Michael Caddell has practiced law since 1979. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in litigation matters, including product liability, class actions and commercial matters, franchising issues, trade secrets, toxic torts, and insurance. He has represented such clients as the Arochem Bankruptcy Trustee, Sohio/BP, Conoco, Union Texas Petroleum, GenCorp (General Tire Corporation), Tetco, Inc., and Britestarr, Inc. Since 1989, he has represented plaintiffs in obtaining verdicts and settlements valued at more than $3.0 billion.
Mr. Caddell graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1979. He practiced first at the law firm of Bracewell and Patterson (now Bracewell & Giuliani), and then started his own law firm, now Caddell & Chapman, in 1985. He received a B.A. degree with Distinction from the University of Virginia in 1976, majoring in English and Government.
Law Dragon “Top 500 Plaintiffs” Lawyers in the United States 2007
Texas “Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly, a Thomson Reuters business, in 2003-2022.
H Texas “Top Lawyers” and “Best Lawyers” 2005-2008
Texas Lawyer’s 1999 Texas Lawyer of the Year
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Appeared as counsel of record in cases throughout Texas and in Alabama , Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and has tried more than 40 cases to verdict, judgment, or arbitration award.
Director of the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Foundation (1991 -1998)
Recipient of the TLP J Foundation’s Public Interest Achievement Award for his work as lead counsel in Cox, et al v. Shell, et al. (1997)
University of Virginia School of Law Board of Trustees (1996-2008)
Featured in Texas Justice, The Legacy of Historic Courthouses, for recognizable and striking accomplishments in Texas
Guest on American Airlines’ prestigious “Special Tribute to America ‘s Best Lawyers,” which highlights the most powerful lawyers who are responsible for successful victories in all practice areas of the law
Member in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which membership includes the top trial lawyers in America
Areas of Practice
Class Action
Commercial Matters
Litigation
Product Liability
Franchising Issues
Trade Secrets
Toxic Torts
Insurance
Certified Legal Specialties
Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Bar Admissions
California
Texas
U.S. District Court District of Colorado
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court Central District of California
U.S. District Court Northern District of California
U.S. District Court Southern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois
Education
University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia
J.D. – 1979
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
B.A. – 1976
Honors: With Distinction
Major: English and Government
Published Works
Tort Causes of Action Against Lenders, State Bar of Texas Business Torts Seminar, 2009
Issues Particular to Consumer Finance Class-Action Settlements, The Review of Banking & Financial Services 25(9), 2009
Effective Approaches to Class Action Settlements, 14th Annual Consumer Financial Services Litigation Institute, 443-456, 2009
The Hearsay Rule and Its Exceptions, HBA, Serialized Evidence Institute, 1981
Unfair Competition, Trade Secrets and Commercial Disparagement, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, 1983
Federal Preemption of Local Noise Control, 18 Virginia Journal of International Law 569, Spring, 1978
Honors and Awards
Named among the Top 100 Attorneys in Texas by Super Lawyers, a Texas Monthly magazine, Thomson Reuters business, 2010 – 2011
Named among Houston’s Top Lawyers by H Texas magazine, 2010
Named among the 500 Leading Plaintiffs’ Lawyers in America by Lawdragon magazine, 2007
“Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly magazine, a Thomson Reuters business, 2003 – 2012
Named among Houston’s 200 Best Lawyers by H Texas magazine, 2005
Named one of Houston’s Top Lawyers for the People by H Texas magazine, 2005 – 2007
Named one of Houston’s Top Lawyers by H Texas magazine, 2006 – 2007
Texas Lawyers magazine 1999 Texas Lawyer of Year
Recipient of the TLPJ Foundation’s Public Interest Achievement Award for his work as lead counsel in Cox, et al v. Shell, et al.
Professional Associations and Memberships
State Bar of Texas, Member
State Bar of California, Member
American Bar Association, Member
American Association for Justice, Member
Houston Bar Association, Member
Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Foundation, Director, 1991 – 1998
University of Virginia School of Law, Board of Trustees, 1998 – 2008
National Trial Lawyers Association, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2011 – Present
The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, Fellow
