Michael C. Roberts
Practice Areas
Experience
- Arbitration
- Business Litigation
- Construction & Development
- Construction Litigation
- Insurance
- Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Litigation
Biography
Michael Roberts is experienced in a wide variety of commercial litigation matters, with particular emphasis on construction and insurance matters. Michaelâs construction law practice encompasses contract negotiations, insurance coverage issues, and prosecuting and defending contractual and extra-contractual claims in the construction industry, including construction defect, delay, and mechanicâs lien claims.
Michaelâs construction litigation and transactional matters primarily focus on representing owners in all aspects of construction, from contract negotiation through trial or arbitration. Recently, Michael negotiated construction contracts exceeding $25,000,000 and associated design contracts for two exciting new developments in Austin, Texas. In addition to representing owners, Michael has also represented general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and architects. This gives him the ability to approach and analyze construction law issues from many different angles.
Michaelâs transactional experience makes him an effective trial lawyer and advocate. He is comfortable in either arbitration or a courtroom. In the courtroom, Michael recently gained unique trial experience, trying a week-long in-person jury trial in January 2022 that ended in a $6.5 million settlement for his clients against an international company.
Education
B.A., summa cum laude, Abilene Christian University
J.D., cum laude, Baylor Law School
- Anthony Bruster Intellectual Property and Advocacy Award
- Member, Order of Barristers
- Participant, Inter-school Mock Trial Teams
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
United States District Court for the Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Michael’s representative matters include:
- Negotiating commercial design and construction contracts involving multi-family, industrial, commercial, and high-end residential projects.
- Advising buyer negotiating 8-figure acquisition on construction law issues during negotiation of purchase and sale agreement.
- Obtaining pre-suit reversal of insurer’s initial coverage denial with insurer assuming its obligations to defend and indemnify client under the third-party policy.
- Defeating summary judgment seeking complete dismissal of client’s multi-million dollar fraud claim.
- Defeating all claims brought against a subcontractor and the subcontractor’s principal, including claims for breach of contract, fraud, Texas Trust Fund violations, and attorney’s fees.
- Successfully obtaining injunctive relief on behalf of clients to enforce covenants not to compete, non-solicitation agreements, and non-disclosure agreements.
- Filing suit against an owner on behalf of a general contractor and obtaining all amounts owed from the owner, including Texas Prompt Pay Interest and all attorney’s fees incurred.
- Assisting both insurers and policyholders in the analysis, prosecution and defense of declaratory judgment actions and claims for breach of contract, prompt pay interest, and bad faith.
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White Inc.)
- Commercial Litigation, 2021-2026
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, 2022-2024
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2025
- Texas Rising Star – Construction Litigation, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2018-2022
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2023-2026
- “Austin’s Top Attorneys” List â Construction, Austin Monthly, 2023-2025
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 2020
- Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, Board Member
- Austin Bar Association/Austin Young Lawyers Association Leadership Academy
- Co-Chair, 2019-2020
- Committee Member, 2018
- Participant, 2017
- Austin Bar Association, Member
- Austin Young Lawyers Association, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Member
- Construction Law Section
- Insurance Section
- Litigation Section
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
Jackson Walker Attorneys Honored at 2025 Suzanne Covington Pro Bono Service Awards
Jackson Walker is proud to announce that Anne Derrig, Michael C. Roberts and Jack E. Skaggs are award recipients at this yearâs Suzanne Covington Pro Bono Service Awards presented by Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Attorney News • October 27, 2025
Jackson Walker Congratulates 2025 Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the recognition of 75 attorneys by Thomson Reutersâ Super Lawyers in the 2025 “Texas Super Lawyers” list, as well as 66 attorneys as “Texas Rising Stars” for 2025. Each year, less than 5% of attorneys are selected to Super Lawyers and 2.5% to Rising Stars. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
Attorney News • September 18, 2025
Jackson Walker Congratulates 36 Attorneys Named Among the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America for 2026
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 36 attorneys to Lawdragonâs 2026 list of the 500 leading litigators in America. This is Lawdragonâs fourth edition of its leading litigators list, recognizing some of Americaâs top litigation talent.
Attorney News • September 5, 2025
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Features 350 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2026 Edition, Including 10 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 106 âOnes to Watchâ
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 350 Jackson Walker attorneys across 87 specialty practice areas in its 2026 edition, including 10 Lawyers of the Year and 106 Ones to Watch.
Attorney News • August 21, 2025
âAustin Monthlyâ Lists 44 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among âAustinâs Top Attorneysâ of 2025
Jackson Walker congratulates the 44 attorneys recognized among Austin Monthlyâs list of âAustinâs Top Attorneysâ for 2025. For recognition in the list, Austin attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer experienced counsel in one of 40 categories.
