Michelle T.Della Guardia

Partner

邁阿密 + 1.305.714.9732

Michelle Della Guardia is a seasoned trial lawyer. She represents some of the world's largest consumer goods, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies in high-stakes complex civil litigation across the United States. Michelle has been a leading member of more than a dozen trial teams in cases tried to verdict and achieved several defense verdicts as second-chair trial counsel.

Michelle co-led the defense and delivered closing argument in a wrongful death case in which the plaintiff sought more than $60 million in damages. After 3½ weeks of trial, the jury found for the defense on all claims, including design defect, negligence, conspiracy, and punitive damages.

Michelle has tried cases that are "first of their kind" in a jurisdiction and routinely litigates novel legal issues. She has experience with alternative trial structures, including consolidated and bifurcated proceedings, and with class actions and multidistrict litigation.

Michelle is involved in every stage of litigation. Through meticulous investigation and targeted depositions and discovery, Michelle focuses on preparing each case for trial. Her attention to detail and to the facts of each case has led to the discovery of dispositive evidence and to favorable resolutions for clients.

Leveraging her background in chemistry, Michelle masters, simplifies, and translates medical and technical issues for juries. She uses this skillset when working with physicians, engineers, and scientists to develop case themes and prepare them to testify effectively, and when challenging opposing experts.

Michelle serves on the Firmwide Lawyer Training Committee and as faculty in National Institute of Trial Advocacy programs.

執業經驗

  • R.J. Reynolds successfully enforces patents in ITC trial against Philip Morris in dispute over cigarette alternativeJones Day's client Reynolds achieved a precedent-setting victory before the International Trade Commission (ITC) against its main competitors Philip Morris Products S.A. ("Philip Morris") and Altria Client Services LLC ("Altria") in a patent infringement dispute involving tobacco heating and vaping products.
  • R.J. Reynolds wins complete defense verdict in Kinnally wrongful death lawsuitFollowing three and a half weeks of trial, a jury in state court in Boston, Massachusetts returned a complete defense verdict in favor of Jones Day client, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, in a wrongful death case.
  • R.J. Reynolds wins complete defense verdict in Massachusetts wrongful death lawsuitOn November 17, 2021, following three and a half weeks of trial, a jury in state court in Lowell, Massachusetts returned a complete defense verdict in favor of Jones Day client, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, in a wrongful death case.
  • R.J. Reynolds wins second complete defense verdict in Massachusetts wrongful death lawsuitOn December 20, 2019, following three weeks of trial, a jury in state court in Boston, Massachusetts returned a complete defense verdict in favor of Jones Day client, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, in a wrongful death case.
  • Businesswoman arbitrates breach of shareholder's agreement claims at ICCJones Day represented a businesswoman and philanthropist seeking injunctive and monetary relief through arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) related to the breach of the shareholder's agreement for a company with operations in 17 countries in Latin America.
  • Investment Corporation of Palm Beach appeals denial of license to conduct slots machine gamingJones Day is representing the Investment Corporation of Palm Beach in its appeal of a decision by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to deny the company a license to conduct slots machine gaming.
  • Speedpay defends putative class action lawsuit over processing feesJones Day represented Speedpay, Inc. in a putative class action lawsuit in which plaintiffs alleged that Speedpay violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by adding surcharges to utility payments the company collected through its telephone payment system on behalf of an electrical utility company.
  • 著作

    • March 2019
      Jones Day names Michelle Della Guardia and Eric Love as Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Pathfinders