft, and corporate control disputes. In addition to traditional court litigation, Mr. Ross has represented clients in more than two dozen commercial arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association, JAMS, CPR, and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Mr. Ross is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, the State of Washington, and numerous federal courts throughout the country.
Representative Matters
Litigating over 100 cases on behalf of Marriott, Sheraton, and The Ritz-Carlton in dozens of state and federal courts across the country.
Representing Johnson Controls in numerous litigation matters in various state and federal courts throughout the country.
Serving as lead trial counsel for Verizon in a variety of commercial litigation and arbitration matters throughout the United States.
Litigating on behalf of hospitality giant Sodexo in more than a dozen states.
Serving as lead trial counsel for plaintiff in prevailing on a breach of contract claim in a May 2022 six-day jury trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
Serving as lead trial counsel in defeating the U.S. Department of Justice in a commercial real estate case tried in federal court; successfully defended the judgment before the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Prevailing as lead counsel in a fully litigated arbitration proceeding for breach of a commercial contract; arbitral award included recovery of client’s attorneys’ fees and costs.
Serving as co-lead counsel at trial before the D.C. Contract Appeals Board in obtaining a judgment in excess of $6 million on behalf of a District of Columbia managed care organization.
Prevailing as lead trial counsel for plaintiff in a D.C. case arising out of a commercial lease dispute; successfully defended judgment on appeal to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
Successfully prosecuting cases in U.S. District Courts throughout the country to enforce Merrill Lynch & Co.’s trademark rights in connection with its famous bull logo.
Serving as lead trial counsel in the successful defense of Riggs Bank in a federal jury case brought by a former executive for stock option compensation; plaintiff recovered nothing.
Serving as lead counsel in a jury trial in Maryland on behalf of plaintiff defrauded in a real estate transaction; jury award included punitive damages.
Along with co-counsel O’Melveny & Myers, LLP, and Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., defending The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in a nine-figure commercial litigation case filed in California.
Education
Mr. Ross is a graduate of Pomona College and of the University of Michigan Law School, where he was Contributing Editor of the Michigan Law Review. After graduating from law school, Mr. Ross served as law clerk to Judge John C. Coughenour of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, followed by a clerkship with Judge Jerome Farris of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Prior to founding Aegis, Mr. Ross practiced at Williams & Connolly LLP and served as Senior Counsel at Marriott International.
