Michelle Simpson Tuegel started her legal career in Central Texas, practicing primarily in the area of criminal defense. During her years in criminal practice, Michelle developed her skills in the courtroom and tried high-profile capital murder cases, sexual assault, kidnapping, arson, and federal felony drug cases. At a time when most young lawyers are still researching and writing legal memos and carrying a partner's briefcase to the courthouse, Michelle was trying death penalty cases with high media publicity. Her extensive courtroom experience honed her skills at trial. This background also helped Michelle develop a unique and empathetic approach to communicating with clients in traumatic and highly stressful situations. Through her significant experience in high profile cases, Michelle also learned to be a voice for her clients not just in the courtroom, but also through different news and media outlets. She is a frequent legal voice in the media, from CNN to USA Today.
A former world-ranked athlete in slalom water skiing, Michelle is now nationally recognized for Title IX representation of students. Michelle uses her naturally competitive drive to champion clients' cases and to relate to athletes, students, and injured people from all walks of life. After years of advocating for accused individuals in the criminal justice system, Michelle decided to refocus her practice on representing victims and individuals who have been injured or wronged by companies and institutions in the civil court system. Specifically, she began representing victims of crime in civil lawsuits around the United States. Michelle is one of the first attorneys to file a lawsuit connected to the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas.
Michelle also recently represented former U.S. national team and Olympic gymnasts and college athletes who were sexually abused by the Olympic team's former doctor, filing suits against the United States Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics and Michigan State. Her clients are part of a multi-million dollar global settlement with Michigan State.
Michelle Simpson Tuegel grew up in Bridgeport, Texas, which is a small town northwest of Fort Worth. Some of her earliest memories are of her father, also a trial lawyer, speaking to juries in Wise County, Texas. Michelle's two younger sisters are also both trial lawyers in Dallas. Mackenzie Simpson Wallace practices in the civil litigation section in the Dallas office of Thompson & Knight. Maryssa Simpson is a partner with The Potts Law Firm in Dallas. Michelle often works with her sisters through joint ventures on different matters, or as a jury consultant for purposes of trial. Michelle has been honored to expand her practice to jury consulting services on behalf of other firms, lending her trial and people skills on a variety of matters. Michelle's husband, Andrew Tuegel, is also a trial lawyer practicing with the Law Offices of Frank L. Branson in Dallas.
Michelle was named to The National Trial Lawyers' Top Trial Lawyers list, and to the Texas SuperLawyers Rising Star list for 2015-2018. Michelle was also included in the Texas SuperLawyers Rising Star list "Up and Coming Top 100 Lawyers" and "Up and Coming Top 50 Women Lawyers." Michelle has been asked to speak on Title IX, criminal defense, and civil trial issues around the country.
Michelle feels at home standing in front of a jury and being a trial lawyer runs in her blood. Michelle is a combination of aggression and compassion and invests herself completely in the people she represents.
Areas of Practice
Criminal Law- Title IX
Personal Injury
Bar Admissions
Texas, 2010
New York, 2019
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 2011
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 2014
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 2017
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2017
U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 2018
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 2018
Education
Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas
J.D. - 2010
Major: Criminal Practice
Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida
B.A. magna cum laude - 2006
Major: English
Published Works
In The United States, Many Are Sitting In Jail Just Because They Are Poor, "Pretrial Detention", Guest Writer, 2015
“Pretrial Detention”, Fair Trials International, 2015
“Pretrial Investigations in Child Physical Abuse and Child Death Cases” , Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2017
Honors and Awards
World in Women's Slalom-Ranked 3rd
United States in Women's Slalom-Ranked 1st
Water Ski World Cup Women's Slalom-Champion
Water Ski World Championships-Bronze Medal
Ireland World Cup Stop-4th
Ireland World Cup Stop-2nd
Russia World Cup Stop-4th, 2005 - 2006
Chile, World Championships 21-Silver Medal
United States Olympic Committee Training Stipend Recipient
“Texas Rising Star Attorney” by Texas Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters Service, 2015 - 2016
“Top 100 Trial Lawyers” The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2014 - 2016
Professional Associations and Memberships
Capital Defense (death penalty appointment list) “second chair” qualified – 3rd Judicial Region of Texas, 2013 - 2016
Waco McLennan County Bar Association, Member, 2010 - 2016
United States District Court, Western District of Texas, Waco Division , CJA Panel Member
Judge Abner V. McCall American Inn of Court, Associate/Member, 2014 - 2016
American Bar Association, Member
College of the State Bar of Texas, Member
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member
McLennan County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association , Member
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Life Member
Former Associate Municipal Court Judge – City of Woodway, Texas
State Bar of Texas, Member
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Board of Directors
NACDL, Amicus Curiae Committee, Fifth Circuit Vice Chair
NACDL Title IX Committee, Member
NACDL Budget Committee, Member
NACDL Death Penalty Committee, Member
NACDL Women in Criminal Defense Committee, Member
NACDL Membership Committee, Vice-Chair
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA), Member
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Board of Directors
TCDLA New Lawyers’ Committee, Co-Chair
TCDLA Law School Committee, Member
TCDLA Nomination Committee, Member
Waco McLennan County Bar Association
McLennan County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Municipal Court Judge – City of Woodway, Texas, Former Associate
Past Employment Positions
Law Office of Russell D. Hunt Sr., Associate, 2012
Law Office of Rod Goble, Associate, 2010 - 2012
McLennan County District Attorney's Office, Waco, TX, Legal Intern — Fall, 2009
Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo, Dallas, TX, Summer Associate - Summer, 2009
Kelly, Hart & Hallman, Fort Worth, TX, Summer Associate - Summer, 2009
Amnesty International, United Kingdom, Intern, Parliamentary Branch - Fall, 2004
Professional Slalom Water Skier, 2002 - 2009
Mastercraft Boats, Sponsored Athlete, 2002 - 2008
Shaklee Products, Sponsored Athlete, 2006 - 2008
Hunt & Tuegel PLLC, Partner, 2013 - 2018
Pro Bono Activities
Advisory Board Member, Mission Waco Legal Aid Services, 2015 - Present
Board Member, Central Texas African American Chamber of Commerce, 2015 - Present
Mission Waco Homeless Shelter & Mission Waco Legal Aid Volunteer, 2015 - 2016
Amnesty International, United Kingdom-Fall
Mission Waco Legal Aid Volunteer, 2015 - 2016
Mission Waco Legal Clinic Advisory Board Member
Member of Executive Committee Alumni Association, Baylor Law School, 2016 - 2017
Volunteer/Speaker, Waco NAACP
Greater Waco Legal Services (Legal Aid Clinic), Board Member, 2016 - 2017
Appointed to Merit Selection Panel for appointment of the United States Magistrate position for Western District of Texas, Waco Division
Western District of Texas Criminal Justice Act Plan, Review Committee, CJA Panel Representative, Waco Division
Central Texas NAACP, Working to develop curriculum with NAACP President Dr. Henry, “Know Your Rights Academy” designed to engage and educate young men about their legal rights and interacting with law enforcement.
Mission Waco Homeless Shelter – Volunteer/Speaker (devotional) in Soup Kitchen, 2015 - Present
Fraternities/Sororities
Kappa Kappa Gamma
