Biography
Michael Andolina is a Chambers-ranked litigator who focuses his practice on working with clients to manage crises and defend and resolve complex multiparty and multi-jurisdictional matters. He handles a diverse range of litigation matters in state and federal courts across the country, with an emphasis on resolving large scale litigation in multiple forums.
Mike has extensive experience advising clients in connection with mass tort and other crisis management situations, including litigation preparedness (document preservation and collection in the world of AI), coordinating and conducting investigations, engaging with regulators and law enforcement, developing litigation strategy, and defending clients through all stages of litigation. Currently, he serves as lead resolution counsel for the Boy Scouts of America in their Chapter 11 restructuring proceedings, post-emergence appeals, and engagement with the Scouting Settlement Trust. He also represents 3M Company in connection with the Combat Arms Earplug multi-district litigation pending in the Northern District of Florida, the largest MDL in US history. Mike was recognized by the MDL Court as an "MDL MVP" for his role in negotiating a settlement structure to resolve more than 250,000 claims against 3M relating to alleged hearing loss.
Mike has also represented Honda in numerous capacities in connection with the Takata airbag recalls, the largest vehicle recall in history, including in multidistrict litigation pending in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, In re Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation, where plaintiffs alleged both economic product defect and personal injury claims against numerous automobile manufacturer defendants and Takata within a single proceeding. Mike also represents Honda in Takata's worldwide restructuring proceedings, which have been described by industry experts as the most complex multinational proceedings in history, and in connection with litigation brought by state attorneys general.
In addition to his Chambers ranking, Mike was recognized by Crain's Chicago Business as a Notable Litigator and Trial Attorney (2025) and as a Notable Gen X Leader in Law (2019). He was also recognized in February 2018 with the International Law Office's "2018 Client Choice Award," which honors partners and law firms worldwide that provide "excellent client care" and are nominated only by corporate counsel.
Previously, Mike served as the deputy head of litigation at a large firm in Chicago, where he practiced for more than 20 years.
Mike proudly serves on the boards of Legal Aid Chicago, Leadership Greater Chicago and Christ the King Jesuit College Prep.
Experience
Mass Tort Resolution
Mike has served as lead resolution counsel for clients in several of the most high-profile restructurings in recent years He represented the Boy Scouts of America (n/k/a Scouting America) in its Chapter 11 proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and on appeal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He also represents Scouting America in ongoing engagement with Scouting Settlement Trust. Mike also represents Honda in connection with the worldwide restructuring of Takata. He was instrumental in negotiation, design, development and implementation of the Takata Airbag Tort Compensation Trust Fund, which was established in connection with Takata's Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Plan of Reorganization to compensate individuals injured by the rupture or aggressive deployment of certain Takata airbag inflators.
Mike has also guided clients in connection with resolution of mass tort crises in the class action and MDL context. Most recently, Mike represents Catholic Charities of New York in connection with ongoing proceedings involving abuse claims against the Archdiosis of New York and related entities. Mike also serves as counsel for 3M Company in connection with the resolution of the Combat Arms Earplugs MDL pending in the Northern District of Florida, which resolves over 250,000 personal injury claims against 3M alleging hearing loss and other claims.
Internal Investigations
Mike has extensive experience assisting clients with investigating allegations of wrongdoing and conducting confidential internal investigations intended to provide the client with information relevant to the discharge of its duties. He has conducted internal investigations, in both the United States and abroad, on behalf of public and private corporations in a wide range of industries, including the airline, consumer goods, insurance, manufacturing, medical device, pharmaceutical and professional services industries.
Mike has led investigations concerning a diverse range of alleged misconduct, including investigations relating to potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and investigations relating to allegations of malfeasance by senior executives of public companies. He has also handled enforcement matters, representing clients in civil and criminal investigations by federal and state governments. Mike has advised boards of directors on all aspects of internal investigations, including on issues relating to scoping and timing of investigations, privilege issues, related litigation, and employee discipline and termination.
Litigation Preparedness and Avoidance
As a compliment to his crisis management work, Mike advises clients on litigation preparedness and avoidance, helping them build proactive strategies to reduce litigation risk before disputes arise. This includes counseling on document preservation and collection practices in an increasingly complex data environment shaped by artificial intelligence, including advising on preservation obligations for AI-generated content and outputs, records created or modified using AI tools, and the underlying data used to train or prompt such systems.
Mike works with clients to design and implement litigation hold protocols, data governance policies, and defensible collection processes that account for the growing volume and variety of electronically stored information, with the goal of positioning clients to respond efficiently and defensibly when litigation or regulatory scrutiny occurs.
Class Action Litigation
Mike has handled putative class action lawsuits for a range of clients, including clients in the automotive, consumer goods, insurance, financial services and publishing industries. He has extensive experience at all stages of class litigation, including arguing dispositive motions, handling all facets of discovery (including international discovery issues), preparing and cross-examining class and merits experts, briefing and arguing motions for class certification, and interlocutory appeals under Federal Rule 23(f).
Mike has assisted clients in winning complete dismissal of putative nationwide class action complaints in cases involving allegations of defective paint used on vehicles (Nguyen v. American Honda Motor Co. (C.D. Cal.) and Matthews v. American Honda Motor Co. (S.D. Fla.)) and defective air conditioning systems on vehicles (Schexnaydre v. American Honda Motor Co. (E.D. La.)). Mike also represented Honda in American Honda Motor Co., Inc. v. Allen, 600 F.3d 813 (7th Cir. 2010), a matter of first impression in the Seventh Circuit, where the court held that the district court's Daubert analysis was inadequate, that plaintiff's expert was unreliable, and that plaintiffs could not establish Rule 23(b)(3) predominance.
Other Litigation and Trial Experience
Mike has prosecuted and defended numerous white collar litigation matters, including matters involving claims under the civil RICO statute. He has prosecuted civil cases on behalf of institutional clients seeking redress for having been victimized by fraud, including several cases brought by institutional clients against former employees.
Mike has also represented clients in a variety of other contexts, including trademark infringement, theft of trade secrets, securities fraud, and education law. He has experience handling cases involving injunctions, temporary restraining orders, and other emergency matters. Mike has trial experience in both federal and state courts.
Civic Engagement
Mike proudly serves on the boards of Legal Aid Chicago, Leadership Greater Chicago and Christ the King Jesuit College Prep.
Notable Gen X Leader in Law, Crain’s Chicago Business (2019)
Client Choice Award, International Law Office (2018)
