Michael O'Donnell Elected Officer of the American College of Trial Lawyers

Denver: Michael O’Donnell, a founding partner and the Chair of the national civil litigation firm Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell (WTO), has been elected Secretary of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL). O’Donnell is the first ACTL officer elected from Colorado.

The ACTL is the preeminent organization of trial lawyers in North America, dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice. Fellowship is limited to 1% of the practicing lawyers in each state or province.

“Mike embodies absolutely everything the College stands for—excellence in trial practice, collegiality, exceptional integrity, and a deep and lifelong commitment to improving the application of and access to justice,” said WTO Founding Partner, Malcolm Wheeler. “Mike will do great things by and for the Fellows of the College.”

ACTL fellowship is by invitation only and is rigorously vetted. Candidates must have practiced as trial lawyers for a minimum of 15 years. Fellowship is limited to “only those trial lawyers who are unquestionably and eminently qualified, in addition to being regarded as the best in their state/province.”  Seven WTO attorneys are Fellows.

O’Donnell has long established himself as a preeminent civil attorney in Colorado and the nation. He previously served a four-year term as a regent on the Board of Regents, which manages the ACTL’s affairs. The board consists of 15 regents and five officers.

For six consecutive years, Colorado Super Lawyers has ranked O’Donnell the #1 lawyer in Colorado based on independent research and voting by his peers in the legal industry. He is ranked nationally in Chambers USA, as is the firm that bears his name. In 2018, The American Lawyer named WTO a finalist for Specialty Boutique/Litigation Department of the Year. The award will be announced on December 5.  

O’Donnell earned his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell lawyers have taken more than 1,100 trials, arbitrations, and appeals to verdict, award, or opinion in 45 states and Washington, D.C., with exceptional results for our clients. Established in 1998, WTO currently numbers 100 lawyers in three offices. The firm represents sophisticated clients in high-stakes civil trials, appeals, and related litigation ranging from complex commercial to class actions to multidistrict litigation.