Personal Background
Michael A. Akselrud is an associate at The Lanier Law Firm in Los Angeles, specializing in business litigation, personal injury and products liability. He joined the Lanier family in 2012 as a law clerk and member of the firm’s pharmaceutical litigation team. Michael was named by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Southern California since 2016. In 2020 Michael was named to the LawDragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, one of the most respected guides to the legal profession. Michael is licensed to practice in all California State and Federal Courts. Recently, Michael was an integral part of The Lanier Law Firm trial team that achieved a groundbreaking verdict in which a jury awarded $4.69 billion to 22 women and their families who alleged that decades of daily use of Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE: JNJ) asbestos-laden talcum powder products caused their ovarian cancer.
When Michael isn’t grinding away at the office, he can be found walking his dog Ruby with his wife Sara and cheering for the Los Angeles Clippers, the city’s true NBA franchise.
Representative Cases
Michael proudly fights for clients who have been harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongful conduct. In this capacity, he has worked on various federal and state court mass tort litigations, including but not limited to the following: MDL No. 2187, In Re: C. R. Bard, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation; MDL No. 2325, In Re: American Medical Systems, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation; MDL No. 2326, In Re: Boston Scientific Corp. Pelvic Repair System ProductsLiability Litigation; MDL No. 2327, In Re: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation; MDL No. 2299 In Re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation; MDL No. 2244 In Re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., Pinnacle Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation; MDL No. 2197 In Re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., ASR Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation; and MDL No. 2738 In Re: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation.
Education
- J.D. – Loyola Law School
- Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy – University of California, San Diego
Awards
- Best Lawyers 2025 – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Best Lawyers 2024 – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Super Lawyers Rising Star in Southern California since 2016
- LawDragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer lawyers
Community and Professional Activities
Prior to his time at The Lanier Law Firm, Michael clerked at the Cancer Legal Resource Center and at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a public interest law firm that provides free legal services for elderly and disenfranchised residents in Los Angeles County.
