BOTHWELL LAW GROUP - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney With the

For the past 8 years, Eric has been leading trial teams in complex litigation in the criminal context, focusing much of his work on fraud, waste, and abuse cases in the United States Air Force. As he transitions from Active Duty, he brings to bear the skills and expertise he gained in case strategy and analysis, and in the courtroom. Eric Graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2013, where he focused on public interest law and litigation. During law school, Eric was awarded the J. Alton Hosch Academic Scholarship and was named a 2011 Equal Justice Fellow. Upon Graduation, he was awarded the Public Interest Fellowship, honoring and rewarding graduates with a passion and penchant for addressing causes that directly impact the public good. That fellowship funded a year of service as a Public Defender in Spokane, Washington, where Eric represented indigent clients accused of crimes under the Washington Criminal Code. In 2014, Eric was offered a commission as a Judge Advocate in the Air Force, initially serving in Ramstein, Germany simultaneously working as the Chief of Labor Law, a criminal prosecutor, and legal advisor to commanders. After two years, he was selected to serve as a Special Victims' Counsel, protecting the rights of victims of serious crimes through trial, and giving them a voice in the criminal justice process in Germany, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and New Mexico. He was then appointed as an Area Defense counsel, defending servicemembers accused of criminal violations in the Central US region, trying federal criminal cases in Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri and South Dakota. Over his 7 years on Active Duty, Eric prosecuted and defended cases involving the misuse of Air Force assets, housing fraud, and unlawful command influence, along with a wide range of other offenses, including drug distribution, maltreatment, and murder. He rose quickly through the ranks, earning promotion to the rank of Major in 6 years. He was consistently recognized for his impeccable service, garnering numerous awards and medals, including two Air Force Commendation Medals and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Mr. Bothwell is presently admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Georgia, the Eastern District of Michigan, as well as in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eleventh, Sixth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits. Mike Bothwell graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University Law School in 1991, earning membership in the Order of the Coif. He was an editor of the BYU Law Review, where he published two articles. Prior to beginning his practice, Mr. Bothwell clerked for the Honorable Richard C. Freeman, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia. Mr. Bothwell is presently admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Georgia, as well as in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eleventh, Sixth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits. From 1992 to 1996 Mr. Bothwell worked in a "big firm" commercial litigation practice that included securities, environmental, intellectual property, employment, contract, and fraud issues. In 1994, Mr. Bothwell began to focus his practice on False Claims Act qui tam relator whistleblower actions, and in 1996 he started a solo practice that has grown to be Bothwell Law Group. In the mid 1990s, Mr. Bothwell was asked to join with other pioneers in the field to start the first national False Claims Act qui tam plaintiff's bar. Mr. Bothwell focuses exclusively on representing False Claims Act qui tam relator whistleblowers and is recognized nationally for his contributions to and success in the field. Mr. Bothwell is frequently solicited as a speaker and trainer at state, local and national levels and for input into national and regional strategies, analysis and argument concerning all aspects of the False Claims Act and qui tam representation. Mr. Bothwell has helped shape the scope of False Claims Act law and is acknowledged by scholars and practitioners as a national leader in the field. Mike Bothwell has pioneered a strong pro bono practice of advising less experienced attorneys, mentoring attorneys new to the field of False Claims Act litigation, and providing amicus briefs on important issues. In his capacity as founder and managing partner, Mr. Bothwell has trained several attorneys now practicing in the area including the stellar attorneys on the Bothwell Law Group team. Mr. Bothwell and his firm have measured up to defense lawyers at some of the largest firms in the nation and has been referred clients from opposing counsel and has been asked to make presentations on the False Claims Act by and with many of the leading defense attorneys. Mr. Bothwell has litigated every aspect of qui tam litigation including matters between relators and the government. He has been instrumental in obtaining outstanding settlements in a variety of cases resulting in the maximum relator's share being voluntarily offered by the government. Mr. Bothwell has mediated relationships between various relators' counsel with differing views on first to file status and has been invited to join as co-counsel with the first to file in cases where his client was second or third to file. Mr. Bothwell has been lead counsel in cases against some of the largest federal contractors as well as some very small entities. Mr. Bothwell has been sought out by bankruptcy trustees on matters involving the False Claims Act and qui tam matters as well as being invited to represent the bankruptcy estate in litigation. In all his cases, Mr. Bothwell has failed to successfully mediate only one case-and that case was dismissed by the Court before the parties could reconvene the second round of mediation. Mr. Bothwell is presently admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Georgia, the Eastern District of Michigan, as well as in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eleventh, Sixth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits. Mike Bothwell can be reached individually at Mike@WhistleblowerLaw.com.