Education
- Southern Methodist University, JD, 1976
- Southern Methodist University, BA, with honors, 1973
Admissions
- Texas, 1977
- U.S. District Courts for Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals – Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Mike Baker began practicing law in 1977. Over those years of practice, he handled or tried to conclusion all types of personal injury litigation: worker’s compensation, vehicular collision, industrial, retail or commercial premises liability, railroad crossing accidents, FELA, Jones Act, general maritime and offshore rig accidents, and 42 USCA 1983 actions defending local governmental units involving civil rights violations, and/or work place discrimination/harassment, general products liability involving a host of products, medical malpractice, and toxic tort involving asbestos, silica, benzene and other chemical exposures.
Professional Recognition
Important Litigation Involvement
- Trial counsel for a major oil company in the successful defense in a trial of multiple Plaintiffs’ claims involving household exposures and contractor premises exposures and multiple asbestos related diseases and malignancies
- Successfully defended a major oil company as lead trial counsel from premises liability claims involving a mixed dust pneumoconiosis/autoimmune disease
- Counsel for major oil and chemical companies in joint defense benzene and butadiene cases
- Defended and successfully prosecuted appeal for supplier Defendant in major federal class action asbestos case from Eastern District of Texas
- Successfully defended a major oil company against claims for injuries and medical monitoring costs as a result of underground storage tank leak
News & Knowledge
- August 21, 2023
45 FormanWatkins Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients
Read More - October 3, 2022
FormanWatkins Expands
Read More
Professional Recognition
- Best Lawyers®
- The Best Lawyers in America©– 2014 and 2016 Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont
- The Best Lawyers in America– 2012 and 2021 Personal Injury Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont
- The Best Lawyers in America– 2020 Product Liability Litigation – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont
- The Best Lawyers in America (2011-2022)
- Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action
- Personal Injury Litigation
- Product Liability Litigation
- Houston’s Top Lawyers, H Texas Magazine (2013)
- Martindale Hubbell, AV rated
- Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters® service) 2006-2021
- Texas Super Lawyers, Top 100 Houston Region (2008)
- Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1980
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Maritime Law Association of the United States
- Texas Bar Foundation; Life Fellow
- Jefferson County Bar Association – Past President
Pro Bono & Community Service
- Provides pro bono services through the East Texas Legal Services Pro Bono Program
- Some Other Place, Executive Board Member 1986-1995, President of Executive Board 1990-1993
- Beaumont Chapter of the American Red Cross, Board Member 1988-1992
- Former BSA Assistant Scout Master and Volunteer
- Habitat for Humanity volunteer