Mikal Watts has represented thousands of clients and won hundreds of millions of dollars. But late last summer, he represented himself and scored perhaps the most important victory of his life. After a five-week trial before a federal jury, he represented himself won an acquittal—beating federal prosecutors' charges that he intentionally submitted phony names to recover damages from the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

He was pro se but not underfinanced. He spent millions of the money he has made as a mass tort plaintiffs lawyer, installing 20 people each night of the proceedings in a war room to go through documents to prepare for the next day, and he had 20 others helping him in the courtroom during the day.

But the Herculean task of staying focused on the complicated case and arguing on his own behalf before a jury—all the while facing the risk of jail time—both took a toll on Watts and inspired him to do more. This year, he has thrown himself back into his work, investing in and helping guide an affiliated law practice that will have offices in multiple cities in Texas. By Sept. 7, he expects to have lawyers working at affiliated offices in Dallas, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Brownsville. He has even carved out a new policymaking ambition—directly related to his experience as a criminal defendant. He wants to help inspire legislators to reform the federal criminal justice system to make it fairer to defendants.