Paul D. Hudson

Paul chairs the firm's Appeals group and focuses his practice on appellate matters in the state and federal appeals courts.

He has argued more than 50 appeals in appellate courts across the country, including the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He serves as a lead appellate counsel for a large automotive OEM in appeals throughout the Midwest, and lead appellate counsel for a large insurer in the Michigan appeals courts. He also represents individual clients in cases ranging from property and contract disputes to federal criminal and habeas appeals. He is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court and has represented clients at the writ of certiorari stage. Paul also maintains an active amicus curiae practice and serves as amicus counsel for the Michigan Manufacturers Association, a leading trade organization and a prominent voice in the Michigan appellate courts.

Paul uses this deep and varied appellate experience to defend our clients' hard-fought victories on appeal and to overturn unfavorable decisions from the lower courts.

Paul is known for his clear, concise, and persuasive writing style. A national legal writing expert recently conducted a blind study of merits briefs filed in the Michigan Supreme Court and concluded that "one name is coming out on top: Paul Hudson."

In 2016, Paul won the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel's Golden Gavel Award, which is given annually to a lawyer who "exemplifies significant contribution to professionalism and courtesy in the practice of law and [promotes] the image and honorable reputation of the profession."

Paul is active in state and federal bar associations and was appointed by the Chief Judge of the Sixth Circuit to serve as the chair of the Advisory Committee on Rules, one of just three Michigan lawyers on the Committee. He has also served on the State Bar of Michigan's Appellate Practice Council and the American Bar Association's Appellate Practice Committee. Paul was the Editor-in-Chief and Publications Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Litigation Journal, and co-authored the Michigan chapter of a leading treatise on commercial disputes, "Business Torts: A Fifty State Guide."

In addition to his busy practice, Paul serves the community as a member of the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of Southwest Michigan and as a member of Miller Canfield's Pro Bono Committee.

Paul graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was a member of the law review. He received a B.A. in Government and Philosophy from Cornell University, where he played as a catcher on the baseball team.

Before joining Miller Canfield, Paul served as a law clerk for the Honorable Raymond M. Kethledge on the Sixth Circuit.