Michael W. Pearson

Michael W. Pearson is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and the managing partner of Curry, Pearson & Wooten, PLC, in Phoenix, Arizona. He is known for taking on complex, high-exposure cases and delivering results in matters where the stakes are highest—catastrophic injury, wrongful death, aviation disasters, and bet-the-company litigation. When the facts are complicated and the opposition is formidable, Mr. Pearson is the lawyer clients turn to. What sets Mr. Pearson apart is not just his courtroom skill—but his unmatched command of aviation and air traffic control systems. Before becoming a lawyer, he spent more than 27 years with the Federal Aviation Administration as a quality assurance specialist, certified professional air traffic controller, and pilot. He holds a professional pilot license and is formally trained in aircraft accident investigation through the FAA’s Transportation Safety Institute. This rare, insider-level expertise allows him to dissect complex technical failures, expose critical errors, and hold powerful entities accountable. Due to his expertise, he is often hired as an expert witness in litigated aviation matters. Mr. Pearson represents clients across the country, including international aviation companies such as Air France, Zest Airways, Keystone Aviation, and Global Jet, as well as families devastated by tragedy. His work includes representing the families of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and victims of the Scorpion Bay Marina electrocution incident. He currently serves as lead counsel in a high-profile class action in Washington, D.C., representing approximately 1,000 air traffic control applicants in a reverse-discrimination case against the Federal Aviation Administration. Licensed in Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia, and admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Mr. Pearson combines elite academic credentials with real-world experience. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Houston, earned his MBA from Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business, and received his J.D., with high honors, from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. A member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Mr. Pearson has secured numerous seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. He has been named among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell*, and maintains a “Superb” rating on Avvo**. He is also recognized among Arizona’s Finest Lawyers. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Pearson is a professor of aviation law at Arizona State University and the author of Foundations of Aviation Law. He is a frequent speaker and media commentator, called upon for his insight in high-profile and technically complex cases. Mr. Pearson approaches every case with one objective: to win. Whether in the courtroom or at the negotiating table, he is known for relentless preparation, strategic precision, and an unwavering commitment to maximizing results for his clients. *AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished, and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® facilitates a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ falls into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards. Mr. Person has achieved the highest ratings in both categories. **Avvo is a comprehensive online legal directory and marketplace that rates and reviews 97% of US lawyers using a proprietary 1–10 algorithm based on public records, experience, and peer endorsements.