Michael S. Burg Named Colorado Lawyer of the Decade

DENVER, March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C., is proud to announce that founding shareholder Michael S. Burg has been named one of Law Week Colorado's Lawyers of the Decade, 2000-2010, an honor awarded to only 10 attorneys statewide. Mr. Burg has enjoyed a highly successful career as a trial lawyer that puts him at the pinnacle of his profession. A 'veteran' of more than 175 jury trials, Mr. Burg has obtained countless high-profile wins and combined settlements, judgments and verdicts well in excess of $1 billion.

Burg Simpson managing shareholder Kerry N. Jardine paid tribute to Mr. Burg's outstanding achievements. "To be recognized as one of Colorado's most influential lawyers of the last ten years is a huge honor, and one that befits Michael Burg. He has left an indelible mark on the legal profession and the community." Mr. Jardine continued, "Michael is an outstanding trial lawyer, who has in recent years devoted much of his practice to the area of Multi-District Litigation, most notably in the areas of pharmaceutical and securities litigation. It is a testament to his legal acumen, courtroom persona, and leadership ability that Federal Judges have seen fit to appoint Michael to leadership positions in a variety of high-profile Multi District Litigations during the last decade involving drugs such as, Ortho Evra, Yaz/Yasmin, Vioxx, and Zyprexa Phen-Fen, Rezulin and PPA."

Michael Burg's award comes as no surprise to Burg Simpson senior shareholder, Peter W. Burg. "My brother Michael is no ordinary lawyer. His unassuming nature and commitment to 'stand up for what is right' enables individuals from all walks of life to relate to him. Through his work, he has helped thousands of men, women, children and families overcome catastrophic injuries and immense hardship. Perhaps more importantly, his work has left an important legacy that will benefit millions of American consumers. His unwavering commitment in holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their actions has been instrumental in helping reshape product liability legislation and improve drug safety standards over the last decade."

During the last 10 years, Michael S. Burg has played an instrumental role in helping more than 4000 clients obtain settlements in excess of $690 million from the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilley in litigation involving Zyprexa. In 2006 Mr. Burg was named Co-Lead Counsel in the Ortho Evra Products Liability Multi-District Litigation, in which he assisted more than 3000 women obtain compensation as a result of suffering life-threatening injuries including heart attacks, strokes and pulmonary emboli. Currently, Mr. Burg serves as Co-Lead Counsel in the Yaz/Yasmin oral contraceptive Multi-District Litigation involving more than 7000 women nationwide.  

Following the global economic collapse in 2008, Mr. Burg continues to play an instrumental role in uncovering instances of Wall Street collusion and insider trading, with much of his work the subject of intense interest from both the SEC and Justice Department. Documentary evidence uncovered by Mr. Burg has recently convinced the Connecticut Superior Court to enter an order requiring two UBS investment entities to put aside more than $35 million to ensure that the firm's clients are adequately compensated should their claims for securities fraud be successful.

A graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Michael Burg's commitment to client advocacy, fairness and integrity, combined with his extraordinary record of success, has deservedly earned him a variety of coveted accolades and awards. In 2010, Mr. Burg was appointed President of The National Trial Lawyers (formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association), a national organization comprised of the country's Top 100 Trial Lawyers from each state. Mr. Burg is a Life Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Sustaining Fellow, Roscoe Pound Institute. He is a member of the American Association for Justice, President's Club. Recently Mr. Burg was named a Director of the Faculty of Federal Advocates. Mr. Burg has received an "AV" rating from legal analysts Martindale-Hubbell for more than 25 years. Since 2006, he has been listed in Colorado Super Lawyers Magazine and ranked in "Best of the U.S." Mr. Burg was also listed in Best Lawyers in America from 2007 through 2010. In 2008, Colorado Law Week named Michael Colorado Lawyer of the Year. Colorado Law Week's Best of the Bar annual survey of the state's legal profession resulted in Michael being named Barrister's Best Overall Litigator and Best Personal Injury Attorney in 2009 and 2010.

Mr. Burg is committed to advancing the public's understanding of the law through education and learning and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Mr. Burg is also a frequent guest speaker at national legal conventions and seminars.

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SOURCE Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C.