Pierce Atwood LLP

64 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Biography

Mike Daly focuses his practice on representing clients involved in litigation over business, insurance and maritime disputes. He has tried, arbitrated, and otherwise litigated cases involving breach of contract, insurance coverage and bad faith allegations, personal injuries, liability under the Jones Act and General Maritime Law, vessel arrests and maritime attachments. In January 2014, he recovered a $2 million jury verdict for a client in a breach-of-contract case in Rhode Island Federal Court.

Mike understands that economic, business, and other factors frequently dictate the best course of action for his clients. He has tried, arbitrated, and otherwise litigated cases involving business contracts, Jones Act and general maritime law, claims for life, health and disability insurance benefits, construction defects and accidental death, among other issues.

Mike is a member of the firm's management committee. He also is a frequent author and speaker on topics including federal court practice and procedure, admiralty law, and insurance coverage. He has been an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University School of Law, where he taught federal court commercial litigation. He served on the faculty of the Rhode Island Federal Court Litigation Academy in 2017 and 2018. From 2015-2017, Mike was a co-chair of the local rules review committee for the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. He also is a co-author of the Local Admiralty Rules for the District of Rhode Island.

Pierce Atwood LLP

64 Best Lawyers awards

Pierce Atwood LLP logo

Overview

  • Roger Williams University, J.D., graduated 2002
  • University of Rhode Island, MS , Marine Affairs, graduated 2002
  • University of Rhode Island, BS, Fisheries Science, graduated 1997

  • United States, Maine
  • United States, Massachusetts
  • United States, Rhode Island

  • American Bar Association - Member, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Admiralty Committee
  • Maritime Law Association - Member
  • Rhode IslandBar Association - Member
  • United States, Maine
  • United States, Massachusetts
  • United States, Rhode Island
  • American Bar Association - Member, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Admiralty Committee
  • Maritime Law Association - Member
  • Rhode IslandBar Association - Member
  • Roger Williams University, J.D., graduated 2002
  • University of Rhode Island, MS , Marine Affairs, graduated 2002
  • University of Rhode Island, BS, Fisheries Science, graduated 1997

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Commercial Litigation
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Insurance Law
Awards:
  • Recognized by Chambers USA for Commercial Litigation since 2019
  • Ranked in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation since 2016
  • Listed in Rhode Island Monthly’s Professional Excellence in Law in the area of Aviation, Admiralty, Maritime and Transportation (2021)
  • Top 40 Under 40 by Providence Business News
  • Named a "Rising Star" by Rhode Island Super Lawyers

Case History

Cases
  • $2 million jury verdict
Recovered a $2 million jury verdict in a breach-of-contract case involving a dispute over a 17-year business relationship between companies involved in the plastic film industry.
  • Obtained summary judgment
Obtained summary judgment for health insurer in ERISA action involving claim of wrongful denial of health benefits.
  • Landmark decision in Rhode Island
Obtained a favorable order for a general contractor seeking to enforce an Ohio arbitration clause. The matter was named as one of the most important Rhode Island opinions of 2012 because it was the first time a court concluded that the Federal Arbitration Act preempted a Rhode Island statute that prohibits out-of-state arbitration in certain construction matters.

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