About Michael J.
Michael J. Gunderson trained as a communicator before he trained as a lawyer. He earned a B.S. in Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2003, then went on to Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he received his J.D. in 2006. Those years framed a practical approach to advocacy that shows up in his work today.
After law school he established his practice in Chicago. He is admitted to the bar in Illinois and is authorized to appear before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He has been a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association since 2006, participating in a professional network that supports trial practice and continuing legal education across the state.
Gunderson has taken additional steps to expand how he handles disputes. He completed Cook County Mediation training through the Center for Conflict Resolution. That certification allows him to use mediation as a tool to resolve matters outside the courtroom when appropriate. It also informs how he prepares cases for trial, since many contested matters settle after structured negotiation.
Colleagues describe him as methodical in case preparation. He focuses on clear communication, from initial client interviews through motion practice and hearings. He works from a Chicago office and appears regularly in Illinois state courts and in matters that reach the Seventh Circuit. His routine blends courtroom work and alternative dispute resolution rather than leaning entirely toward one track.
Over the years his practice has remained anchored in procedural competence and courtroom readiness. He continues to take cases that require both negotiation and trial advocacy. He is active in the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and maintains his mediation certification through the Center for Conflict Resolution.
He currently practices from a Chicago office and focuses his work on representing clients in Illinois state courts and in proceedings before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, while using mediation when appropriate.
