People
Michael M. Marick
Partner
- Chicago
Biography
For decades, Michael Marick has successfully represented property and casualty insurers in high exposure disputes over coverage at the claim stage, in trial courts, and on appeal. Mike’s successes inside and outside the courtroom are based on a deep understanding of the insurance business — from the claims, underwriting and legal perspectives – across multiple lines of domestic and foreign coverage (including general liability, professional liability; managed care and health care liability; product contamination/recall; reinsurance; and many other coverages). He has served as national coverage counsel and lead counsel for insurers in significant mass tort coverage litigation, environmental coverage suits, and a wide variety of high stakes insurance and reinsurance disputes. Mike has served as an arbitrator, expert witness, law school professor of insurance law, and his written works have been cited by various courts.
Mike is widely regarded as one of the leading attorneys in the United States representing liability insurers in coverage and bad faith matters. Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business rates him “Band 1,” and reports: “Michael Marick is well respected not only by insurers and reinsurers, but also by policyholder counsel. His extensive experience with leading-edge coverage issues, his keen ability to cut to the chase and offer practical, cost-effective solutions to complex business issues, and his sense of fair play with respect to all parties to a dispute are what make him a true leader among insurance coverage practitioners.” (2024) “Michael has a wealth of experience and provides excellent service. His thoughtful analysis incorporates resolution strategy and desired outcomes balanced with short- and long-range business impacts in the most complex cases. He is exceptional.” (2023) “Michael Marick is an exceptional attorney” and “is very responsive and sensitive to complex interactions.” (2022) “Michael has unmatched credibility in the industry. He is very knowledgeable about the insurance coverage landscape nationally” and “he is strong on the law, a very good communicator and has excellent client relationships.” (2021) “He has one of the sharpest, most strategic minds I have worked with” and “he is able to see the big picture to guide the client masterfully and efficiently toward a very positive resolution.” (2020).
Mike is widely regarded as one of the leading attorneys in the United States representing liability insurers in coverage and bad faith matters. Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business rates him “Band 1,” and reports: “Michael Marick is well respected not only by insurers and reinsurers, but also by policyholder counsel. His extensive experience with leading-edge coverage issues, his keen ability to cut to the chase and offer practical, cost-effective solutions to complex business issues, and his sense of fair play with respect to all parties to a dispute are what make him a true leader among insurance coverage practitioners.” (2024) “Michael has a wealth of experience and provides excellent service. His thoughtful analysis incorporates resolution strategy and desired outcomes balanced with short- and long-range business impacts in the most complex cases. He is exceptional.” (2023) “Michael Marick is an exceptional attorney” and “is very responsive and sensitive to complex interactions.” (2022) “Michael has unmatched credibility in the industry. He is very knowledgeable about the insurance coverage landscape nationally” and “he is strong on the law, a very good communicator and has excellent client relationships.” (2021) “He has one of the sharpest, most strategic minds I have worked with” and “he is able to see the big picture to guide the client masterfully and efficiently toward a very positive resolution.” (2020).
Honors
- 10 Top Influential Insurance Dispute Resolution Lawyers in Illinois,
Business Today News, 2023 - Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business,
Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer - Illinois, Band 1, 2012 - Present - Euromoney Legal Media Group, Expert Guides: "Best of the Best USA," one of the top 30 insurance lawyers in the United States, 2014–Present; "World's Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers," 2002–Present
- Chicago Insurance Law "Lawyer of the Year," The Best Lawyers in America®, 2015
- DRI Davis Carr Outstanding Committee Chair Award, 2014
- International Who's Who of Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers, 2014 – Present;
Thought Leaders USA Insurance and Reinsurance, 2023, 2025 - American College of Coverage Counsel, Board of Regents, 2014 – 2017;
Founding Fellow, 2012 - 125 Alumni of Distinction Honoree, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2013
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Insurance Law, 2009 – present
- Professional Achievement Award, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2008
- Leading Lawyers, Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2004 – present
- Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005 – present
- Distinguished Service Award, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1996
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability
Professional Associations
- Panelist, American Arbitration Association National Roster of Arbitrators, 2024
- ARIAS U.S., Certified Reinsurance Arbitrator, 2018 – present
- American Law Institute, 2012 – present
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- National Director, 2014 – 2016
- Chair, Insurance Law Committee, 2012 – 2014
- IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law
- Board of Overseers, 1993 – 1995; 2006 – 2018
- Alumni Board of Directors, 1989 – 1999
- President, 1994 – 1995
- Federal Bar Association, Chicago Chapter
- Board of Directors, 2009 – 2010
- American Bar Association
- Vice-Chairman, Tort & Insurance Practice Section, Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance Committee, 1990 –1992
- Publications Chairman, 1991 – 1992
- Membership Chairman, Litigation Section, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, 1991 – 1996
- Vice-Chairman, Tort & Insurance Practice Section, Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance Committee, 1990 –1992
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Assembly Delegate, 1993 – 1996
- Insurance Law Section Council, 1990 – 1997
- Vice-Chairman, 1994 – 1995
- Chairman, 1995 – 1996
- Co-editor, The Policy, quarterly insurance law newsletter, 1992 – 1996
- Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
- Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Chicago Bar Association
- Florida Bar Association
Experience
REPORTED CASES:
- Grinnell Mut. Reinsurance Co. v. S.B.C. Flood Waste Sols., Inc., 113 F.4th 768 (7th Cir. Aug. 21, 2024) (application misrepresentation; summary judgment for insurer).
