Thomas W Cranmer

Practice Areas

Representing individual and corporate clients in white-collar criminal defense, corporate compliance and internal investigations, complex commercial and “Bet the Company” civil litigation.

Career

Thomas W. Cranmer is a trial lawyer who concentrates his practice in civil and criminal litigation. With more than 40 years of courtroom experience, his practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense, complex commercial litigation and "bet-the-company" litigation.

Tom is recognized as one of Michigan's leading lawyers. He has been listed in the Top 10 out of more than 45,000 Michigan attorneys in every edition of Michigan Super Lawyers since its inception in 2006 and was ranked as the no. 1 Michigan attorney for 2021 and 2022. In 2020, he was also rated one of the Top 10 Michigan lawyers by Leading Lawyers. Since 2004, he has been ranked in Band 1 as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA, a referral guide to leading lawyers in the United States based upon the opinions of clients and peers. Chambers has noted that Tom is highlighted by commentators for his advocacy skills, courtroom presence, and "fantastic judgment." He is noted as "a first class litigator and a true trial lawyer," "the consummate trial litigator," "an outstanding lawyer," an attorney "of the highest caliber," and "a wonderful litigator who is very bright but practical in his advice." In 2014, he was recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as its Lawyer of the Year. In 2015, he received the Excellence in Defense Award from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. In 2018, he received the Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School Integrity in the Community Award, the Professionalism Award from the Oakland County Bar Association and the Julian Abele Cook, Jr.-Bernard A. Friedman Civility Award from the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Prior to joining the firm, Tom served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Oakland County, Michigan, and an Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Tom has extensive experience as a leader and instructor of trial advocacy including teaching for one of the preeminent trial advocacy programs in the United States, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. In addition, he has lectured and written on a wide variety of civil litigation, criminal law and evidence topics. He is a co-author of a Michigan treatise, Civil Trials and Evidence, a contributing author to Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial/Sixth Circuit, and he has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law for The Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School teaching Evidence.

Professional Memberships

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, International Society of Barristers; American Board of Trial Advocates, State Bar of Michigan President, 2005-06.

Publications

“Civil Trials and Evidence” West Publishing (2001) Co-Author.

Personal

Teaching

Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law, (teaching Evidence), 2005-2013

University of Detroit Mercy Inn of Court, 1996-present

Oakland County Bar Association Inn of Court, Founding Member and currently Emeritus Member, 2004-present

Experience

Tom has represented a broad range of corporations, partnerships, financial institutions and individuals in criminal and civil antitrust matters; intellectual property disputes; shareholder and derivative lawsuits; breach of contract claims; class action defense matters; income tax evasion; Medicaid, Medicare and healthcare fraud; Food & Drug Administration investigations; criminal OSHA, MIOSHA and state/federal environmental matters; Customs and Border Protection violations; RICO claims; bankruptcy fraud; mail and wire fraud; insurance fraud; bank fraud and embezzlement; defense contractor fraud; national security matters, securities fraud and matters with the SEC; public corruption; controlled substance and conspiracy matters; immigration matters, labor and employment litigation, ERISA litigation and police corruption.

He has extensive experience conducting internal corporate audits, independent audit committee reviews and corporate compliance programs.

He has also represented both attorneys and judges in proceedings alleging malpractice, professional or public misconduct.

Some of Tom's representative matters include:

Healthcare Fraud - Criminal Litigation

Represented a healthcare CEO charged wth 128 counts of healthcare fraud, securing a not guilty verdict on all counts.

Perjury and Obstruction of Justice - Criminal Litigation

Represented an official of the United States Department of State for allegedly committing perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with the first post 9/11 terrorism trial in the United States, securing a not guilty verdict on all charges.

Patent Infringement Litigation

Represented a high technology corporation against a nine-figure patent infringement claim, successfully securing a no-cause verdict at trial.

Election Law Criminal Defense Litigation

Represented a client charged with violation of federal election laws, resulting in a not guilty verdict on all counts at trial.

Sanctions Violation Criminal Defense

Represented a university professor charged with violating sanctions against Iraq, securing a not guilty verdict on all counts at trial.

Class Action Litigation

Represented a Fortune 500 electronics manufacturer in the successful defense of a shareholder derivative claim.

Criminal Antitrust Investigation

Represented a national road construction company in connection with a federal criminal antitrust investigation, successfully convincing the Department of Justice not to seek an indictment.

Patent Infringement Litigation

Represented an automobile supplier in connection with a patent infringement claim, successfully securing an eight-figure damages settlement.

University Internal Investigation

Represented a major university in connection with an internal investigation into its athletic department.

Insurance Fraud Criminal Litigation

Represented a large national insurance company as a plaintiff in connection with allegations of insurance fraud and the submission of false claims.

Securities Criminal and Civil Litigation

Represented an officer of a Fortune 500 company in a securities action and parallel investigation by the United States Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission successfully, convincing the government not to seek an indictment.

Civil RICO Litigation and Appeal

Represented a Fortune 100 company in a successful appeal of a civil RICO case before the Sixth Circuit en banc panel.

Represented a national banking institution in the successful dismissal of a civil RICO case and an appeal before the Eleventh Circuit.

Shareholder Class Action Litigation

Represented a major financial institution in connection with a shareholder derivative claim and putative class action matter.

Involuntary Manslaughter Criminal Litigation

Represented an individual charged with involuntary manslaughter arising out of a trucking accident, securing a not guilty verdict at trial.

Pro Bono Criminal Law Representation

Represented one of two brothers falsely accused of felony murder, resulting in the ultimate dismissal of the charges after the client had wrongfully served more than 25 years in prison.

Education

Awards