Michael Darling is an offshore accident attorney who goes all in for his clients—no matter how dangerous the worksite, how powerful the company, or how hard they fight back. Born and raised in South and Central Texas, Michael grew up in a family where courtroom battles were part of daily life. His father was a trial lawyer, and dinner often turned into spirited debates that sparked Michael’s passion for advocacy from an early age.
Michael earned his B.A. in English Writing & Rhetoric from St. Edward’s University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude. Even then, he stood out—both academically and as the top drummer in the university’s premier jazz band.
From the beginning of his legal career, Michael has been driven by a deep belief in the jury system. He understands that for offshore workers—seamen, deckhands, roustabouts, drillers, platform workers, and anyone earning a living on the water—the courtroom is often the only place where they can hold massive companies accountable. That belief propelled him to graduate with honors from the University of Texas School of Law, where he competed on elite mock-trial teams and was inducted into the esteemed Order of Barristers for excellence in trial advocacy.
During law school, Michael gained invaluable insight into federal litigation while interning for the Honorable Marina Garcia Marmolejo of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He also served on two law journals and published multiple scholarly works. His research involved analyzing corporate misconduct, environmental harms, and complex regulatory frameworks—experience that now helps him dissect the safety failures of offshore operators, drilling companies, and vessel owners.
Michael began his career representing Fortune 500 corporations in high-stakes commercial litigation. That early experience gave him an insider’s perspective on how major companies attempt to control, delay, and minimize claims—especially in maritime injury cases. He learned exactly how these corporations think and the tactics they use to avoid responsibility.
He later moved into plaintiff-side trial work, where he found his true calling: standing up for injured offshore workers and families who have lost loved ones at sea. Michael has handled catastrophic cases involving vessel collisions, barge and tug accidents, oil rig explosions, platform incidents, crane failures, unsafe working conditions, and Jones Act negligence.
While trying and resolving cases for injured workers, Michael achieved exceptional results—including multiple trial victories of over $1 million each and more than $47 million recovered in just 2.5 years. He has played key roles in mass-tort litigation that collectively settled for over $1 billion. He also developed a multi-defendant strategy in a wrongful-death offshore case that settled for $42.5 million.
Michael believes that accountability changes industries. Offshore companies only improve safety when they are forced to. That’s why he continues to take on major corporations and fight for the men and women who keep America’s energy and shipping industries moving.
When he’s not studying case files or researching corporate safety failures, Michael is likely listening to vinyl records, practicing yoga, hiking, or watching nature documentaries.
