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Michael Villafranca

Michael Villafranca

Counsel

1600 Utica Avenue South
Suite 600
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
mike.villafranca@nelsonmullins.com

Mike focuses his practice on litigation and defense work. He has tried several cases to jury verdict, including cases involving orthopedic injury and traumatic brain injury to children. Mike has experience handling all aspects of a case from initial pleadings through discovery, dispositive motions, and ultimately jury trial and appeal. Since joining Nelson Mullins, he...

Mike focuses his practice on litigation and defense work. He has tried several cases to jury verdict, including cases involving orthopedic injury and traumatic brain injury to children. Mike has experience handling all aspects of a case from initial pleadings through discovery, dispositive motions, and ultimately jury trial and appeal. Since joining Nelson Mullins, he has focused his practice on products-liability defense and commercial litigation.  

Michael Villafranca

has focused his practice on products-liability defense and commercial litigation.  

Mike focuses his practice on litigation and defense work. He has tried several cases to jury verdict, including cases involving orthopedic injury and traumatic brain injury to children. Mike has experience handling all aspects of a case from initial pleadings through discovery, dispositive motions, and ultimately jury trial and appeal. Since joining Nelson Mullins, he... has focused his practice on products-liability defense and commercial litigation.  

Experience

The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Representative Matters

  • Served as lead counsel for defendant in jury trial in case alleging substantial bodily harm; obtained a mistrial in favor of defendant with substantial bodily harm claim dismissed following mistrial. 
  • Served as second chair in case involving claim of intentionally inflicted brain injury resulting in death of an infant; obtained favorable settlement for defendant.
  • Served as lead counsel in cases of daycare worker appealing from two determinations of maltreatment at the daycare; obtained reversal of first maltreatment determination and dismissal of second.
  • Served as lead counsel in case involving civil asset forfeiture, resulting in the return of a substantial sum of cash.

Previous Professional Experience

  • Minnesota-based litigation firm, Attorney (2020-2025); Law Clerk (2019-2020)

Education

  • University of Minnesota Law School, JD
  • Boston College, BA, Philosophy

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • Troops of St. George, Troop Leader for St. Louis Park, MN Troop