Overview
Michael McCarthy is a business trial lawyer and litigator. A fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, he has a distinguished record of successfully representing clients as lead trial counsel in a broad range of disputes, with particularly deep experience in the defense of major class actions. Michael also serves as a neutral arbitrator in commercial arbitration disputes.
Trial Lawyer and Experienced Litigator
Michael has litigated and tried cases involving:
- Insurance bad faith and breach of contract claims
- Consumer protection claims
- Shareholder derivative actions
- Environmental regulation litigation
- Land use disputes
- Securities fraud claims
- Breach of fiduciary duty
- Valuation litigation relating to corporate reorganizations
- Bankruptcy adversary proceedings
- Legal malpractice claims
- Business contract disputes
Counsel to Professional Sports Team
Michael has represented the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club for over 20 years in connection with a wide variety of matters involving litigation and dispute resolution, including serving as first-chair in a month-long trial concerning ownership transfers and valuation of the Club.
Industry Experience
Michael represents clients in major litigation in the insurance and financial services, sports, energy and natural resources, telecommunications and media, and professional services sectors.
Arbitrator
Michael is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s approved Roster of Arbitrators.Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Colorado
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Education
University of Colorado Law School
J.D. Law Review (comments editor) (1975)
University of Michigan
B.A. (1971)
Insights & Events
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
- Boulder Shelter for the Homeless — Board of Directors and President, 1999-2007
- Lead trial counsel for plaintiffs in state court litigation challenging a county's school tuition voucher program that provided funding for religious schools
- Indigent/low income legal representation
Professional Associations
- American College of Trial Lawyers — Fellow; Chair, State Committee, 2018-present
- American Arbitration Association — Roster of Arbitrators
- Colorado State Bar Association – Litigation Section; Business Law Section; Natural Resources Section
- Denver Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Foundation — Fellow
Civic Activities
- Boulder Shelter for the Homeless — Former Officer and Director
- University of Colorado School of Law — Former Law Alumni Board Member
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado — Committee on Conduct, 2002-08 (Chair, 2007-08)
Firm Leadership
- Management Committee, 2004-12
Honors
- American College of Trial Lawyers — Fellow; Chair, State Committee, 2018-present
- Chambers USA — Band 1, Litigation: General Commercial, 2005-21
- 5280 Magazine — Top Lawyer, Commercial Litigation, 2018, 2015
- Law Week Colorado — Lawyer of the Year, 2015
- Best Lawyers® — Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2006-14, 2017-22 (Lawyer of the Year - Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2019); Commercial Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Insurance Law and Securities Litigation, 2006-22 (Lawyer of the Year - Securities Litigation, 2015)
- Super Lawyers — Top 50 Lawyers (Colorado), 2009-10; Business Litigation, 2006-20
- Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2020
- Faegre Baker Daniels — Baker Benson Pro Bono Award, 2015; Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2014-16; John C. Benson Pro Bono Award
- Benchmark: Litigation — Local Litigation Star, 2011-14, 2019-20