Murtha Means More
Michael J. Donnelly Murtha Cullina LLP Partner

Partner

Hartford
Email: mdonnelly@murthalaw.com
Phone: 860-240-6058
Fax: 860-240-6150

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Bar & Court Admissions

  • Connecticut
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut

Education

  • University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1990)
  • College of the Holy Cross (B.A., 1985)

Michael J. Donnelly

Michael Donnelly is a partner in the Litigation Department, Construction Practice Group and Environmental Practice Group.

Michael represents both public and private parties in connection with drafting of contracts, bid issues and dispute resolution in a wide variety of construction matters. He has assisted a successful bidder in defending a challenge to a public bid for the purchase of municipal property, ultimately obtaining a written apology as well as a six-figure settlement for a vexatious litigation claim arising from the challenge.  Michael has represented owners in connection with the construction of power plants, and contractors in international arbitration over the development of a solar facility.  He has tried jury and courtside cases, as well as handled appeals, arbitration and mediation.  Notably, he successfully defended a $3,000,000 mechanics’ lien case in Federal Court.  In addition to obtaining a defense judgment on the claim, he also obtained a decision in the client’s favor for more than $1,000,000 on a counterclaim.

In addition to construction work, Michael also represents both for profit and nonprofit entities in litigation. He has also represented clients with respect to information security issues, including defense of a class action under the TCPA.  

He is the current Chair of the CBA Construction Law Section, and a past Chair of the Lex Mundi Construction and Infrastructure Group.  He was recognized as the Supplier/Service Provider of the Year but the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Connecticut in 2011.

Michael attended the College of the Holy Cross where he earned his B.A., and graduated cum laude from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Speaking Engagements:

  • February 2021 - CBA CLE - Speaker on Construction Coverage for Owners and Contractors
     
  • October 2013 - CBA Construction Section Meeting - Speaker on Managing Risk for Connecticut Construction Companies in re: Capstone Bldng Corp. v. American Motorists Ins. Co., SC 18886, 2013 Conn. LEXIS 187 (2013).
  • June 2012 - CBA Annual Meeting - Speaker on Insuring Construction Risks – Hot Topics Related to Construction Defect Claims.
  • Chairman (2010-2012), Lex Mundi Construction and Infrastructure Practice Group
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Construction Law Executive Committee, Chair
  • Association of General Contractors- Connecticut
  • Connecticut Construction Industry Association
  • Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, former Board Member
  • 2011 Supplier/Service Provider of the Year, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Connecticut
  • American Bar Association award for excellence in the study of Land Use and Local Development
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Litigation - Construction since 2014 (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
  • Holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
  • Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)
Overview

Michael Donnelly is a partner in the Litigation Department, Construction Practice Group and Environmental Practice Group.

Michael represents both public and private parties in connection with drafting of contracts, bid issues and dispute resolution in a wide variety of construction matters. He has assisted a successful bidder in defending a challenge to a public bid for the purchase of municipal property, ultimately obtaining a written apology as well as a six-figure settlement for a vexatious litigation claim arising from the challenge.  Michael has represented owners in connection with the construction of power plants, and contractors in international arbitration over the development of a solar facility.  He has tried jury and courtside cases, as well as handled appeals, arbitration and mediation.  Notably, he successfully defended a $3,000,000 mechanics’ lien case in Federal Court.  In addition to obtaining a defense judgment on the claim, he also obtained a decision in the client’s favor for more than $1,000,000 on a counterclaim.

In addition to construction work, Michael also represents both for profit and nonprofit entities in litigation. He has also represented clients with respect to information security issues, including defense of a class action under the TCPA.  

He is the current Chair of the CBA Construction Law Section, and a past Chair of the Lex Mundi Construction and Infrastructure Group.  He was recognized as the Supplier/Service Provider of the Year but the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Connecticut in 2011.

Michael attended the College of the Holy Cross where he earned his B.A., and graduated cum laude from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Speaking Engagements:

  • February 2021 - CBA CLE - Speaker on Construction Coverage for Owners and Contractors
     
  • October 2013 - CBA Construction Section Meeting - Speaker on Managing Risk for Connecticut Construction Companies in re: Capstone Bldng Corp. v. American Motorists Ins. Co., SC 18886, 2013 Conn. LEXIS 187 (2013).
  • June 2012 - CBA Annual Meeting - Speaker on Insuring Construction Risks – Hot Topics Related to Construction Defect Claims.
Practices & Industries
Memberships
  • Chairman (2010-2012), Lex Mundi Construction and Infrastructure Practice Group
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Construction Law Executive Committee, Chair
  • Association of General Contractors- Connecticut
  • Connecticut Construction Industry Association
  • Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, former Board Member
Recognition
  • 2011 Supplier/Service Provider of the Year, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Connecticut
  • American Bar Association award for excellence in the study of Land Use and Local Development
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Litigation - Construction since 2014 (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
  • Holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
  • Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)
Press Releases
Seminars & Events
Newsletters & Alerts
Articles
Speaking Engagements
Bar & Court Admissions
  • Connecticut
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
Education
  • University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1990)
  • College of the Holy Cross (B.A., 1985)
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