Michelle D. Tuma

Michelle is a member of the Firm’s Chambers‑USA–ranked Securities Litigation Group. Her practice focuses on the defense of public companies across a range of industries in securities class actions, as well as advising clients in pre‑ and post‑closing M&A disputes, shareholder derivative actions, board‑level investigations, and other corporate governance matters. She regularly represents clients through all phases of litigation, including case initiation, discovery, class certification, dispositive motion practice, and trial—at both the state and federal level.

In addition to her commercial litigation practice, Michelle maintains an active pro bono practice. She is a member of the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee and is the recipient of the Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Publico Award. This focus is exemplified by her role on the Orellana trial team, which recently secured a multi‑million‑dollar jury verdict in a federal civil rights action. Michelle served as trial counsel in that matter and argued critical motions before both the district court and at the Second Circuit.

Michelle serves as the associate liaison for WinstonPride and the Women’s Leadership Initiative for the New York office.

During law school, Michelle interned for both the Hon. Paul G. Gardephe of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Hon. Cathy L. Waldor of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. She also worked in the Cybercrimes & Identity Theft Bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

Prior to law school, Michelle worked at the Illinois Innocence Project for four years.