J. Michael Hannon founded HANNON LAW GROUP in May of 2006 to expand the range of legal resources available to his clients. He is an experienced trial and appellate attorney, litigating cases in the areas of professional liability, criminal conduct, serious personal injury, business disputes, estate disputes, and employment.
Michael began his legal career as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1981 to 1988, investigating and prosecuting violent and white collar offenders. He was promoted to the Special Prosecutions Section where he was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of racketeering, international fraud, and terrorism. From 1972 to 1980, he was a high school English teacher and swimming coach in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Before founding HANNON LAW GROUP, Michael was a Partner with Thompson O'Donnell, LLP, for 18 years. During that time, he argued the first appeal before the United States Supreme Court from the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in October of 1994. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of his veteran client, overturning a 70-year practice by the Department of Veterans Affairs denying compensation to medically injured veterans.
In 2005, Michael was selected to the Panel of Counsel for the Fraternal Order of Police Legal Plan. Through that plan and otherwise, Michael represents local and federal law enforcement officers in defense of employment actions, civil lawsuits, and criminal investigations. Michael is a member of the American Foreign Service Officers Association select Panel of Counsel. He represents Foreign Service Officers in a host of matters both domestic and international in scope, and occasionally contributes to the Foreign Service Journal.
Education
- Gonzaga High School - 1968
- Princeton University - B.A., 1972
- University of Michigan - M.A. American Studies, 1976
- Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law - J.D., 1980
Bar Memberships
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- United States Supreme Court
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States District Court for Maryland
- United States Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Courts of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States Courts of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Professional Affiliations
- District of Columbia Bar, Member
- Bar Association of the District of Columbia, Member
- Maryland State Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member of the White Collar Crime and Grand Jury subcommittees
- National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, Member
- National Employment Lawyers Association, Member
- Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, Member
- The Barristers, Member
- The Lawyers Club, Member
- The Counselors, former President
- Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court, Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, Counselor and Master
- Former state representative for the District of Columbia, Steering Committee for the October 2003 Annual Convention for Defense Research Institute
