Michael Lawler

Biography

Michael B. Lawler is a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the Employment and the Health Law Practice Groups of Murchison & Cumming, LLP.  Mr. Lawler focuses his practice on complex litigation cases involving employment law, nursing homes, elder care abuse, general liability, construction injury and defect. He has successfully tried over one hundred jury trials in the federal and state courts.  Mr. Lawler is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a Leading Employment Lawyer in California by the Daily Journal and a Southern California Super Lawyer®.

 

Mr. Lawler’s professional affiliations include:  Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (President, 1994-1995; Chairman, Court Liaison Committee, 1985; Chairman, Special Activities Committee, 1986); International Association of Defense Counsel (Member, Product Liability and Casualty Claims Committees); American Board of Trial Advocates (Member, National Board of Directors, 1996-1998; Member, Los Angeles Chapter Board of Directors, 1995); The Federation of Insurance Counsel (Member, General Liability Committee); Defense Research Institute; and Los Angeles Superior Court Arbitration Administrative Committee; and listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith (New York:  Woodward/White, 1987 ed.).

 

Mr. Lawler has served as Arbitrator, Los Angeles Superior Court, Special Arbitration Panel; Member, Attorney Settlement Panel for the Los Angeles, Van Nuys, Santa Monica, and Torrance Superior Courts.  He has also served as Speaker for the Defense Research Institute, the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, the California Trial Lawyers Association, the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association and the Independent Insurance Adjusters.  He has served as Speaker for USLAW's Client Conferences and Employment Law Roundtable.  Mr. Lawler was featured as a guest speaker, discussing the nature of defense litigation and his practice specialties, on radio show "Champions of Justice," which aired across California.

 

Mr. Lawler has published articles, including:

 

"A Perspective From California and Nevada on the Subcontractor’s Role in Construction Defect Mediations:  David Versus Goliath," FDCC Quarterly, Vol. 55, No.4, Summer, 2005; "Will the Calderon Bill Reduce Construction Defect Litigation or Will it Leak?"  Verdict, First Quarter 1996; "The Effects of the Employment Screening of Nursing Home Personnel on Facility Liability, Individual Liability and Quality of Care." The DRI Course Book Seven, October 1999.

Mr. Lawler is a member of the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association Court Liaise Committee.  He is admitted to practice before the California State Courts and the United States District Court for the Central District of California. He is also admitted to practice in the state of Colorado and the District of Columbia.  Mr. Lawler is a graduate of Loyola University of Los Angeles (B.B.A.) and Southwestern University (J.D.).

Education

No information available.

Admissions/Licenses

• Bar Admissions: CA, CO, DC