The Architected Settlement Law Group (ASLG) has launched as a national business-to-business partner for trial attorneys, founded by Michele Fuller, the attorney who served as Special Assistant to the Attorney General designing the settlement process for the historic $600 million Flint Water Crisis. The new firm addresses what Fuller calls the "danger zone" of settlement distribution, where issues like Medicaid clawbacks, lien resolution, and tax liability create significant legal malpractice exposure for plaintiff firms after verdicts are won.
Distinct from Fuller's existing practice at Michigan Law Center, which focuses on Special Needs Trusts for families, ASLG operates as a dedicated "Settlement Architect" for litigation firms. The firm designs comprehensive legal blueprints to safely close complex injury, mass tort, and class action files. "Trial lawyers are warriors who fight for the 'W,' but the administrative complexity of the 'finish line' can threaten their firm's legacy and their client's future," says Michele Fuller, Founder of The Architected Settlement Law Group and Fellow of the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals.
The firm's "Master Blueprint" process offers multiple services critical to modern litigation practice. These include liability insulation to protect plaintiff firms from failure-to-advise claims regarding government benefits and tools to mitigate tax exposure on taxable interest or punitive damages. ASLG establishes Qualified Settlement Funds (QSFs) to give attorneys and claimants time to plan without immediate tax consequences, and creates Plaintiff Recovery Trusts (PRTs) to help mitigate taxable recoveries. The firm also designs special needs trusts, domestic asset protection trusts, and settlement preservation trusts through custom solutions tailored to clients' specific needs.
Fuller's methodology has been proven in high-pressure environments beyond the Flint Water case, including serving as co-counsel for minor patient claimants in the $13 million Hawthorn class action matter. Her national capability leverages experience as a national expert and advisory board member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners to handle cases across jurisdictions. Trial attorneys can learn more about these services at https://architectedsettlement.com.
For business and technology leaders observing the legal industry, the launch of ASLG represents a significant development in professional specialization within litigation. The firm addresses growing complexity in settlement administration that has become increasingly technical and regulated. As mass tort litigation and class actions continue to involve larger settlements and more claimants, the need for specialized post-verdict planning has created a new market segment within legal services.
The implications extend beyond individual law firms to the broader justice system. Proper settlement architecture ensures that vulnerable claimants, particularly those receiving government benefits or with special needs, can maintain their eligibility while receiving compensation. This addresses a critical gap where courtroom victories could otherwise result in claimants losing essential benefits or facing unexpected tax liabilities. For trial attorneys, the availability of specialized settlement planning partners reduces malpractice risk and allows firms to focus on litigation rather than complex administrative tasks that fall outside their core expertise.
The legal technology implications are also noteworthy, as settlement planning requires sophisticated understanding of benefits systems, tax codes, and trust structures across multiple jurisdictions. Fuller's experience with the Flint Water settlement, which involved thousands of claimants and complex distribution mechanisms, provides a template for handling similarly complex cases nationwide. As litigation becomes more specialized, the emergence of firms like ASLG represents the continued professionalization and segmentation of legal services, creating new business models within the industry.
