Thomas W. Cranmer

Principal; Managing Director

cranmer@millercanfield.com

Troy
T: +1.248.267.3381
O: +1.248.879.2000
F: +1.248.879.2001

Thomas W. Cranmer concentrates his practice in both civil and criminal litigation. With more than 35 years of courtroom experience, his practice focuses largely on white-collar criminal defense, complex commercial litigation, and "bet-the-company" litigation. Over the years, he has repeatedly been recognized as one of Michigan’s leading trial lawyers. He has been listed in the Top 10 Attorneys in every edition of Michigan Super Lawyers and he has been the leading vote getter out of more than 40,000 Michigan attorneys for the past three years in a row.

“In the types of litigation matters we handle, the stakes are often very high. At Miller Canfield, we have an uncompromising commitment to achieving the best outcome possible in each and every case that we handle.”
Thomas W. Cranmer

Tom is a Deputy Chief of the Commercial Litigation Group as well as co-leader of the Criminal Defense Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, Tom served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Oakland County and an Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. 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, as well as an Adjunct Professor of Law for The Thomas M. Cooley Law School teaching Evidence.

Experience

Tom has represented corporations, partnerships, financial institutions and individuals in a wide variety of matters including: income tax evasion; Medicaid-Medicare, and health-care fraud; Food & Drug Administration investigations; criminal OSHA, MIOSHA and state/federal environmental matters; criminal antitrust investigations; Customs violations; bankruptcy fraud; mail and wire fraud; insurance fraud; bank fraud and embezzlement; defense contractor fraud; national security matters, securities fraud and matters with the SEC; public corruption; controlled substance and conspiracy matters; immigration matters, police corruption and misconduct and RICO violations.

He also has extensive experience in conducting internal corporate audits, independent Audit Committee reviews and counseling concerning corporate compliance programs. Tom has also been involved in handling complex civil litigation, intellectual property litigation, ERISA litigation, labor and employment litigation, class action litigation as well as representing both attorneys and judges in a variety of proceedings alleging malpractice or professional misconduct.

Professional Activities

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2000
International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2000
International Society of Barristers, Fellow, 2003
American Board of Trial Advocates, 2000
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow, 2007
The National Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2009
State Bar of Michigan, President, 2005-2006; President-Elect, 2004-2005; Public Policy Committee, Chairperson; 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-present; Law and the Media Committee, 2006-present; Judicial Crossroads Task Force, 2010-present;
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Board of Directors, 2010-present
Appellate Defender Commission for the State of Michigan, appointed member, 2011-present
Michigan State Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2006-present
Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan; Chapter President, 1995-1996
Oakland County Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, 1992-present; President, 2002-2003
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, Fellow, 2005
Michigan State Bar Foundation, Life Fellow, 1995
Oakland County Bar Foundation, Charter Fellow, 1992
American Arbitration Association, Hearing Panel Member, 1990-present
Prosecutor's Foundation for Kids, Board Member, 2010-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

Honors + Awards

Best Lawyers in America, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense (White-Collar and Non-White-Collar), Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law; Litigation-Environmental; Litigation-Securities; Detroit area "Bet-the-Company" Litigator of the year 2009
Michigan Super Lawyers, Top 10 Michigan Super Lawyers 2006-present; 3rd Top Point Getter in Michigan 2007; 2nd Top Point Getter in Michigan 2008; Top Point Getter in Michigan 2009, 2010, and 2011
Lawdragon Top 3000 2010
Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, 2010 Pro Bono Honoree
DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Non-White-Collar and White-Collar Criminal Defense 2011
Oakland County Republican Party, Practitioner of the Year, 2008
Crain's Detroit Business, selected as one of Detroit's Power Lawyers, 2008
Michigan Lawyers Weekly, one of the 2007 Lawyers of the Year
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation in the highest category (Band 1), 2004-present; White Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2008-present
Who's Who in American Law
Who's Who in America
Who's Who in the World
Who's Who in Detroit Business - Law, Crain's Detroit Business, November 2005
Benchmark Litigation, Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2008-present
Oakland County Bar Association's Distinguished Service Award, 1996
Federal Bar Association's Leonard R. Gilman Award, Presented to an Outstanding Practitioner of Criminal Law, 1995
Drug Enforcement Administration Award, 1981
United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award, 1980

Teaching Experience

Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law, (teaching Evidence), 2005-present

Publications

"How to Handle the Media in a High-Profile Case," Ann Arbor Area Business Monthly, May 2005

"Safeguarding Your Company: Key Factors Influencing Sentencing of Business Organizations," Midwest In-House, April 2005

"Civil Trials and Evidence," West Publishing, (2001) co-author with the Honorable Gerald E. Rosen, Honorable Kurtis T. Wilder and Rodger D. Young, Esq.

"Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial/Sixth Circuit," Lawyers Cooperative Publishing, (1996) contributing author

"Federal Criminal Practice Rules," James Publishing, Editorial Advisory Board (1996)

Speeches

"Game Changers," New Federal Rule Amendments and Cases, The Rutter Group, 2011

"Prosecution of White Collar Crime," Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, 2009

"Revisiting Irving Younger's Ten Commandments of Cross Examination," State Bar of Michigan, Young Lawyers Seminar, 2009

"Home Run Motions in Federal Court," The Rutter Group, 2009

"Criminal Law & Opening Statements," State Bar of Michigan, Young Lawyers Seminar, 2008

"Recent Changes in Federal Rules of Civil Procedures and Local Court Rules," The Rutter Group, 2008

"Major Changes in Federal Practice," The Rutter Group, 2005

"Federal Trial Practice," The Rutter Group, 2004-2007

"Survival Skills in U.S. District Court," The Rutter Group, 1995; 2003

"Conducting an Effective Cross-Examination," Lorman Education Services, 2003

"Federal Civil Trials," The Rutter Group, 2002

"A Day of Criminal Law in Genesee County: Issues in Sentencing and Criminal Practice and Procedure Update," Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2002

"Criminal Practice and Procedure Update," Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2002

"Federal Litigation a Cyberworld," The Rutter Group, 2001

"What Makes Juries Listen? - Connecting With the Jury," Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2001

"Federal Rules of Evidence Complex Issues - Practical Solutions," The Rutter Group, 1999

"How to Win Your First Jury Trial," Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 1999

"Representing Criminal Defendants," Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 1997

"Destination Federal Court," The Rutter Group, 1996

"Evidence: Sharpening Your Direct and Cross-Examination Skills," Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 1995

Seminars + Events

News

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