Michael J. Donnelly

Michael Donnelly 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 recently assisted a successful bidder in defending a challenge to a public bid for the purchase of municipal property, ultimately obtaining a written apology and a six-figure settlement on a vexatious litigation claim arising from the challenge. Michael has represented the owner with respect to contract negotiations for the construction of a 14.6 MW gas powered generator project. His dispute resolution experience includes jury and courtside trials, appeals, arbitration and mediation. He also successfully defended a $3,000,000+ mechanic’s lien case in Federal Court. In addition to obtaining a decision for the defense on the plaintiff’s claims, he 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 over environmental issues. He has also enjoyed assisting clients in protecting their interests by filing and collecting on aircraft liens.

Michael was recognized as the "2011 Supplier/Service Provider of the Year" by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Connecticut. He is the immediate past Chair of the Lex Mundi Construction and Infrastructure Group. 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:

• 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.

• Administrative & State Tax Appeals
• Appellate Practice
• Business Litigation
• Construction
• Construction Litigation & Arbitration
• Distributor, Dealer, Franchise Group
• Education
• Environmental Law
• Environmental Litigation
• Insurance Recovery
• Litigation
• Municipal Law
• Renewable Energy
• Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality

• Chairman (2010-2012), Lex Mundi Construction and Infrastructure Practice Group
• Connecticut Bar Association, Construction Law Executive Committee
• Association of General Contractors- Connecticut
• Connecticut Construction Industry Association
• Board of Trustees, Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy

• 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

• August 15, 2017 - 35 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Three Named “Lawyer of the Year”
• August 16, 2016 - Attorneys Receive "Best Lawyers" Recognition
• Michael J. Donnelly Wins Award from AGC of Connecticut

• September 2014 - Public-Private Partnerships: New Solution for First-Class Infrastructure?
• July 2014 - Construction Group News: Supreme Court Finds Duty to Defend in Law School Library Case
• Connecticut Supreme Court Clarifies the Scope of Coverage of CGL Policies
• Coverage May Be Available For Subcontractor's Work Under CGL Policy

• November 10, 2014 - Article by Michael J. Donnelly and Paul R. Michaud published in the Connecticut Law Tribune

• March 15, 2016 - Mike Donnelly spoke on the Neighbor and Tree Law at the Spring Meeting of the Connecticut Tree Protective Association.
• Murtha Cullina Attorneys Participate at CBA Annual Meeting

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

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