Michelle Simpson Tuegel founded The Simpson Tuegel Law Firm with the goal of doing work about which she is most passionate: helping people in their fight for justice. Through her powerful courtroom expertise and dedicated compassion for her clients, Michelle Simpson Tuegel is a fierce advocate for the people she represents. Her expertise in cases of sexual abuse, severe injury, and wrongful death, and her deep experience on both sides of the law make her a highly skilled and well-rounded attorney..
Michelle began her career as a victims’ rights attorney by doing Title IX work. In working with students affected by sexual assault on college and university campuses, she realized her passion for building relationships with her clients. Their stories and the trust they placed in her fueled her fire, and she knew representing victims was her only path forward.
Since then, Michelle has represented survivors in some of the most impactful catastrophic injury and sexual abuse cases of the past decade. Through her representation of survivors, she is able to personally connect with her clients and find common ground, whether that’s through shared experiences as women or as former athletes. Notably, Michelle represented former USA gymnasts who were sexually abused by Larry Nassar, leading efforts that ultimately obtained one of the largest ever settlements for sexual abuse cases in December 2021. She represented a rape survivor in a case against Hilton Management LLC that resulted in a $44 million verdict that same year. She was also part of efforts that reached settlements of $490 million in 2022 and $850 million in 2021 at the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California, respectively. Outside of sexual abuse cases, Michelle was the first attorney to file a lawsuit in connection with the MGM Las Vegas shooting, which resulted in an $800 million settlement in 2020.
Michelle was born and raised in Texas. Being a trial lawyer is in her blood. The daughter of a trial lawyer, her two younger sisters are also trial lawyers whom Michelle works with often. Before practicing law, Michelle was a world-ranked athlete in slalom water skiing. She graduated from Rollins College in 2006 and Baylor Law School in 2010. She now resides in Dallas with her husband and when they are not practicing law, they enjoy spending time outdoors and with family.
Awards
The American Lawyer, South Trailblazer 2022
Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Texas Legal Awards, On the Rise 2022
National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Trailblazers 2022
National Law Journal, Elite Women of the Plaintiffs Bar 2022
National Law Journal Trailblazers, Plaintiffs’ Lawyers List, 2022
Up-and-Coming 100: Texas Rising Stars 2017-2022
Up-and-Coming 50: Women Texas Rising Stars 2017-2022
The American Lawyer – Trailblazers of the South, 2022
D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas, 2022
Best Lawyers and Best Lawyers Under 40: D Magazine 2020-2022
Top 10 Personal Injury Verdicts in Texas in 2021
Top 20 Verdicts in Texas in 2021
Top 10 National Trial Lawyers, Women’s Rights, 2019-2020
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association’s John Howie Award for the courageous pursuit of justice in the face of adversity, 2020
Central Track News “Dallasites of the Year” and “Lawyer of the Year”, 2020
Texas SuperLawyers “Texas Rising Star Attorney”, 2015-2020
Top 100 Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers Association 2014-2019
Organizations & Memberships
2018-Present, Texas Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA)
2018-Present, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association (DTLA)
2018-Present, American Association Justice (AAJ)
American Bar Association
College of the State Bar of Texas
Board of Directors, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Life Member
2017, Board of Directors, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Former Associate Municipal Court Judge – City of Woodway, Texas
Bar Admissions
Texas, 2010
New York, 2019
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 2011
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2014
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 2017
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 2018
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2018
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2020
U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2019
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 2021
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2021
Former Professional Slalom Water Skier
Ranked 3rd in the World in Women’s Slalom—2007
Ranked 1st in the United States in Women’s Slalom—2007
Water Ski World Cup Women’s Slalom Champion—2005
Water Ski World Championships—Bronze Medal—2003
Ireland World Cup Stop—4th in 2006, 2nd 2005
Russia World Cup Stop—4th in 2006 & 2005
Chile, World Championships 21 and Under—Silver Medal
United States Olympic Committee Training Stipend Recipient
