Michaelson, Robert N.

Michael Menapace is an attorney in Wiggin and Dana's Litigation Department. His practice focuses on insurance and reinsurance matters and complex commercial litigation. He is an insurance and reinsurance litigator, advisor and insurance law professor. Mr. Menapace is located in the firm's Hartford and New York City offices.

Michael represents clients in state and federal courts across the country concerning complex insurance and reinsurance issues, including cases alleging bad faith, the defense of environmental and securities class actions, and merger and acquisition disputes. Michael advises insurers on policy construction, coverage, and regulatory issues. Mr. Menapace also advises clients in connection with internal investigations and responses to government inquiries and subpoenas, including recent federal and state inquiries into contingent commissions/broker compensation and finite reinsurance transactions. Leading insurance industry trade groups have engaged Mr. Menapace to represent them on matters of industry-wide importance before trial and appellate courts.

Mr. Menapace teaches insurance law at the Quinnipiac University School of Law. Recently, he was asked to co-edit a book on Additional Insureds to be published by the American Bar Association.

Before joining Wiggin and Dana, Michael practiced in the insurance/reinsurance practice group of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP in its Hartford and New York City offices. Michael is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York. Michael graduated with a B.M. from University of Hartford/The Hartt School of Music and received his J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

Michael is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hartford County Bar Association and is Co-Chair of its Federal Practice Section. He was the recipient of the New Leaders of the Law Award from the Connecticut Law Tribune in 2005. Before practicing law, Michael was a college music professor and administrator with an active US and international music performance schedule, including as saxophonist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.