Michael T. Dawkins, shareholder in the Jackson office, concentrates his practice in the areas of white collar criminal defense, environmental law and in conducting internal investigations and defending investigations conducted by the government. He has extensive experience with civil Federal False Claims Act litigation, including trial experience. Mr. Dawkins' white collar practice involves his defense of individuals and companies investigated or charged with economic espionage, theft of trade secrets, tax evasion, crimes against the environment and various other white collar crimes. These and other cases he has defended often include charges of mail fraud and wire fraud. In the area of environmental law, his practice involves enforcement matters and environmental audits.
Prior to attending law school, Mr. Dawkins practiced public accounting for four years in the areas of auditing and tax, and he earned his license as a certified public accountant in 1984. He has maintained his CPA license and has represented CPAs in professional liability cases and disciplinary proceedings.
- Obtained Brownfield designation from Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality on behalf of regional biofuel company.
- Defended engineer in environmental crimes investigation involving wastewater violations of the Clean Water Act; no indictment resulted.
- Defended CPA sued for marketing of tax shelters.
- Represented recycler in environmental crimes investigation; no indictment resulted.
- Defended NASA contractor accused of submitting false claims for reimbursement of labor charges incurred under cost reimbursement contract, three-month trial in federal district court; verdict for less than 3% of amount sought by government.
- Represented hospital management company in law suit filed by hospital. Established negligence of independent CPA's performance of annual audits, failure to comply with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards.
- Represented government contractor engaged to expand commuter railway servicing major New England municipality, accused of making false claims in an environmental impact statement; claims dismissed on summary judgment.
- Represented defendant in federal perjury investigation; no indictment resulted.
- Defended taxpayers and CPAs investigated or prosecuted for tax evasion.
- Conducted timecard internal investigation for Eastern seaboard civil engineering company/government contractor.
- Represented property manager in False Claims Act litigation regarding HUD rental assistance payments; dismissed on summary judgment.
- Represented CPAs facing licensure inquiries by state boards of accountancy.
- Co-author – "When Criminal Defense Fees Come From Insurers ..." Law360 (September 12, 2011)
- Co-author – "The Pitfalls of Multiple Representations," Law360 (August 8, 2011)
- Author – "DOJ Outlines Environmental Enforcement Priorities," Baker Donelson alert (April 2010); Construction Update, Lorman Education Services (May 2010)
- Presenter – "Identifying Fraud and Using Accounting & Financial Records as Evidence," National Business Institute Seminar, Jackson, Mississippi (May 2010)
- Author – "The Necessity for Environmental Auditing of Hospitals," Bloomberg Law Reports: Environmental Law (February 2010)
- Presenter – "How to Minimize Obstacles that Could Block a Real Estate Transaction," Environmental Issues, National Business Institute Seminar, Jackson, Mississippi (October 2006, October 2007, October 2008)
- Author – "Department of Justice Issues New Corporate Charging Guidelines," Baker Donelson alert (September 8, 2008)
- Adjunct Professor – "Judicial Process – Survey of Federal & State Court Systems in the United States," Belhaven College (Spring 2007)
- Author – "Month in Review," American Bar Association – Criminal Litigation (May 2006, May 2007, May 2008, May 2009, May 2010)
- Co-author – Report of Mississippi Bar Task Force on the Attorney-Client Privilege [regarding the impacts of the Thompson Memorandum and the McNulty Memorandum on the privilege and on attorney work product] (May 2007)
- Author/Speaker – "Environmental Liability Protections for Property Owners, Developers and Their Advisors," National Business Institute (September 2006)
- Speaker – "Peace with Honor: Preserving the Environment While Avoiding Litigation," The Sustainable Development Summit, Stillman College (April 2005)
- Author – "Significant Criminal Enforcement Cases in EPA Region 4," American Bar Association – Environmental Crimes & Enforcement Committee Newsletter (October 2004)
- Co-author – "The Opening Salvo: The Onset of an Environmental Criminal Investigation," American Bar Association – Criminal Justice Section (January 2004)
- Author – "Government Must Prove Materiality in False Claims," Washington Legal Foundation (March 2001)
- Co-author – "Framework for an Environmental Crimes Act in Mississippi," 61 Mississippi Law Journal 255 (1991)
- Co-author – "The Emergence of Regional Landfills in Mississippi," 60 Mississippi Law Journal 147 (1990)
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Environmental Law since 2008
- Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers since 2010
- Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers 2007 – 2008, 2010 – 2011
- Mississippi Bar Association (Member – Task Force on the Attorney-Client Privilege, 2006 – 2007; Chair –Environmental Seminar Committee of Section on Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law (SONREEL), 1997 – 1998; Chair - SONREEL Environmental Crimes Subcommittee, 1996 – 1997)
- Certified Public Accountant since 1984*
- North Jackson Rotary Club – Secretary (2011 – 2012); Treasurer (2010 – 2011); Director of Club Administration (2007 – 2008); Programs Committee (2006 – 2007); Sergeant at Arms (2005 – 2006)
- Jackson Public Schools – Partners in Education (Adopt-a-School program; mentoring, Book Buddy program); Advisory Board Member (2000 – 2008); President of Advisory Board (2006 – 2007)
- Mentor – Baker Elementary School (1990 – 2000)
- Mississippi, 1988
- Alabama, 1990
- Tennessee, 2008
- University of Alabama, J.D., 1988
- University of Mississippi, Bachelor of Accountancy, 1981
- Meridian Junior College, A.A., 1979
*Baker Donelson is not a CPA firm