Haynes Boone is delighted to welcome Partner Michael Qian to the firm’s Supreme Court and Appellate Practice Groups. A seasoned appellate litigator, Qian clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Ketanji Brown Jackson before serving as counselor to the attorney general of the United States.
Qian’s arrival bolsters Haynes Boone’s growing U.S. Supreme Court practice, led by Appellate Partner Dan Geyser. Recently profiled by Law360 for his string of high-profile arguments and wins before the Court, Geyser has built one of the nation’s most active and respected Supreme Court dockets. Qian’s close work with two justices and his federal government experience adds significant depth to the firm’s capabilities at the highest level of appellate litigation.
“I was looking for a firm with a standout appellate practice and a real presence before the U.S. Supreme Court, and Haynes Boone immediately stood out to me,” Qian said. “I reached out to Dan Geyser because I had long admired his work at the Supreme Court. He has built one of the strongest Supreme Court practices in the country, and I am excited to add to that.”
The Texas native will be based in the firm’s Dallas and D.C. offices as he contributes to the firm’s expanding work in regulatory and government-facing litigation. As counselor to the attorney general, Qian advised senior officials on a host of complex legal and policy issues and was involved in some of the most significant civil litigation facing the federal government.
Qian has also served in the Justice Department as a senior counsel to the deputy attorney general and a Bristow fellow in the United States Office of the Solicitor General. Previously, Qian was part of another leading appellate and Supreme Court practice, where he represented clients in Federal Circuit patent appeals, class actions and other complex litigation.
“Michael is an extraordinary addition to our team, bringing exceptional experience from both the Justice Department and the Supreme Court,” Geyser said. “Michael’s insights will be invaluable to our clients navigating high-stakes appeals. He is a world-class talent, and his arrival marks the next exciting chapter in expanding our capabilities before the nation’s highest court.”
Qian joins Haynes Boone at a time of strong momentum for its Appellate Practice Group. In addition to Geyser’s Supreme Court success, Partners Debbie McComas and Angela Oliver recently secured multiple patent wins and were coined by Law360 as “the duo to beat at the Federal Circuit.” The firm’s national prowess has been matched in the state of Texas, with the group recently securing several notable appellate wins, including a $123.7 million victory for Marathon Oil and multi-million dollar reversals for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company and for American Midstream at the Texas Supreme Court. Qian’s arrival brings additional high-level experience in the Supreme Court and federal appeals that aligns perfectly with the firm’s growth trajectory.
Since the beginning of 2025, Haynes Boone has welcomed more than 20 lateral partners firmwide, strengthening its capabilities in litigation, private credit, capital markets, M&A, energy and intellectual property. Qian’s addition underscores the firm’s ongoing focus on building depth in core practices across the United States and internationally.
