Academy Member Inducted 2024
Thomas W. Cranmer
840 W. Long Lake Road
Suite 150
Troy, MI 48096
Video ConferencingAvailable
- Practice Commenced1995
- # of MEDS (as of 21/12/24)200
- # of ARBS (as of 21/12/24)100
Current Practice
Online / In-Person
Biographical
Thomas W. Cranmer is a trial lawyer who concentrates his practice in civil and criminal litigation. With more than 40 years of courtroom experience, his practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense, complex commercial litigation and "bet-the-company" litigation.
Tom is recognized as one of Michigan's leading lawyers. He has been listed in the Top 10 out of more than 45,000 Michigan attorneys in every edition of Michigan Super Lawyers since its inception in 2006 and was ranked as the no. 1 Michigan attorney for 2021 and 2022. In 2020, he was also rated one of the Top 10 Michigan lawyers by Leading Lawyers. Since 2004, he has been ranked in Band 1 as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA, a referral guide to leading lawyers in the United States based upon the opinions of clients and peers. Chambers has noted that Tom is highlighted by commentators for his advocacy skills, courtroom presence, and "fantastic judgment." He is noted as "a first class litigator and a true trial lawyer," "the consummate trial litigator," "an outstanding lawyer," an attorney "of the highest caliber," and "a wonderful litigator who is very bright but practical in his advice." In 2014, he was recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as its Lawyer of the Year. In 2015, he received the Excellence in Defense Award from the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. In 2018, he received the Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School Integrity in the Community Award, the Professionalism Award from the Oakland County Bar Association and the Julian Abele Cook, Jr.-Bernard A. Friedman Civility Award from the Eastern District of Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
Prior to joining the firm, Tom served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Oakland County, Michigan, and an Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Tom has extensive experience as a leader and instructor of trial advocacy including teaching for one of the preeminent trial advocacy programs in the United States, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. In addition, he has lectured and written on a wide variety of civil litigation, criminal law and evidence topics. He is a co-author of a Michigan treatise, Civil Trials and Evidence, a contributing author to Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial/Sixth Circuit, and he has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law for The Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School teaching Evidence.
Case Experience
- Anti-Trust
- Appellate
- Automotive
- Banking & Finance
- Business Dissolution
- Civil Rights
- Commercial/Business
- Consumer Fraud
- Contract Disputes
- Employment
- Environmental
- Health Care
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- Local Govt./Municipalities
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Partnerships
- Pharmaceuticals
- Product Liability
- Professional Fees
- Professional Liability
- Professional Negligence
- Public Policy
- Securities
- Sexual Harassment
- Shareholder Disputes
- Taxation
- Trademarks/Patents
- Unfair Competition
- Venture Capital
Education
- Ohio Northern University, J.D., 1975
- University of Michigan, B.A., 1972
Memberships & Affiliations
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2000; State Chairperson, 2010
International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2000
International Society of Barristers, Fellow, 2003; Board of Governors and State Chairperson, 2012-2015; Secretary/ Treasurer, 2016-2017; Second Vice-President, 2017-2018; First Vice-President, 2018-2019; President, 2019-2020
American Board of Trial Advocates, 2000; Michigan Membership Chairperson, 2010; Michigan Secretary, 2011; Michigan Treasurer, 2012; Michigan President-elect, 2013; President of Michigan Chapter, 2014
National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, 2024
State Bar of Michigan, President, 2005-2006; Statewide Access to Justice Campaign, Chairperson; Board of Commissioners, 1997-2006; Representative Assembly, 1986-1992; Chairperson, Standing Committee on Grievance, 1993-1997; Co-Chairperson, Awards Committee, 2007-2013; Law and the Media Committee, 2006-2012; Judicial Crossroads Task Force, 2010; Task Force on the Role of the State Bar of Michigan, 2014; Access and Affordability Committee of the 21st Century Practice Task Force, 2015; Judicial Tenure Commission Amendments Advisory Committee, 2016
Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Board of Directors, 2010-present
Appellate Defender Commission for the State of Michigan, appointed member and Vice-chairperson, 2011-2014; Chairperson, 2015-2023
Michigan State Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2006-present
Michigan Judicial Council, 2021-present
National Center for State Courts, Lawyers Committee, 2023
Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan; Chapter President, 1995-1996
Oakland County Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees, 1992-2012; President, 2002-2003; Trustee Emeritus, 2012-present
Oakland County Bar Association, Board of Directors, 1994-2003
Oakland County Criminal Assignment Committee, Co-Chairperson and Founding Member, 1996-1999
United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Trustee, Historical Society, 2007-present; Local Rules Advisory
Committee, 1989-1992; Special Committee on Review of the Local Rules, 1990-1991
Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference, Life Member, 1999-present
American Bar Foundation, Sustaining Life Fellow, 2005-present
Michigan State Bar Foundation, Life Patron Fellow, 1995-present
Oakland County Bar Foundation, Charter Fellow, 1992-present
American Arbitration Association, Hearing Panel Member, 1990-present
Prosecutors' Foundation for Kids, Board Member, 2010-present; Chair, 2019-present
Oakland County Circuit and District Courts, Mediator, 1986-present
Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, 1994-present
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1986-present
United States Sentencing Commission, Practitioner's Advisory Group, 2009-2011
Litigation Counsel of America
Member, Trial Law Institute
Member, Diversity Law Institute
Barrister, Order of Centurions
Rates Information
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