Attorney News • July 15, 2025
Jackson Walker Congratulates 36 Attorneys Named Among the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 36 attorneys to Lawdragonâs 2025 list of the 500 leading litigators in America. The third edition of this list recognizes Americaâs top talent in antitrust, financial and securities litigation, intellectual property, commercial litigation, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity, and white collar and investigations.
Attorney News • September 9, 2024
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this yearâs guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
Attorney News • August 15, 2024
‘Austin Monthly’ Lists 21 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among “Austin’s Top Attorneys” of 2024
Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among Austin Monthlyâs list of âAustinâs Top Attorneysâ for 2024. For recognition in the list, Austin attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer experienced counsel in one of 39 categories.
Attorney News • July 11, 2024
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this yearâs guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
Attorney News • August 17, 2023
‘Austin Monthly’ Lists 12 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among “Austin’s Top Attorneys” of 2023
Jackson Walker congratulates the 12 attorneys recognized among Austin Monthlyâs list of âAustinâs Top Attorneysâ for 2023. For recognition in the list, Austin attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer experienced counsel in one of 39 categories.
Attorney News • July 17, 2023
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
Attorney News • August 18, 2022
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 2022 Texas Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 51 attorneys to Thomson Reutersâ 2022 âSuper Lawyers â Rising Starsâ list, which recognizes only 2.5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less.
Attorney News • March 22, 2022
Jackson Walker Announces Largest Class of Newly Elected Partners to Date
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the election of 14 attorneys to the Firmâs partnership on Friday, February 11, 2022. In addition to electing 14 new partners, the Firm also congratulates Bart Cicuto, Noah Speck, and Austin Thomas on their promotion from associates to senior counsel.
Attorney News • February 11, 2022
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
Attorney News • August 19, 2021
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 2021 Texas Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of 36 attorneys to Thomson Reutersâ 2021 âSuper Lawyers â Rising Starsâ list. Spanning five offices and eight major practice areas, these up-and-coming attorneys have been nominated by peers within and outside the Firm.
Attorney News • March 23, 2021
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Honors 164 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2021 Edition, Including 9 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 25 “Ones to Watch”
Jackson Walker congratulates the 164 attorneys who were selected by their peers as Best Lawyers, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 25 Ones to Watch, across 6 offices and 66 specialty practice areas.
Attorney News • August 20, 2020
Jackson Walker Congratulates 30 Attorneys Listed Among 2020 âSuper Lawyers â Rising Starsâ List
Spanning five offices, six major practice areas, and experience ranging from six to 15 years, these 30 up-and-coming attorneys were selected based on peer recognition and professional achievement.
Attorney News • March 10, 2020
Practice Experience
Michael’s representative matters include:
- Negotiating commercial design and construction contracts involving multi-family, industrial, commercial, and high-end residential projects.
- Advising buyer negotiating 8-figure acquisition on construction law issues during negotiation of purchase and sale agreement.
- Obtaining pre-suit reversal of insurer’s initial coverage denial with insurer assuming its obligations to defend and indemnify client under the third-party policy.
- Defeating summary judgment seeking complete dismissal of client’s multi-million dollar fraud claim.
- Defeating all claims brought against a subcontractor and the subcontractor’s principal, including claims for breach of contract, fraud, Texas Trust Fund violations, and attorney’s fees.
- Successfully obtaining injunctive relief on behalf of clients to enforce covenants not to compete, non-solicitation agreements, and non-disclosure agreements.
- Filing suit against an owner on behalf of a general contractor and obtaining all amounts owed from the owner, including Texas Prompt Pay Interest and all attorney’s fees incurred.
- Assisting both insurers and policyholders in the analysis, prosecution and defense of declaratory judgment actions and claims for breach of contract, prompt pay interest, and bad faith.
Recognition & Accolades
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Woodward/White Inc.)
- Commercial Litigation, 2021-2026
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, 2022-2024
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2025
- Texas Rising Star – Construction Litigation, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2018-2022
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2023-2026
- “Austin’s Top Attorneys” List â Construction, Austin Monthly, 2023-2025
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 2020
Community Involvement
- Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, Board Member
- Austin Bar Association/Austin Young Lawyers Association Leadership Academy
- Co-Chair, 2019-2020
- Committee Member, 2018
- Participant, 2017
- Austin Bar Association, Member
- Austin Young Lawyers Association, Member
- State Bar of Texas, Member
- Construction Law Section
- Insurance Section
- Litigation Section
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow