Michelle A. Ramirez

MICHELLE RAMIREZ is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and litigation strategist. She has served as lead counsel for numerous companies in a variety of industries, including pharmaceutical and medical device, consumer products, sports, manufacturing, and food and beverage. She has appeared as lead and/or trial counsel in numerous federal and state courts across the country, and has taken/defended critical fact and expert witness depositions all over the world. In addition, Michelle advises clients on matters arising out of recalls, contractual disputes, artificial intelligence, and regulatory matters with potential to impact clients’ interests or reputations.

“She is one of my favorite outside counsel. Michelle is very smart, has a good demeanor, and is very likeable. Every juror loves her and finds her to be convincing.”
Chambers USA 2025

Michelle was recognized as a 2025 “Notable Litigator and Trial Attorney” by Crain’s Chicago Business. She is also ranked by Chambers USA in Product Liability & Mass Torts—Nationwide (2023–2025) and Illinois Litigation: Product Liability (2025). Clients praised her legal prowess, saying “Michelle is very credible and likeable. Jurors react well to her,” she has “deep knowledge of the subject matter and takes a solutions-oriented approach with her advice,” and “Michelle is excellent at customer service and really polished in her delivery. She also has a great strategic mind” (Chambers USA 2025). Benchmark Litigation recognized Michelle as a “Future Star” in Commercial Litigation and Product Liability—Nationwide and Illinois (2024–2025). Michelle was named to the 2024 Chicago Daily Law Bulletin “Women in Law Award” list and recognized for her legal work and leadership. She was also honored with the “Emerging Leader Award” at the 2024 Iowa Law Alumni Awards. She has been featured in numerous publications such as Euromoney LMG Life Sciences, Law360, Bloomberg Law, and The Am Law Litigation Daily.

“Michelle is an excellent lawyer and impressive at oral arguments,” and “she is very good with the business side and I am confident she will keep the commercial realities of the case at hand. She is fantastic to work with.”
Chambers USA 2024

Representative matters include:

• Defense counsel for a major food and beverage company in winning a motion to dismiss in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in a first of its kind product liability action challenging the manufacturing and marketing of so-called “ultra-processed foods.”
• Co-lead trial lawyer for Monsanto in a five-week product liability trial in Missouri state court involving allegations that Monsanto’s weedkiller, Roundup, caused the plaintiff’s cancer.
• Trial lawyer for Monsanto in securing a complete defense jury verdict in a product liability trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas after a four-week trial involving allegations that Monsanto’s weedkiller, Roundup, caused the plaintiff’s cancer.
• Member of the trial team for Roundup herbicide manufacturer Monsanto in product liability trial in California’s Sonoma County Superior Court. Obtained mid-trial dismissal of all claims that Roundup was linked to the Plaintiffs’ injuries.
• National and trial counsel for a pharmaceutical company in product liability and consumer class actions in state and federal court involving a novel theory of liability alleging a duty to innovate on manufacturers.
• National and coordinating counsel for a medical device company in high-profile product liability litigation concerning a Class III medical device in state and federal court.
• Trial counsel for a professional sports league players association in arbitration related to medical care grievances. 
• Defense counsel for a leading distributor in a multi-million dollar breach of contract and declaratory judgment action, resulting in a significant partial summary judgment victory.
• Defense counsel for a major pharmaceutical company in a multi-million dollar commercial dispute regarding fraudulent invoices.
• Defense counsel for a manufacturer in product liability litigation in state court in connection with a manufacturing related recall.
• Counsel to global manufacturer on manufacturing, compliance and potential recall related issues related to components.
• National counsel for a major pharmaceutical company in a federal antitrust MDL regarding allegations of delaying the introduction of lifesaving medications.
• Counsel and member of a trial team for a manufacturing company in a jury verdict for the defense in allegations regarding manufacturing defect.
• Counsel for a chemical company defending against premises liability claims resulting from injuries related to delivering or loading chemicals.

Michelle is an active member of Sidley’s Inclusion Committee, and co-chair of SidleyWomen in the Chicago office. She also serves on the Legal Aid Society Board and Metropolitan Family Services Board, non-profit organizations that provide legal assistance, counseling, and advocacy for those affected by domestic violence. Michelle is a mentor for Women@LifeSciences and is a former member of the firm’s Summer Associate Committee in Chicago (2016–2024), which oversees the firm’s summer associate program each year. In 2017, Michelle was an IADC Trial Academy participant, which is sponsored annually by the International Association of Defense Counsel at Stanford Law School. 

Michelle also maintains a robust pro bono practice, with a focus on trials and evidentiary hearings.

• Represented an Alabama Death Row inmate as part of Sidley’s Capital Litigation Project and recently led a trial team in support of the client’s petition for post-conviction relief at a week-long evidentiary hearing.
• Represented an 80-year-old man in a successful effort to petition for compassionate release based on the client’s serious medical deterioration.
• Working with the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), Michelle was part of a team that prevailed in three separate habeas corpus lawsuits, and obtained the release of three individuals with underlying medical conditions held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Jerome Combs Detention Center in Kankakee, Illinois amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Trial counsel in an asylum matter for a young Central American immigrant who fled his home country because of persecution. Michelle was responsible for several witnesses at the evidentiary hearing, including expert witnesses.
• Trial counsel in numerous cases in municipal court for pro bono clients and obtained several bench trial verdicts in breach of contract disputes.