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Helen Michael has more than 30 years of experience representing corporate policyholders in high-stakes insurance recovery disputes in all key coverage areas. These disputes&nbsp;include claims against companies and their corporate officers and directors involving alleged securities violations, breach of fiduciary duty and other corporate misconduct, professional liability coverage claims, cyber liability coverage claims, property damage and business interruption claims arising out of hurricanes and other natural and manmade disasters, products liability, bodily injury, and environmental coverage claims arising from class action and other lawsuits, class action and other claims involving violation of consumer protection statutes and other allegedly unfair trade practices, intellectual property claims, construction defect claims, employment practices liability claims, and coverage claims for a wide variety of other losses.Helen has utilized every form of dispute resolution mechanism, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation, when needed to achieve her clients' objectives. Chambers USA reported that sources state, “You're always in good hands with Helen. Not only is she a great legal strategist and advocate, she also makes the effort to understand a client’s business needs and ensures that those needs are aligned with the legal strategy.” Another source said, “Helen has very broad experience and a lot of smarts. She is one of the wisest in the business.” Chambers USA also notes that sources state, “Helen is one of the finest attorneys I know,” and that “She is an expert and totally stands out in the field for her knowledge of the law.”Working closely with her clients to determine objectives, formulate effective strategies, and position disputes for the best outcomes, whether through negotiation, trial, or appeal, Helen has a proven track record of success. Among her trial successes, Helen has secured jury verdicts awarding compensatory and exemplary damages to her policyholder clients in excess $400 million. Among her successes on appeal, she has obtained a ruling on a question of first impression reconfirming the breadth of insurers’ duty to defend class action cases. In total, Helen has assisted her clients in recovering more than a billion dollars in insurance proceeds.Helen also provides risk management advice, including in connection with insurance policy placements and renewals,&nbsp;to help her&nbsp;clients avoid or minimize coverage disputes and help ensure that they obtain insurance appropriate for the principal risks presented by their businesses.She has substantial experience in class action defense and the formulation of effective strategies for defeating mass tort and other consumer claims, including theories governing the piercing of the corporate veil and the imposition of successor liability. Helen has counseled numerous clients on developing protocols and structuring transactions to guard against incurring vicarious liability for the obligations of corporate affiliates.

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ADG Insurance Recovery

Helen K. Michael Recognized in 2025 Irish Legal 100

Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices Honored by Benchmark Litigation 2026

Blank Rome Partners Recognized in the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America

Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Best Lawyers in America®

Chambers USA 2025 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices

Blank Rome Attorneys Named to 2024 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll

Helen K. Michael Recognized in 2024 Irish Legal 100

Blank Rome Partners Recognized in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America

Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers in America®

Chambers USA 2024 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices

Helen K. Michael Recognized in 2023 Irish Legal 100

Blank Rome Partners Recognized in the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America

Blank Rome Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America®

Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Blank Rome Attorneys and Practices

Litigation

Securities & Shareholder Litigation

Business Litigation

Class Action Defense

Insurance Recovery

<ul>
<li>Obtained substantial insurance recovery for a hedge fund in an insurance coverage litigation seeking coverage for hundreds of millions of losses incurred in connection with criminal and other governmental investigations, and criminal and civil lawsuits alleging wrongful acts committed in the provision of investment and tax management services.</li>
<li>Secured favorable settlements of high-stakes coverage litigation brought against a private equity company’s professional liability insurers incurred in connection with several class actions and numerous other multi-party actions alleging errors and omissions in connection with the marketing and sale of annuities to senior citizens, which sought damages in excess of $80 million.</li>
<li>Secured favorable settlements of coverage disputes with a life insurance and annuity company’s coverage dispute with professional liability insurers for losses incurred in connection with several class actions and numerous other multi-party cases involving insurance policies used to fund employee benefit plans, which sought damages in excess of $50 million.</li>
<li>Obtained substantial insurance recovery for a high-end fashion company resolving an insurance coverage dispute arising out of a high-stakes litigation a former director brought against the company and its current directors alleging breach of fiduciary duty and numerous other claims.</li>
<li>Negotiated favorable settlement of a coverage dispute for a media company involving a nationwide, bet-the-company class action brought pursuant to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.</li>
<li>Negotiated favorable settlement of bet-the-company coverage litigation between a food and flavoring company and 10 of its insurance carriers involving mass tort claims alleging bodily injuries caused by exposure to the butter flavoring, diacetyl, distributed by the client.</li>
<li>Secured favorable settlement of a high-profile coverage litigation involving losses incurred in several class actions cases filed in California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts alleging that the client’s collection and use of customers’ zip codes violated their rights to privacy as established, among others, by California’s Song-Beverly Act.</li>
<li>Secured favorable settlement of a financial institution&#8217;s&nbsp;high-stakes dispute against the senior management of a now-bankrupt firm involving a complex mix of securities fraud, insurance coverage, and bankruptcy issues, and secured notes issued to the firm in the total amount of $150 million.</li>
<li>Obtained substantial recoveries for clients suffering property damage and business interruption losses caused by hurricanes and other named storms, including Katrina, Irene, Superstorm Sandy, Harvey, and Michael.</li>
</ul>

Helen K. Michael

Helen K. Michael

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