Former federal prosecutor and Army JAG lawyer. Now criminal defense attorney.
Tessa K. Muir brings over a decade of experience as a former federal prosecutor and Army JAG attorney. As a federal prosecutor in the Western District of Michigan, she served as the lead attorney in over 150 criminal cases and Sixth Circuit appeals. She worked closely with and trained dozens of law enforcement agencies, including the Michigan State Police, FBI, DEA, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), police departments, and sheriffs’ offices. She earned commendations for her work as a trial attorney from the FBI, HSI, and the State Bar of Michigan. Since 2015, she has been selected by fellow attorneys and federal judges in the Western District of Michigan as an instructor at the Hillman Trial Advocacy Program — the district’s premier trial practice program.
As an Army JAG attorney, Ms. Muir worked inside the military’s highest security prison, prosecuted military courts-martial, and advised servicemembers and commanders on Army disciplinary procedures and separation boards.
Ms. Muir has also served as an in-house corporate attorney at a large international tech company, where she led discreet internal fraud investigations and defended the company against lawsuits worldwide.
Ms. Muir’s combined expertise in federal and state courts, the Army justice system, federal prisons, and corporate America is unrivaled.
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
From the first stages of an investigation through the final stages of appeal, Ms. Muir knows from the inside out how the system works. As a criminal defense attorney, Ms. Muir uses her expertise as a former federal prosecutor to help her clients understand the investigative process, find weaknesses in the case, and build a strong defense.
Ms. Muir specializes in:
• Federal criminal cases nationwide;
• Federal sentencing guidelines;
• White collar crime (including tax evasion, bank fraud, and healthcare fraud);
• Internal corporate fraud investigations;
• Criminal sexual conduct (CSC) investigations;
• Title IX college sex assault cases;
• Juvenile offenses;
• Violent crime and firearms offenses; and
• Drug trafficking and drug possession cases.
Ms. Muir is a persuasive courtroom advocate. She has succeeded at both the state and federal level in achieving the complete dismissal of cases after filing Fourth Amendment motions to challenge traffic stops, search warrants, and inventory searches. She has convinced prosecutors at both the state and federal level to agree with her position on motions ranging from reversing improper sentencing conditions to excluding evidence of other acts by the defendant at trial. She has persuaded prosecutors’ offices throughout Michigan not to charge clients under investigation for serious sex offenses. She used the government’s own expert witness to defeat a federal supervised release violation alleging illegal drug use. She succeeded in a motion to reverse a federal magistrate judge’s decision to deny bond to a client pending trial in a serious RICO conspiracy case. She achieved early release from a halfway house for a client suffering a mental breakdown. These are just some examples of the results she has been able to obtain for her clients.
Ms. Muir’s clients routinely comment that she is responsive, empathetic, professional, and effective. Read Ms. Muir’s client reviews below.
INVESTIGATIONS, ACCUSATIONS, AND WITNESSES
Ms. Muir regularly advises people who are being investigated, accused, or called as a witness in criminal cases. As a federal prosecutor and Army JAG attorney, she worked with hundreds of victims, witnesses, and defendants during criminal investigations. She knows the ins and outs of what to expect, how to prepare, and how to protect people facing these situations.
TITLE IX COLLEGE SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES AND SERIOUS SCHOOL DISCIPLINE
Title IX and other serious school disciplinary investigations follow an administrative process handled internally by the school, and the traditional courtroom rules do not apply. Sometimes people accused in these types of cases try to defend themselves, believing that their goodwill with the school, their community contributions, or other factors will make the case go away. On the contrary, internal school investigations can have life-altering results including expulsion, termination of employment, or criminal charges. Ms. Muir comes alongside her clients to help them better understand the process, mount a thorough defense, find weaknesses in the allegations, present expert witnesses, negotiate with the school, and convince the decision makers to resolve the case favorably.
Ms. Muir has succeeded in convincing a university’s Title IX office to disqualify its full-time investigator for bias, which resulted in the replacement of the investigator and a finding of “not responsible” for the student accused of sexual assault. Ms. Muir also successfully negotiated on behalf of a school employee accused of improper contact with students, ultimately resulting in a finding of no impropriety and ensuring the investigation stayed out of the press.
INTERNAL CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS
Ms. Muir understands confidentiality, risk management, and mitigating public fallout for companies that suspect internal fraud or are under investigation. As former in-house corporate counsel to a large international tech company, Ms. Muir is a trusted corporate advisor, especially when confidentiality and privacy are of the utmost concern.
