J. Michael Huget

Michael Huget is a talented and accomplished trial lawyer who advocates on behalf of clients in some of their most complicated and high‑stakes matters. Known for his strategic thinking and skills inside and outside the courtroom, he has tried more than 25 cases as lead or co-lead counsel. These have included multiple jury trials that each lasted a month or longer.

Michael’s practice focuses on several areas including intellectual property litigation, class action defense, entertainment- and media-related claims, and First Amendment claims. He has represented clients in IP rights disputes for a large variety of products ranging from universal garage door openers to neural probes for deep brain stimulation. He has helped companies maintain market dominance by protecting their patent portfolios, including some valued at up to $1 billion in annual revenue.

Michael is sought out by clients for his reputation as a “highly respected IP litigator” (Chambers USA). He is known for his tact and dexterity in handling particularly sensitive cases, including politically charged matters and cases closely followed by the media and public. Most recently, he represented the University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital in a highly publicized end-of-life controversy.

Michael has won notable victories for a wide range of clients, including automotive OEMs and suppliers, media and entertainment companies and research universities. Select representative clients include General Motors, Little Caesars Enterprises, Olympia Entertainment, Neogen, Viacom, Neapco, and the University of Michigan.

In addition to his client work, Michael is chair of Honigman’s Litigation Department.

Practice Areas

Industries

Representative Matters

Michael litigates cases in jurisdictions across the U.S., having represented clients in federal courts in 17 different states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia).

Based in Michigan, Michael has appeared as counsel in over 300 cases in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the majority of those matters as lead counsel. He often represents clients in emergency matters, such as preliminary injunction motions and seizures of infringing goods.

IP Litigation
Daneshvar v. Kipke and Neuronexus Technologies, Inc.
At the Federal Circuit, represented the Defendants in appellate proceedings stemming from a dispute with a former doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan who claimed to be the sole inventor of a medical device used to facilitate deep-brain stimulation. Claims also included fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment. Summary judgment ruling made in favor of defendants was affirmed on appeal.

Defense of Detroit Bold Coffee Trademark Challenge
Defended Detroit Bold Coffee Co., a prominent regional coffee business, against trademark infringement claims brought by Detroit Coffee Co., an LLC established in Michigan with a New York City address that did not appear to sell coffee products in Michigan. Ultimately secured a favorable summary judgment.

American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. v. Neapco Holdings LLC
Successfully defended Neapco Holdings LLC and Neapco Drivelines LLC in Delaware District Court in a significant case involving patent infringement allegations brought by a competitor relating to technology used to dampen vibrations in automotive drive shafts. Secured a notable victory when AAM’s patent claims were invalidated based on patent ineligibility. The case garnered press coverage, as previous decisions had only applied Section 101 of the Patent Act to software and biotechnology patents.

Viacom “Bubble Guppies” Trademark Dispute
Successfully defended Viacom in a trademark dispute with a children’s clothing company who alleged that Nickelodeon cartoon’s merchandise infringed upon its trademarks. Summary judgment ruling was made in favor of Viacom and affirmed upon appeal in the Sixth Circuit.

Class Action Defense
Defense of Little Caesar’s in highly publicized lawsuits
Secured dismissal of lawsuit against Little Caesar’s Enterprises Inc. involving allegations by customers claiming that the chain had offered a “halal pepperoni” topping but instead served them pork pepperoni. In excess of $100 million in damages had been sought by the plaintiffs, who were seeking class-action status, for the alleged harm caused.

Lin v. Crain Communications
Defending Crain Communications in the Eastern District of Michigan against a class action complaint alleging violations of the Michigan’s Personal Preservation of Privacy Act.

Sullivan v. Wenner Media LLC
Represented Wenner Media, the publisher of Rolling Stone, in its defense against a putative class action involving allegations that the company unlawfully sold its readers’ data in violation of the Michigan Video Rental Privacy Act.

Kokozski v. Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
In the Eastern District of Michigan, defending Playboy Enterprises against a proposed class action lawsuit begun by a Michigan man seeking to represent thousands of subscribers in the state who allege the magazine violated privacy laws by selling their personal information in violation of Michigan’s Video Rental Privacy Act. 

Other Notable Litigation Matters
Intervarsity v. Wayne State University
Defended WSU against a student group’s claims that the university had violated the First Amendment rights of a student organization by refusing to recognize the student group on the basis that its charter violated Wayne State’s nondiscrimination policy.

Defense of University of Michigan in end-of-life determination lawsuit
Represented the University of Michigan’s Mott’s Children’s Hospital in a dispute with the family of a minor patient who had been declared brain dead. Plaintiffs sought to block official determination of death, under the Uniform Determination of Death Act, that would have resulted in the discontinuation of mechanical means of support.

Prior Experience

• Butzel Long, Vice President and Shareholder, 1984-2010

Education

Admissions

Court Admissions

Awards

• Listed in Chambers USA, 2017-2024
  • Recognized in Band 1, the top tier, in Intellectual Property in Michigan; Chambers USA adds:
    • “Mike is a top notch litigator and unbeatable counselor. I rely upon his judgment without question."
    • "Michael Huget is widely recognized as a leading IP attorney in Michigan and has represented an array of clients from the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors. He also assists clients in infringement claims. Clients praise his ‘very thorough and painstaking' work on their behalf.”
    • "Michael Huget is chair of the firm's litigation department and has considerable experience in assisting clients with patent litigation. He also regularly represents clients in trademark disputes."
    • "Mike Huget holds extensive experience in high-stakes patent and trademark cases throughout the USA. He represents a large variety of clients, from Fortune 100 companies to individual entrepreneurs. Peers describe him as 'a very strong patent litigator.'"
    • "Mike Huget is a highly respected IP litigator with a great deal of experience representing clients at both trial and appellate level ... Clients describe him as 'a brilliant strategist with as much command of the psychology of the opponent as he has of the legal issues.'"
• Managing Intellectual Property IP STARS, Recognized as a Copyright, Patent, and Trademark Star, 2024
• The Best Lawyers in America, 2003-2025
  • Recognized in the practice areas of:
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Copyright Law
    • Litigation - Intellectual Property
    • Media Law
    • Patent Law
    • Trademark Law
  • Ann Arbor Trademark "Lawyer of the Year," 2014, 2020, 2023
  • Ann Arbor Copyright "Lawyer of the Year," 2015, 2021
  • Ann Arbor Patent Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2019
  • Ann Arbor Litigation - Intellectual Property "Lawyer of the Year," 2012, 2016, and 2018
• Managing Intellectual Property IP STARS, 2013-2022
  • Named Litigation Practitioner of the Year for Michigan, 2014, 2021
  • Recognized as a Patent Star, Trademark Star and Copyright Star, 2021, 2022
• IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, Recognized as one of the World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, 2016, 2019-2024
• Michigan Super Lawyers, 2006-2024
• DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2011, 2013-2017, and 2023-2024
• Law Bulletin Media
  • Leading Lawyers, Intellectual Property Law, 2017, 2023-2024
  • Leading Lawyers, Copyright & Trademark Law, 2017, 2023-2024
  • Leading Lawyers, Patent Law, 2017, 2023-2024

Professional & Community Involvement

• American Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan
• Michigan Intellectual Property American Inn of Court
• International Trademark Association

News

Press Releases

Events

Alerts

Publications