PRACTICE FOCUS
Mr. Conley is Co-Managing Principal of the Philadelphia office and the founder of the firm’s Insurance Recovery Practice Group. His broad legal experience includes insurance coverage litigation, and general litigation. He exclusively represents policyholders, including closely held, publicly traded, nonprofit, and municipal entities, with claims against their insurance companies. His insurance coverage law experience includes handling coverage actions on behalf of insureds relating to claim under general liability policies, bad faith claims, defense obligations, law and ordinance exclusions, crime coverage, employment liability coverage, and coverage for data loss and environmental liability.
Mr. Conley's commercial litigation experience includes representing clients in cases involving breach of contract, abuse of process, trademark and copyright infringement, and unfair trade practices. Mr. Conley has also served as an expert on insurance related matters in both Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Mr. Conley has utilized his Insurance Recovery experience to address the unique insurance issues facing the growing Cannabis industry. Mr. Conley works with not only those directly involved in the industry, such as growers and dispensary owners, but also to ancillary business that include those companies providing goods and services to the industry. Whether directly or indirectly involved, the cannabis industry presents unique risks and therefore unique insurance relate concerns. Mr. Conley has also been active speaking and presenting to the cannabis industry over the past few years.
POINTS OF DISTINCTION
- He has also been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America publication, a ranking completed by peer review, from 2010-2023 in Insurance Law as reported by U.S. News & World Report.
- Ranked as a Band 3 lawyer in Insurance - Pennsylvania, Chambers USA, 2015-2020.
- Mr. Conley was selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list from 2012-2018. His primary area of practice is Insurance Coverage.
- He was named to the Greater Philadelphia's Legal Elite list in 2010 and 2011, which is a readers' poll conducted by Philadelphia SmartCEO magazine.
- He is a former in-house Counsel for Belmont Holdings Corp.
PRESS
As an insurance recovery attorney, Mr. Conley is frequently quoted on insurance coverage legal issues, and has spoken before regional and national business and trade organizations.
- Michael Conley was quoted in "Travelers' Asbestos Exclusion is Unenforceable, 3rd Circ. Told," Law360 (March 22, 2016)
- Michael Conley was quoted in "PA Didn't Bar Asbestos Exclusion, Ex-Insurance Chief Says," Law360 (Jan 14, 2014)
- Michael Conley was quoted in "Insurance Companies are Slow to Cover Risks of Drilling," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette(July 24, 2012)
- "Insurance Coverage for Violence in the Workplace: Don't Let Your Insurance Company Inflict Additional Damage" Hospitality Lawyer.com Risk Management Newsletter (May, 2009)
- "Coverage for Climate Change: Footing the Bill for Carbon Footprints," Environmental Claims Journal, Volume 20, Issue 4 (October, 2008) (with Meghan Finnerty)
- "Getting Claims Paid - How To Evaluate And Settle An Insurance Claim," Corporate Counsel (June, 2008)
- "Who Knew? Insurance Coverage Implications of Intercompany Communications," Corporate Counsel (June, 2007) (with Ellen D. Bailey)
- "Adding Salt To The Wound - Your Crime Coverage Might Not Meet Your Expectations," Corporate Counsel (July, 2006) (with Jocelyn Gabrynowicz)
- "A Lawsuit in the Making - The EPLI Insurance Application," Insurance Journal-West Region (June 19, 2006) (with Jackie Taylor)
- "Employment Practices Liability Insurance - The Application - Trouble in The Making," Corporate Counsel (March 2006) (with Jackie Taylor)
- "More Insurance Coverage For Asbestos Defendants? - It's Time To Take A Closer Look At Those Old Insurance Policies," Corporate Counsel (November, 2002)
(with John N. Ellison and Nicholas Insua)
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- "The Policyholder's Perspective on Claims Handling - Getting Claims Paid" DRI - Marijuana Law Seminar, Chicago, IL, (June 2018).
- "Ethics of the Tri-Partite Relationship Versus Ethics Imposed by The Right to Independent Counsel"
Perrin Conference, Philadelphia, PA, (April 11, 2017).
- "Tips & Techniques for the Trial of a Bad Faith Claim" Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, (December 9, 2014).
- "Pennsylvania's Changing Landscape on Construction Defect Claims and Insurance for Those Claims" Offit Kurman and Langsam Stevens Silver & Hollaender hosted seminar, Philadelphia, PA, (December 2, 2014).
- "Insurance Coverage Update - Top Five Developments Policyholders Should Know" Legal Intelligencer In-House Counsel CLE Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (October 15, 2014).
- Panelist, WORKSHOP ON NATURAL RESOURCE AGREEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS, Indiana University, Maurer School of Law, March 8, 2013.
- Michael Conley to Present at National Constitution Center Seminar: 'Additional Insured Policies: Key Provisions, Clauses and Language', 3/21/12
- Michael Conley to Present at Perrin Conferences' 'Emerging Insurance Coverage & Allocation Issues in 2012' Program
- Michael Conley is Presenting at 'Construction Defect Litigation: Claims and Coverage'
- Michael Conley To Present at 'Insurance Coverage Issues Related To Sexual Molestation Claims'
- Michael Conley is Presenting at the 2012 Asbestos Litigation Conference, Presented by Perrin Conferences. Top 10 Things Defendants & Plaintiffs Should Know About Insurance Claims - How coverage issues impact underlying litigation" Perrin Conferences' 2012 Asbestos Litigation Conference (September 11, 2012)
- "Big picture – What are the Next Big Risks that will Affect the Insurance and Reinsurance Industries" Perrin Conferences' Emerging Insurance Coverage & Allocation Issues in 2012, New York, NY (February 23, 2012)
- "Insurance Coverage Update: Practical Approaches to Current Coverage Challenges" Perrin Conferences’ 2011 Asbestos Litigation Conference: A National Overview & Outlook, San Francisco, CA, (September 19-21, 2011)
- "Bad Faith Litigation Claims" Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Program Chair, (May 12, 2011)
- "Hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale: The Liability and Insurance Coverage Implications" Perrin Conferences' Webinar Series, (April 20, 2011)
- "Excess Insurance Disputes Among Policyholders and Primary and Excess Insurers: Allocating Multiple Layers of Coverage in the Wake of Qualcomm" Strafford Publications, (December 17, 2009)
- “Modern Insurance Solutions for Long-Tail Problems,” Perrin Asbestos Litigation Conference, San Francisco, CA, (September 14-16, 2009)
- "Plenary Session: Human Resources/Employment," AAPA Port Administration and Legal Issues Seminar, Baltimore, MD (April 16, 2009)
- "M&A Due Diligence - Assessing Potential Risk and Minimizing Exposure in Corporate Dealmaking," The Insurance Industry's Top 10 Risks & Opportunities' Conference, a BVR Legal/Mealey's Conference, Philadelphia, PA (December 9, 2008)
- "Bad Faith Discovery Disputes," Mealey's Bad Faith Litigation Conference, a BVR Legal/Mealey's Conference, New York, NY (November 7, 2008)
- “Subprime Crisis,” Strategies and Tactics to Avoid D&O Liability and Maximize Coverage (June 4, 2008)
- "Considerations When Confronting Asbestos Bankruptcies," American Conference Institute, Las Vegas, NV (May 15, 2008)
- "Ten Tips for a Corporate Law or Risk Management Department," Arizona RIMS, Phoenix, AZ (April 9, 2008)
- "An Update on Ethical Issues," Delaware Valley Association of Corporate Counsel, Philadelphia, PA (April 17, 2008)
- "Employment Practices Liability Insurance," Delaware Valley Association of Corporate Counsel, King of Prussia, PA (March 13, 2008)
- "Analysis of Employment Practices Liability Insurance As It Effects In-House Counsel," United League of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (January 17, 2008)
- "The State of The Law and Successful Strategies Relating to Bad Faith Insurance Claims," Strafford Publications' Discovery in Bad Faith Insurance Claims Teleconference, Philadelphia, PA (October 10, 2007)
- "The Bankruptcy Backlash: Insurance Company Rights and Obligations Under the Latest Bankruptcy Decisions," Mealey’s Asbestos Bankruptcy Conference, Las Vegas, NV (June 21, 2007)
- "Discovery in Bad Faith Insurance Claims: State of the Law, Successful Strategies," Insurance Law and Litigation Reporter, and the Legal Publishing Group of Strafford Publications, Philadelphia, PA (May 10, 2007)
- "Punitive Damages and Bad Faith Successful Strategies for Today's Cases," National Constitution Center's Punitive Damages and Bad Faith Audio Conference, Philadelphia, PA (April 12, 2007)
- "Privilege Issues," Mealey's Mass Tort Insurance Coverage Conference, The Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia, PA (March 19, 2007)
- "Emerging Issues In Asbestos Coverage Litigation," Mealey's Asbestos Conference: The New Face of Asbestos Litigation, Washington D.C. (February 9, 2007)
- "How Insurance Can Solve Employee Problems," The Legal Intelligencer and Anderson Kill, Philadelphia, PA (June 27, 2006)
- "Winning the Punitive Damages Battle," Legal Publishing Group of Strafford Publications, Inc., Philadelphia, PA (June 6, 2006)
- "Bad Faith and Punitive Damages," 13th Advanced National Forum, St. Regis, San Francisco (April 27 & 28, 2006)
- "An Insurance Company's Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, Punitive Damages and the Legacies of Campbell," National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA (March 21, 2006)
- "Discovery in Bad Faith Claims," Legal Publishing Group of Strafford Publications, Inc., Philadelphia, PA (December 20, 2005)
- "Discovery in Bad Faith Claims," Legal Publishing Group of Strafford Publications, Inc., Philadelphia, PA (September 20, 2005)
- "New SEC 8-k Disclosure Requirements And Accelerated Filing Deadlines," Lorman Education Services, Continuing Education Seminar, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (June 30, 2004)
- "Impact of London Market’s Documentation Requirements," American Conference Institute, San Francisco, California (March 2003)
- "Insurance Recoveries for Present Liabilities Including Future Payments," American Conference Institute, San Francisco, California (March 2003)
PREVIOUS WORK
Prior to joining Offit Kurman Attorneys At Law, Mr. Conley was co-managing shareholder of Anderson Kill's Philadelphia office and a senior shareholder in its Insurance Recovery and Corporate and Commercial Litigation Departments. He was also head of the Philadelphia Business Group and chair of Philadelphia's Commercial Litigation Group.
Skip to content