Michael Patrick Doyle Wrongful Termination Trial Attorney

Mike Doyle is the founding partner of Doyle Dennis Avery LLP, which he established in 2015 as Doyle Law Firm with Patrick M. Dennis. Mike has practiced law in Houston since being admitted to the Texas Bar in 1990 — a trial career spanning more than three decades and a substantial record of multi-million-dollar verdicts, judgments, and settlements.

Mike is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a Fellow in the National College of Advocacy of the American Association for Justice, and a Past President of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association (2007-2008). He has served on the HTLA Board of Directors since 1999 and as Chair of the Judicial Affairs Committee.

Mike’s primary trial focus is the firm’s broader trial docket — maritime personal injury, Jones Act offshore matters, international and trans-national personal injury, and insurance bad faith — which is profiled in detail at the firm’s offshore injury practice site. The firm’s retaliation, whistleblower, and Texas employment matters profiled on this site are led by Jeff Avery, Partner. Mike’s role at the firm includes founding leadership, trial mentorship, and senior trial counsel across all of the firm’s matters.

Thirty-five years of trial practice.

2024 — Present

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP

Founding Partner

Firm renamed in 2024 to reflect the firm’s senior bench. Mike continues as the firm’s founder and senior trial lawyer.

2022 — 2024

Doyle Dennis

Founding Partner

Firm renamed as Jeff Avery becomes partner.

2015 — 2022

Doyle Law Firm

Founding Partner

Firm founded in 2015 with Patrick M. Dennis. Jeffrey I. Avery joins as attorney at founding.

2008 — 2015

Doyle Raizner LLP

Partner

Built substantial maritime, Jones Act, and insurance bad faith trial practice; secured multiple multi-million dollar jury verdicts.

Before 2008

Cook, Doyle & Bradshaw · Vinson & Elkins (Houston)

Litigation Practice

Trial practice in maritime, personal injury, and insurance matters. Admitted to the Texas Bar in 1990.

Published Texas Supreme Court authority.

Mike has secured published Texas Supreme Court authority on two doctrinal questions central to the firm’s worker-side practice — workers’ compensation insurer-employer privilege under Tex. Lab. Code § 451 discovery, and medical peer review committee privilege under Tex. Occ. Code § 160.007.

Tex. Sup. Ct. · § 451 Discovery

In re XL Specialty Insurance Co., 373 S.W.3d 46 (Tex. 2012)
Supreme Court of Texas · No. 10-0960 · Original proceeding
Opinion by Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson · 8-1
Held: no attorney-client privilege protects communications between workers’ comp insurer’s lawyer and the insured employer
Counsel for the Worker: Mike Doyle & Patrick Dennis
Used by the firm to obtain key discovery in the firm’s Ball § 451 verdict

Tex. Sup. Ct. · Peer Review Privilege

In re Memorial Hermann Hospital System, No. 14-0171 (Tex. May 22, 2015) (orig. proceeding)
Supreme Court of Texas · Opinion by Justice Don R. Willett
Established the framework for the “anticompetitive action” exception to medical peer review committee privilege under Tex. Occ. Code § 160.007
Held: piercing peer review privilege turns on the plaintiff’s pleadings, not evidence
Mike Doyle — Lead Trial Counsel
Controlling Texas authority on peer review discovery in physician retaliation matters

Honors and credentials.

Board Certification & Trial Credentials

Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Diplomate, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Fellow, National College of Advocacy — American Association for Justice (AAJ)
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent — 2017 · Highest possible rating in legal ability and ethical standards

Peer Recognition

Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) — 2005-2021
Best Lawyers in America — 2009
Best Lawyer · Personal Injury Litigation — Woodward White, 2009-2011, 2013
Best Lawyer · Transportation Law — Woodward White, 2010, 2011, 2013
Best Lawyer · Admiralty & Maritime Law — Woodward White, 2009, 2013

Bar Leadership

Houston Trial Lawyers Association — Past President 2007-2008
Current Vice President · Board of Directors since 1999
Chair, Judicial Affairs Committee
Texas Trial Lawyers Association — Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Fellowship Member
American Association for Justice — Member
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (UK) — Member
Mexican American Bar Association of Houston — Member

Bar Admissions & Education

State Bar of Texas — 1990
State Bar of Missouri — 2012
The University of Texas School of Law — J.D.
University of Virginia — B.A., History
University of London / St. Mary’s College of Law — Coursework in marine insurance, international law, maritime law

Houston roots. Worker-side commitment.

Mike’s community involvement reflects his commitment to the worker-side of the bar. He served as a member of the Houston Advisory Board of the AFL-CIO Community Fund — the labor community’s charity arm — alongside his civic leadership in Houston’s broader trial bar and educational community.

Mike served on the Board of Directors of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School (2002-2004), as President of the Strake Jesuit Alumni Association (2002-2004), and as the 1998 Alumni Fund Drive Chairman. He has served on the Campaign Steering Committee of the Dialogue Institute Southwest, and has been active in Houston civic and educational organizations across his career.

Across more than thirty-five years of practice, Mike has been a regular faculty member and lecturer at trial advocacy programs across the country — including the American Association for Justice’s National College on Depositions (Cleveland, Atlanta), the National College on Essentials of Civil Litigation (Tuscaloosa, Knoxville), and AAJ regional and annual conventions in Miami, Chicago, San Juan, and other locations.