Practice Areas
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1966
Albion College, B.A., 1963
Bar and Court Admissions
Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
Michael G. Harrison
Before joining Foster Swift in 2001, Michael Harrison served as a judge of the 30th Judicial Circuit of Michigan for nearly 25 years. He was Chief Judge for 12 years and served by assignment on the Michigan Court of Appeals on a number of occasions. While on the bench, he was involved in numerous activities to improve the justice system. He was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court as chair of the Case Flow Management Coordinating Committee, a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Steering Committee and Task Force on Juror Use and Management. Additionally, Judge Harrison was President of the Michigan Judges’ Association, composed of the Circuit and Court of Appeals Judges and was chair of the National Conference of State Trial Judges.
Now in private practice, Judge Harrison, is dedicated to serving as a neutral in dispute resolution. A strong believer in the benefits of alternative dispute resolution, he has earned his Certified Mediator designation from the International Mediation Institute and is on the Commercial Roster of Neutrals for the American Arbitration Association. His expansive knowledge of the law and passion for justice make him a sought after neutral panelist in arbitrations as well as an effective negotiator in mediation proceedings.
Born in Lansing, Judge Harrison is committed to giving back to the community as well as the legal profession. Judge Harrison is an adjunct professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School and he continues to build on an already impressive list of leadership roles in community organizations including president of the Greater Lansing Urban League, Greater Lansing Symphony Association, Mid-Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross, Chief Okemos Council Boy Scouts of America and the Rotary Club of Lansing to name a few. Most recently, he chaired the Lansing Sesquicentennial Foundation, Inc.
Highlights & Recognitions
International Mediation Institute, Certified Mediator
American Arbitration Association, Commercial Roster of Neutrals
AV® Preeminent™ Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers in America (Alternative Dispute Resolution)
2012 Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year, Lansing (Mediation)
Who's Who in America
Award of Judicial Excellence Recipient, Judicial Division ABA
Distinguished Citizen's Award Recipient, Chief Okemos Council, Boy Scouts of America
Distinguished Alumni Award, Albion College
Distinguished Volunteer Award, Ingham County Bar Association
News
- Three Foster Swift Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year", October 31, 2011
- Foster Swift's 2011 Best Lawyers, August 17, 2010
- Michael Harrison Receives American Arbitration Association Credential, May 21, 2010
- Michael G. Harrison Certified as Experienced IMI Mediator, March 29, 2010
- Nineteen Foster Swift Attorneys Named in 2009 Super Lawyers, September 22, 2009
- Foster Swift Announces 2009 Best Lawyers, August 18, 2009
- Foster Swift Announces 2008 Best Lawyers In America, September 18, 2008
Publications
- Mediation: A Viable Alternative to Litigation, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 2008
- Mediation: A Better Alternative, The Greater Lansing Business Monthly
- Litigation Control: The Trial Judge's Key to Avoiding Delay, American Bar Association, 1996
- Michigan Municipal Law, Chapter 5, Actions of Governing Bodies, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 1980
- Thirty-Eight Years without Definition-The Private Offering Exemption, Arkansas Law Review, 1971
Memberships & Affiliations
Legal Affiliations:
- American Bar Association
- Litigation Section Task Force on Civil Discovery Standards
- Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section Council
- Section of Dispute Resolution, Committee on Ethics, Co-Chair
- Fund for Justice and Education Council - American Judicature Society
- State Bar of Michigan
- Representative Assembly, Past Chair
- Scope and Correlation Committee, Past Chair
- Victims of Crime Committee, Past Chair
- Professional and Judicial Ethics Committee, Past Chair
- Board of Commissioners, Member - Ingham County Bar Association
- Michigan State Bar Foundation, Past President, Fellow
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Industry & Professional Associations:
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter, Board of Trustees
- Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, Past President
- Michigan Youth Advisory Commission, Past Chairperson
- Michigan Construction Safety Standards Commission
- Michigan Juvenile Justice Services Commission
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Adjunct Professor
- Michigan Judicial Institute, Faculty Member
- Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, Board of Directors
- Michigan Judges Association, Past President
- National Conference of State Trial Judges, Past Chair
- MSU College of Law Inn of Court, Past President
Community Involvement:
- American Red Cross Mid-Michigan Chapter, Past President
- Greater Lansing Urban League, Past President
- Lansing Symphony Association, Past President
- St. Lawrence Hospital, Past member, Board of Directors
- Rotary Club of Lansing, Past President
- Boy Scouts of America, Chief Okemos Council, Past President
- Lansing Sesquicentennial Foundation, President
