Hamilton Wingo has made a move that caught the attention of the plaintiffs’ bar nationwide. The Dallas law firm announced that acclaimed trial lawyer Mike Kaeske has joined the firm as its newest partner.
For a firm already known for eye-popping verdicts and high-stakes wins, the addition signals intent. This is about scale. This is about firepower. And this is about pushing an already aggressive trial practice even further.
A Lawyer Known for Courtroom Results
Mike Kaeske arrives at Hamilton Wingo with decades of trial experience behind him. His record spans one landmark case after another. Juries know his name. Defense counsel knows it even better.
Kaeske has built a career taking cases others hesitate to touch. Serious injuries. Wrongful deaths. Business disputes with deep-pocketed opponents. The common thread has always been trial results that speak for themselves.
Verdicts That Reshaped the Conversation
One of Kaeske’s most visible cases came out of North Carolina. He led litigation tied to environmental exposures linked to industrial sites. The jury returned a verdict exceeding $437.5 million before the matter later resolved through settlement.
That case did more than generate headlines. It became the subject of a 2022 book describing Kaeske’s trial skills as unmatched. The foreword came from bestselling author John Grisham. Lawyers notice details like that.
In 2024, Kaeske secured a $280 million verdict in a large construction defect case. It ranked as a Top 10 Texas Verdict for the year. There are many others. The pattern is consistent.
Why Hamilton Wingo Wanted Mike Kaeske
Chris Hamilton, founder of Hamilton Wingo, did not mince words about the hire. He called Kaeske an exceptional trial lawyer and an even better person.
The two lawyers share history. Together, Hamilton and Kaeske have served as lead counsel on cases producing more than $10 billion in verdicts and settlements. That figure alone explains the confidence behind the announcement.
At Hamilton Wingo, Kaeske will continue his work in product liability litigation and construction defect cases. Those areas already sit near the center of the firm’s docket.
A Track Record That Draws National Attention
Kaeske’s cases have been covered by major media outlets for years. The Wall Street Journal. The New York Times. ABC News. CBS News. The Guardian. Law360. The Texas Lawbook. The list keeps going.
In 2020, Public Justice named him Trial Lawyer of the Year. That award tends to go to lawyers who take risks and back them up with results.
Hamilton Wingo’s Broader Practice
Hamilton Wingo operates as a plaintiffs’ trial firm with a wide reach. Its attorneys represent people from all walks of life in disputes against large corporations and insurance carriers.
The firm handles serious personal injury and wrongful death cases tied to auto crashes, trucking accidents, airline incidents, and other transportation claims. The practice also covers workplace injuries, construction accidents, industrial disasters, premises liability, dram shop claims, dangerous products, utility failures, water contamination, and environmental litigation.
Across those categories, the firm has collected billions in verdicts and settlements. Adding Kaeske deepens that bench.
With Mike Kaeske joining as partner, Hamilton Wingo sends a clear signal to the defense bar. The firm plans to keep trying cases. It plans to keep winning them. And it plans to do so with lawyers who know how to stand in front of a jury and hold the room.