- AXIS Surplus Ins. Co. v. TriStar Cos., LLC, 2023 WL 1927237 (E.D. Mo. Feb. 10, 2023),
aff’d, 94 F.4th 767 (8th Cir. 2024) (designated premises limitations, summary judgment for insurer). - Pharm. Care Mgmt. Ass’n. v. Wehbi, 18 F.4th 956 (8th Cir. 2021) (amicus curiae for National Council of Insurance Legislators).
- Giant Eagle, Inc. v. Am. Guar. and Liab. Ins. Co., 2021 WL 6276267 (W.D. Pa. May 25, 2021) (defense costs are not “loss” under primary policy; excess insurer had no duty to defend).
- In re USA Gymnastics, 624 B.R. 443 (Bankr. S.D. Ind. 2021) (policyholder’s bankruptcy-related attorneys fees are not defense costs under general liability policy).
- Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc. v. Travelers Indem. Co. of Am., 2020 IL App (1st) 182491 (no coverage for antitrust conspiracy; demand in excess of limits does not create a conflict and a right to independent counsel; no extracontractual liability; summary judgment for insurer).
- Lexington Ins. Co. v. Hotai Ins. Co., Ltd., 938 F.3d 874 (7th Cir. 2019) (no personal jurisdiction over foreign insurer; insurer dismissed).
- Landis+Gyr Inc. v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co., 2019 WL 208758 (N.D. Ind. Jan. 15, 2019) (pollution exclusion; partial summary judgment for insurer on choice of law, applying New York and Connecticut law).
- First Mercury Ins. Co. v. Ciolino, 2018 IL App (1st) 171532 (malicious prosecution trigger; summary judgment for insurer).
- Motorola Sols., Inc. v. Zurich Ins. Co., 2017 IL App (1st) 161465 (attorney-client privilege and work product protection asserted by insured in coverage litigation).
- Stresscon Corp. v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am., 2013 COA 131 , rev’d, 2016 CO 22M (no coverage for settlement prior to notice of claim; no prejudice required; judgment for insurer).
- Wellpoint, Inc. v. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, 989 N.E.2d 845 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), transfer granted, opinion vacated 6 N.E.3d 950 (Ind. 2014), and opinion aff’d in part, vacated in part, 29 N.E.3d 716 (Ind. 2015), opinion modified on reh’g, 38 N.E.3d 981 (Ind. 2015) (managed care professional liability policy; “loss” and other policy terms).
- Hallmark Specialty Ins. Co. v. Roberg, 2015 WL 5163216 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 2, 2015) (reformation of attorneys professional liability policy; summary judgment for insurer).
- Motorola Sols., Inc. v. Zurich Ins. Co., 2015 IL App (1st) 131529 (interpretation of settlement agreement).
- G.M. Sign, Inc. v. Pennswood Partners, Inc., 2014 IL App (2d) 121276, 2015 IL App (2d) 121276-B (TCPA/fax blast class action settlement; summary judgment for insurer).
Results
Skarzynski Marick Prevails in Seventh Circuit Rescission Case
08/22/2024Skarzynski Marick & Black LLP attorneys Mike Marick and Joel Vander Vliet secured an appellate victory for Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company affirming the lower court’s ruling on summary judgment entitling Grinnell to rescission.
Skarzynski Marick Secures Victory With Eighth Circuit Holding No Duty To Defend Or Indemnify Insured Arising From Warehouse Collapse
03/04/2024Skarzynski Marick attorneys Michael Marick and Andrew Candela represented AXIS Surplus Insurance Company in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, which affirmed the summary judgment that AXIS has no duty to defend or indemnify its insured for multiple deaths arising from a tornado that struck an Amazon warehouse. The real estate developer of the warehouse, TriStar Companies LLC, sought its significant defense costs and indemnity under a policy issued by AXIS.
