Michael Francisco

Michael Francisco is a member of the McGuireWoods' Government Investigations and White Collar practice. He is a proven public and commercial litigator with extensive appellate experience. In the courtroom or the boardroom, he tackles tough problems for clients by combining keen reasoning and research with practical understanding of government policy and regulations.

He represents clients on commercial and public litigation, trade and special issues litigation, strategic counsel, and appeals issues. Michael provides clients a wealth of knowledge when guiding clients through the legal process and helping them better understand their options in both litigation and through public policy advocacy. He relishes the opportunity to develop a well-crafted and strategic legal challenge for clients facing regulatory burdens.

Businesses, trade groups, and elected officials have relied on Michael’s deep appellate experience to advocate before courts of appeals at every level. He has argued four cases before the Colorado Supreme Court and successfully sought certiorari review on a wide range of issues. Michael has been counsel of record on thirteen briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court and participated in eighteen cases before the Colorado Supreme Court.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Michael was in private practice providing clients with years of litigation experience in dealing with tough issues involving civil litigation, strategic counseling, and appellate representation. He represented many clients from all types of industry groups including defense contracting, government and election officials, religious organizations, nonprofits, trade, energy and environmental industries.

Michael served as a law clerk to the Hon. Justice Neil Gorsuch in the U.S. Supreme Court from 2019 to 2020 and as a law clerk for Hon. Timothy M. Tymkovich in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit of Colorado from 2008 to 2009.

• B.A., Hillsdale College, 2004
• J.D., Cornell Law School, 2007