Michael S. Walsh

Practice Group Leader of Taylor Porter’s Criminal Defense and Domestic Relations Law practices, 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 practice, which includes a variety of grand jury and trial matters, involves public corruption, antitrust, healthcare, False Claims Act, Lacey Act, environmental matters, and alcoholic beverage licensing and related enforcement issues.

Mr. Walsh is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), one of the premier legal associations in North America, composed of preeminent members of the Trial Bar and limited to just one percent of the total lawyer population of any state. Fellowship is extended only by invitation, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality.

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 considerable expertise in designing and implementing strategies that he utilizes during grand jury investigations to avoid indictments.

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. In addition to his criminal defense and family law practice, Mr. Walsh represents lawyers, law firms, and judges in disciplinary proceedings, malpractice matters, professional liability claims, and ethics violations. He is a frequent lecturer on ethics, professionalism, and litigation skills, instructing prosecutors, defenders, and federal investigators on professional liability and ethics, both internationally (Austria, Canada), and nationally (Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Florida, California).

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 has appeared pro hac vice in United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

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. He is a member of the MDLA Magistrate Selection Committee and was formerly on the committee to screen the Parish Attorney’s committee. 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 graduated from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1983. He earned a B.S. from Louisiana State University in 1979. Before attending LSU, Mr. Walsh served in the United States Army as a military policeman, having graduated from the United States Military Police School.

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

He is a frequent lecturer on ethics, professionalism, and litigation skills.

• 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.

• Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., 1983
• Louisiana State University, B.S., 1979
• United States Army Military Police School, 1974

• Louisiana, 1984
• Texas, 1996

• Baton Rouge Bar Association
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• State Bar of Texas
• Federal Bar Association
• Baton Rouge Bar Foundation
• MDLA Magistrate Selection Committee
• Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel (LADC)
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Louisiana State Law Institute (Member, Code of Criminal Procedure Committee)

• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Louisiana Super Lawyers – Criminal Defense
• Best Lawyers in America – Criminal Defense: General Practice “Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge” (2016, 2020, 2022)

• “How to Fire a Client,” Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board CLE Series, September 13, 2023 
• “You’re the Reason our Children are Ugly: How and When to Fire a Client (Ethics),” LSU Law 27th Annual Family Law Conference, September 14, 2023 
• “Community Property Judgments and Bankruptcy for Family Lawyers,” LSU Law 27th Annual Family Law Conference, September 14, 2023
• “Ethics,” Baton Rouge Bar Association CLE by the Hour, December 9, 2020
• “Ethics: Ethical & Practical Considerations in Legal Representation of and/or Banking Medicinal Marijuana Enterprises,” 2019 LBA Bank Counsel Conference, December 12, 2019
• “Don’t Be That Lawyer – Professionalism,” 23rd JDC, CLE, March 21, 2019

• “The Dreaded Phone Call (or Why Do I Have a Collect Call from Parish Prison?),” The Baton Rouge Lawyer, Vol. 6, March/April 2023
• “Louisiana Statewide Mask Mandate Lifted, Placing Business Owners in Control of Mask Policies,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, April 30, 2021
• “Louisiana Moves Into COVID-19 Phase 3; Restrictions Loosened on Hospitality Industry,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, March 5, 2021
• “Louisiana Moves to Modified Version of Phase 2 Amidst Third Surge of COVID-19 Cases,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, Nov. 25, 2020 
• “Louisiana Moves Into COVID-19 Phase 3; New Guidelines Released for Hospitality Industry,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, Sept. 14, 2020
• “To-Go Alcoholic Beverage Orders from Restaurants and Bars Suspended in New Orleans,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, July 24, 2020
• “Phase Two: Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, June 8, 2020
• “Louisiana Moves Into Phase One; New Openings and Additional Guidelines for Hospitality Industry,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, May 15, 2020
• “Updated Guidance for Hospitality and Retail Industry,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, May 7, 2020
• “Impact of Stay At Home Order on Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Retailers, Wholesalers, Manufacturers,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, March 26, 2020
• “Louisiana Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control to Expedite Issuance of Delivery Permits,” The Taylor Porter Legal Blog, March 18, 2020

• Baton Rouge Battered Women’s Program (Past Chairman)
• Boy Scouts of America Istrouma Council (Past Executive Committee Member)