Michael S. Walsh

Louisiana

Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips L.L.P
450 Laurel Street, 8th Floor
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
United States

Tel: (225) 381-0247

Email: michael.walsh@taylorporter.com
Web: www.taylorporter.com

Professional Biography

Practice Group Leader of Taylor Porter’s Criminal Defense law practice, Mike Walsh has more than 35 years of experience representing individual and corporate clients in complex criminal and civil litigation and enforcement cases throughout the country.

His criminal defense practice includes complex criminal cases such as death penalty cases tried to verdict and internal investigation matters, and he also has recent experience conducting investigations into sexual torts/abuse incidents. Mr. Walsh’s record of taking difficult and complex cases to trial plays an important role in obtaining favorable resolutions for his clients. Often the best resolution of a criminal matter is achieved when no formal charges are ever brought. Though he has successfully represented clients in high profile matters, his best results have often been obtained quietly by persuading government lawyers to refrain from filing charges.

Mr. Walsh has been selected by his peers in Best Lawyers in America as the Criminal Defense: General Practice “Lawyer of the Year” in 2016, 2020 and 2022, and he has been selected by his peers among Louisiana Super Lawyers in Criminal Defense.

He is admitted to the bar in both Louisiana and Texas. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal district courts in Louisiana, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Walsh is a former chair of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section. By approval of the Louisiana Supreme Court, he serves as judge pro tempore of the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court. Mr. Walsh formerly served as president of the Baton Rouge Bar Association and the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In 2024, Mr. Walsh was appointed by the Louisiana State Law Institute to serve as a member of the Code of Criminal Procedure Committee.

Mr. Walsh previously served as chairman of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and currently serves on the Advisory Committee.

  • Appointed to the United States District Court Magistrate Selection Committee for the Middle District of Louisiana in 2013.
  • USA v. Rodney Ryder: immigration fraud case tried to verdict in USDC, Western District of Louisiana.
  • USA v. Southeastern Louisiana Water Company: environmental crimes case involving a privately held sewer and water company in USDC, Eastern District of Louisiana.
  • USA v. Chemical and Metal Industries: environmental crimes case involving felony indictment by federal grand jury in USDC, Middle District of Louisiana; charges reduced to misdemeanor plea at trial followed by illegal sentence, which was reversed by U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
  • Representing individuals involved in operations of the Deepwater Horizon rig while drilling the Macondo well before the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the United States Coast Guard, and in federal civil and criminal matters.
  • In re: Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Antitrust Litigation: representing corporate management employee alleged to have been involved in price fixing of EPDM (rubber) in USDC, Northern District of California.

The Taylor Porter Investigations and White-Collar Defense team represents individual and corporate clients in complex criminal and civil litigation and enforcement cases throughout the country. We provide counsel throughout criminal investigations and court proceedings in both federal and state venues.

Often the best resolution of a criminal matter is achieved when no formal charges are ever brought, and our attorneys have experience in designing and implementing strategies during grand jury investigations to avoid indictments.

Covering the full range of white-collar issues, we are familiar with the regulators and enforcement authorities with whom our clients interact, and we regularly work with colleagues in our firm’s regulatory, compliance, corporate, and government affairs practices to assist clients.

Taylor Porter represents a diverse range of local, regional, and national clients in the most complex transactions and litigation across a variety of industries.

With offices in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, we are a full-service law firm that serves the interests of our clients. In the tradition of our founders, we are committed to excellence and quality representation, whether we are litigating a multibillion-dollar budget corporate case or handling matters for individuals and small businesses.  Our service standard is to collectively work as a team while meeting the unique needs of our clients and delivering dependable, high-impact results.

​Taylor Porter is the exclusive Louisiana law firm member for MSI Global Alliance, enabling our firm to source reliable, local expertise wherever in the world our clients conduct business.

Taylor Porter’s full-service approach consists of leadership, dedication, and experience that allows us to go above and beyond for our clients and community.