About Michael
Michael Cunningham began his professional journey after completing a liberal arts undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and earning his J.D. from Detroit College of Law in 1981. He entered the legal profession at a time of change in the early 1980s, carrying a law degree into a practice that would span federal and state courtrooms. His education provided the foundation for a career grounded in courtroom procedure and alternative dispute resolution.
Soon after law school he joined Sommers Schwartz P.C., and records show he became a shareholder in 1981. That early elevation to partnership signaled a rapid integration into the firm's work. Over the decades he has remained tied to that firm, practicing alongside lawyers handling complex civil matters. His practice encompasses appearances in state trial courts and in federal court where he is admitted in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.
Cunningham holds memberships in professional organizations that reflect an active engagement with the trial bar. He is a member of the Michigan Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice. Those affiliations keep him connected to continuing legal education and developments in trial advocacy. He also serves in roles appointed by local courts, acting as a mediator for both Oakland County Circuit Court and Wayne County Circuit Court. Those mediator appointments point to a role that balances trial work and settlement facilitation.
Outside the courtroom he has maintained community-oriented ties. He is listed as a current member of the Boy Scouts of America and the Cub Scouts of America. Participation in those organizations has framed part of his public profile beyond legal practice, reflecting longer-standing civic involvement.
Colleagues and court officials who interact with him see an attorney who moves between courtroom settings and mediations. He has practiced at a single firm for many years, which has given him institutional continuity and steady courtroom exposure. His work in federal and state jurisdictions has required attention to procedural detail and case management across different forums.
He continues to practice at Sommers Schwartz P.C., combining trial practice with work as a court-appointed mediator.
