Michael W. Stockham
Partner

Overview
Michael Stockham routinely leads complex internal investigations on behalf of companies, board committees and individual directors, and he defends companies/directors in shareholder and securities class actions. In particular, his practice involves 1) investigations, trials and litigation arising out of financial restatements, accounting fraud and disputes over the adequacy of corporate disclosures, as well as 2) shareholder class actions and fiduciary duty disputes related to stock price drops, merger litigation and proxy fights. Mr. Stockham regularly serves as trial counsel in cases before federal and state courts around the country, and he regularly represents clients in arbitration proceedings. He is also a trusted business counselor and often provides pre-transaction and pre-litigation advice related to corporate governance and business issues for privately held and publicly traded companies. Texas Super Lawyers magazine recently named him one of the "Top 100 Overall" in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
In addition to his legal skills and knowledge, Mr. Stockham is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), certified by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the world's largest anti-fraud organization that specializes in the complex issues raised by corporate and white-collar fraud and provides anti-fraud training and education, as well as compliance with anti-fraud controls. He is also a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP), certified by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE).
For years, Mr. Stockham has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America guide, Texas Super Lawyers magazine and D Magazine for his outstanding legal work. He is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He frequently speaks and authors chapters and articles on various topics, including corporate compliance; corporate governance; fraud prevention; securities litigation (10b-5, Section 11, Texas Securities Act); internal investigations; breach of contract and fraud issues; breach of fiduciary duty; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and Dodd-Frank matters; partnership disputes; and other business litigation topics.
Representative Experience
Credentials
- Cornell Law School, J.D., cum laude
- Cornell University, Certificate, Financial Management
- Texas A&M University, M.A.
- University of New Mexico, B.A., cum laude
- New York
- Texas
- Kansas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation, Life Fellow
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Dallas Area Chapter, Board of Directors
- National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Governance Fellow, 2019
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section Business Torts Committee, Evidence Subcommittee, Co-Chair, 2011-2012
- State Bar of Texas, Administration and Public Law Section; Antitrust and Business Litigation Section; Appellate Section; Litigation Section
- New York Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- The College of the State Bar of Texas, Fellow
- Texas Association of Defense Counsel (TADC)
- Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA)
- Dallas Bar Association, Securities Section, Chair, 2022, Program Chair, 2019, Treasurer, 2020, Vice Chair, 2021; Appellate Law Section; Trial Skills Section
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL), Member; DAYL Leadership Class, 2004
- Federal Bar Association, Qui Tam Section, Education Committee, 2022
- Federal Bar Association (FBA) Dallas Chapter, President, 2014-2015; Young Lawyers Division Coordinator, 2009-2010; Membership Chair, 2010-2011; Secretary, 2011-2012; Vice President, 2012-2013; President-Elect, 2013-2014
- The Federalist Society
- DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar, Membership Committee for DRI Commercial Litigation Class Action Specialized Litigation Group, 2008
- Patrick Higginbotham American Inn of Court, Associate, 2005-2006; Barrister, 2012-2014
- Dallas Children's Theater, Board of Trustees
- Central Regional Advisory Board, Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas, 2009-2011
- March of Dimes' March for Babies, Revenue Development Committee, 2008
- Writers' League of Texas, 2008-2010; Co-Chairman, Development Committee, Board of Directors, 2009-2010
- Mensa International
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Commercial Litigation, Litigation-Securities, 2018-2025
- Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, Business Litigation; Class Action; Securities Litigation; Enforcement, 2015-2018, 2020, 2023-2024
- Texas Super Lawyers magazine, 2013-2024; Top 100: Texas, 2021
- Top Rated Litigators, The American Lawyer, 2021
- Rising Star, Texas Super Lawyers magazine, Business Litigation; Securities Litigation, 2009-2012
- The Legal 500 USA, Securities Litigation – Defense, 2019
- Future Star, Benchmark: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys, 2009
- Pro Bono Award of Merit, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division Pro Bono Civil Panel, 2014
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated