Attorney Profile

Michael P. Welch

Michael P. Welch

Partner

Michael P. Welch litigates commercial cases and class actions in jurisdictions throughout the country.

A partner in Rivkin Radler’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group, Mike has particular experience with first-party and third-party insurance issues.  He represents insurers in litigation involving complex coverage issues arising under homeowner and commercial insurance policies, including arson and fraud.  Mike currently is representing multiple insurers in many Superstorm Sandy-related litigation pending in state and federal court.

Mike has been successful in dismissing putative class actions against automobile insurers alleging deceptive business practices by specifying non-Original Equipment Manufacturer (non-OEM) structural crash parts in vehicle repair estimates. Mike is helping to establish a body of law on this issue, as only a handful of decisions nationwide has addressed it.

He also helped a municipality defeat a $325 million wrongful termination suit by its former employees and successfully has defended insurers against claims of bad faith.

A frequent instructor, Mike presents seminars to insurers on issues relating to the investigation and defense of property insurance claims, including the investigation of mortgagee claims, good faith claims-handling practices and residency issues. Mike has presented on the topic of “Coverage for Losses at Abandoned Property” for the American Bar Association and has co-authored several publications on insurance coverage issues, including “What Insurers Need to Know When Investigating and Adjusting Mortgagee Claims,” published in Mealey’s Emerging Insurance Disputes.

Mike began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in the Rackets Bureau of the Kings County District Attorney’s office, and then later as an assistant district attorney in the Felony Narcotics Bureau of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

Since 2019, The Legal 500 has recommended Rivkin Radler’s Insurance Coverage practice in the insurance: advice to insurers category. The Insurance Coverage Practice Group since 2016 has been included in the Chambers USA directory in the Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer category.

Uniondale
F: (516) 357-3333

926 RXR Plaza
Uniondale, NY 11556-0926

Bar Admission

New York

Bar Affiliations

New York State Bar Association

Education

Brooklyn Law School, Juris Doctor

Syracuse University, B.A., magna cum laude

Michael P. Welch

Partner

Michael P. Welch litigates commercial cases and class actions in jurisdictions throughout the country.

A partner in Rivkin Radler’s Insurance Coverage Practice Group, Mike has particular experience with first-party and third-party insurance issues.  He represents insurers in litigation involving complex coverage issues arising under homeowner and commercial insurance policies, including arson and fraud.  Mike currently is representing multiple insurers in many Superstorm Sandy-related litigation pending in state and federal court.

Mike has been successful in dismissing putative class actions against automobile insurers alleging deceptive business practices by specifying non-Original Equipment Manufacturer (non-OEM) structural crash parts in vehicle repair estimates. Mike is helping to establish a body of law on this issue, as only a handful of decisions nationwide has addressed it.

He also helped a municipality defeat a $325 million wrongful termination suit by its former employees and successfully has defended insurers against claims of bad faith.

A frequent instructor, Mike presents seminars to insurers on issues relating to the investigation and defense of property insurance claims, including the investigation of mortgagee claims, good faith claims-handling practices and residency issues. Mike has presented on the topic of “Coverage for Losses at Abandoned Property” for the American Bar Association and has co-authored several publications on insurance coverage issues, including “What Insurers Need to Know When Investigating and Adjusting Mortgagee Claims,” published in Mealey’s Emerging Insurance Disputes.

Mike began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in the Rackets Bureau of the Kings County District Attorney’s office, and then later as an assistant district attorney in the Felony Narcotics Bureau of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

Since 2019, The Legal 500 has recommended Rivkin Radler’s Insurance Coverage practice in the insurance: advice to insurers category. The Insurance Coverage Practice Group since 2016 has been included in the Chambers USA directory in the Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer category.

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