CIVIL LITIGATION
Clients turn to Ms. Muir’s trial skills for representation in civil matters on a range of topics, both on the plaintiff’s side and the defendant’s side. Ms. Muir leverages her skills in research, writing, negotiation, and litigation to help her clients avoid the upheaval of trial. If the case goes to trial, Ms. Muir’s litigation expertise serves her clients no matter the subject area of the case. On civil matters, Ms. Muir often partners with other civil attorneys in her network to ensure a comprehensive and specialized team approach in any particular case.
Practice areas
Drug trafficking and other drug offenses, Search and Seizure Motions to Suppress, Juvenile charges
11 years, 30 cases
Former Army JAG Officer. Former federal prosecutor.
11 years, 110 cases
Firearm and gun charges, Bank robbery, Assault & battery, Homicide, Manslaughter, Domestic violence
11 years, 40 cases
Internal corporate investigations, Embezzlement, Tax fraud, Healthcare fraud, Wire fraud, Bank fraud, Benefits fraud
6 years, 5 cases
Sexual assault, College student sex cases (Title IX)
11 years, 100 cases
6 years
Civil litigation (plaintiffs' and defendants' side)
11 years
6 years
Languages spoken
English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
MI | Active And In Good Standing | 2015 | 06/27/2022 |
NY | Currently registered | 2009 | 06/05/2022 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Brilliance Award - Social Change Agent | West Michigan Woman | 2018 |
Unsung Hero Award | State Bar of Michigan | 2016 |
Cum Laude | Georgetown University Law Center | 2008 |
Distinguished Military Graduate | Army ROTC, Princeton University | 2005 |
Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence | Princeton University | 2002 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Senior Counsel | Springstead Bartish Borgula & Lynch, PLLC | 2020 - Present |
In-House Legal Counsel | Automattic Inc. | 2018 - 2020 |
Assistant United States Attorney, Western District of Michigan | U.S. Department Of Justice | 2013 - 2018 |
Captain, Judge Advocate General's Corps | U.S. Army | 2009 - 2013 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Grand Rapids Bar Association | Member | 2020 - Present |
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member | 2020 - Present |
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan | Member | 2019 - Present |
Ottawa County Bar Association | Member | 2019 - Present |
State Bar of Michigan | Member | 2015 - Present |
Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County | Board Member, Officer | 2014 - Present |
Federal Bar Association | Executive Committee Member (2014-2017) | 2013 - Present |
Junior League of Grand Rapids | President (2019-2020) | 2013 - Present |
New York State Bar Association | Member | 2009 - Present |
Silent Observer of Kent County | Board Member | 2016 - 2017 |
Kent County Human Trafficking Task Force | Chairperson (2015-2016) | 2015 - 2017 |
Hillman Trial Advocacy Program | Steering Committee Member, Faculty | 2014 - 2018 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan | Press Releases - Violent Crime, Drug Trafficking, and Crimes Against Children | 2014 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Georgetown University Law Center | JD - Juris Doctor | 2008 |
Princeton University | AB - Applied Baccalaureate | 2005 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Hillman Trial Advocacy Program | Closing Arguments - Faculty Demonstration | 2018 |
Apps, Trafficking, and a Parent Toolkit | Protect Children Online | 2017 |
Michigan Law Enforcement Conference | Investigating and Prosecuting Crimes Against Children | 2016 |
Human Trafficking | Human Trafficking Prevention, Investigation, and Prosecution | 2015 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
United States v. Jermaine Carr | |
United States v. Brennan Jackson, et al. | |
United States v. Michael Downey | |
United States v. Jack Groenendal | |
United States v. Christopher Bryant |
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Michael Toburen, Criminal defense Attorney on Mar 10, 2020
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I highly recommend Tessa Muir. Tessa is an outstanding attorney. She is extremely hardworking and dedicated. Tessa is also a wonderful person and is extremely well-respected in our community.
Matthew Borgula, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 29, 2020
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Tessa is one of the finest attorneys with whom I have worked. She is intelligent, thoughtful and diligent. I would not hesitate to hire her for the most complex criminal matters.
Kyle Konwinski, Litigation Attorney on Jan 29, 2020
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I wholeheartedly would recommend Tessa. She has incredible litigation experience and has many great experiences. She is kind and trustworthy.
Heath Lynch, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 29, 2020
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
As someone who has practiced criminal law both with and against Tessa Hessmiller, I give her my unqualified endorsement. She is diligent, well-prepared, organized, and is every bit as effective in the courtroom as a trial attorney as she is as a legal writer - a rare quality. As a former federal prosecutor, she is uniquely qualified to represent clients being investigated for, or who have been charged with, even the most serious crimes.
Pavol Fabian, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 28, 2020
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
This is an easy endorsement for me to write. Tessa was an instructor for a trial advocacy program I was in a couple of years ago. Suffice to say, she knows what she's doing and is excellent at it.
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