Skarzynski Marick Secures Appellate Victory on Duty to Defend Antitrust Lawsuit and Insured’s Claim of Conflict of Interest Requiring Independent Counsel
04/16/2020The Appellate Court of Illinois published an opinion on April 7, 2020, affirming that Skarzynski Marick’s client did not have a duty to defend antitrust allegations under a CGL policy and that a policyholder’s potential liability in excess of limits did not create a conflict of interest.
publications & presentations (since 2013)
- On The Horizon: What is Next For the Insurance Industry, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, Houston, Texas, March 21, 2022
- “How to Settle Coverage Cases: Mediation Without a Net,” Defense Research Institute (DRI), Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, Chicago, Illinois, April 3, 2019
- Reinsurance Professional's Deskbook — A Practical Guide, Thomson Reuters/DRI eds. 2015-2019, Chapter Editor
- Excess Insurance, Illinois Insurance Law, Chapter 19, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, eds. 2014-2019
- Insurance 2017: Reflections on the Law and Industry, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, Chicago, Illinois, April 6, 2017
- Special Considerations in Settling Coverage Disputes, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Insurance Coverage & Practice Symposium, New York, December 3, 2015
- Policy Limits Demands: Challenges For Insurers and Defense Counsel, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Insurance Law and Claims Conference, Hartford Connecticut, Oct. 28, 2015
- Lawyer Monthly Interviews Michael Marick on Insurance Issues, Lawyer's Monthly Issue 57-15, April 2015
- Insurance 101: Procedural Issues And Strategies – Insurance Coverage And Bad Faith Litigation, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Insurance 101: Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation, webcast, each July, 2013–2015
- Plaintiffs' and Policyholders' Bar – What Are they Up To?, Defense Research Institute (DRI), Insurance Roundtable, Chicago, Illinois, June 16, 2015
- Initiating Insurance Coverage Litigation, New Appleman on Insurance Law Practice Guide, Chapter 14, eds. 2007 – 2015
- Determining Whether to File Pre-Discovery Motions, New Appleman on Insurance Law Practice Guide, Chapter 18, eds. 2007 – 2015
- The American Law Institute Principles of the Law of Liability Insurance Project, DRI Insurance Roundtable, Chicago, Illinois, June 10, 2014
- Serving the Insurance Industry and Its Attorneys, For the Defense, May 2014
- Duty to Defend: Analyzing Complex Issues, PLRB/LIRB 2014 Claims Conference & Insurance Services Expo, Indianapolis, Indiana, March 18, 2014
- Breaking Down Barriers in Policyholder-Insurer Disputes Over Counsel Selection and Payment, Euromoney's Best of the Best USA, 2014
- The ALI Principles of the Law of Liability Insurance, American College of Coverage & Extracontractual Counsel, Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, May 7, 2013
- Coverage 2013: The Most Challenging Issues for Insurers and a Look Over the Horizon, DRI, Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, Chicago, Illinois, April 11, 2013
- Top Ten Tips for Handling Liability Coverage Issues Nationally, PLRB/LIRB 2013 Claims Conference & Insurance Services Expo, Boston, Massachusetts, March 18 – 19, 2013
- Leading Coverage Lawyers: The Most Significant Insurance Coverage Decisions of 2013, Coverage Opinions, Vol. 3, Issue I (commenting on New York K2 decision and American Law Institute "Principles of the Law of Liability Insurance" project)
News
Skarzynski Marick Lawyers Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® 2025
08/15/2024Skarzynski Marick & Black LLP is proud to announce that Michael Marick, John Black, Karen M. Dixon, James Kallianis, Michael Rosen, and Timothy Wright have been selected for inclusion in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law.
Chambers USA 2024 Recognizes Skarzynski Marick & Black and Individual Lawyers in Insurance Dispute Resolution
06/06/2024The 2024 edition of Chambers USA: Leading Lawyers for Business has ranked Skarzynski Marick & Black LLP for “Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Insurer.” This year, the firm received a Band 1 ranking in Illinois and a new ranking for New York. Individually ranked lawyers include Illinois-based partners Michael M. Marick, James H. Kallianis, and Karen M. Dixon and New York-based partner, James A. Skarzynski. Chambers highlights the firm as being “very knowledgeable and thorough, with a deep bench of talented insurance coverage lawyers,” and “the team combines technical expertise with sound judgement and strategic thinking.”
Skarzynski Marick Lawyers Recognized as Illinois Super Lawyers and Illinois Rising Stars 2024
01/24/2024Skarzynski Marick & Black LLP is excited to announce that Super Lawyers has named five attorneys to its 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers and Illinois Rising Stars lists. Four attorneys were recognized as 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers and one attorney was recognized as a 2024 Illinois Rising Star.
Skarzynski Marick Lawyers Recognized as Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2023
01/13/2023Skarzynski Marick & Black LLP is excited to announce that Super Lawyers has named seven attorneys to its 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.
Firm Events
2022 DRI Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute
03/21/2022Mike Marick will co-present the opening speech at DRI’s annual spring coverage program on March 21st in Houston.