Michael J. Sullivan
Michael J. Sullivan
Summary
Mike puts his more than 35 years of litigation experience to work for his clients every day. He has spent his entire career at Collins Einhorn, joining the firm the day after graduating from law school in May of 1983. In that time, he has become an accomplished professional and product liability litigator, and recently completed ten years as President of the firm. In the professional liability arena, he has represented attorneys, accountants, physicians, architects, engineers, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers, and title agents. Mike also has substantial experience in product liability litigation, representing door and tool manufacturers, as well as makers of consumer goods and recreational products. Mike also maintains an active general litigation practice, including insurance disputes, and personal injury defense. Mike has a successful track record as a trial lawyer, including literally hundreds of defense outcomes and verdicts on behalf of his clients.
Mike’s expertise has been recognized by his peers. On eight occasions, Mike has been recognized by Best Lawyers as the Detroit area Lawyer of the Year in Legal Malpractice Law and Professional Malpractice Law. In addition, on 5 occasions, Mike has been listed as one of the top 100 Super Lawyers in the State of Michigan. Mike was also honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as a Leader in the Law in 2013. More recently, Mike was honored by the State Bar of Michigan when he was presented with the Kimberly M Cahill Bar Leadership Award at the SBM annual meeting in 2019. In addition, Mike was recognized by the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC) which presented him with its 29th Excellence in Defense Award in March of 2021. Most recently, Mike was honored by the Oakland County Bar Association which presented him with its Professionalism Award in May of 2021.
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Long active in service to the profession, Mike is a past president of the Oakland County Bar Association (2007-2008), the Oakland County Bar Foundation, (2009-2010), and is also a past chair (2017-2018) of the Negligence Section of the State Bar of Michigan. His service to the profession is not limited to Michigan. Mike is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, (IADC), and for several years was the chair of the organization’s annual Professional Liability Roundtable.
Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
- University of Detroit School of Law (J.D. 1983)
- University of Notre Dame (B.A. 1980)
Admissions
- State Bar of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
Professional Activities
- State Bar of Michigan
- Negligence Section (Chairman)
- Oakland County Bar Association
- Past Director; Past Officer; Past President (2007-2008)
- Oakland County Bar Foundation (Board of Directors)
- Past President (2009-2010)
- Oakland County Bar Foundation (Fellow)
- Michigan State Bar Foundation (Fellow)
- Professional Liability Underwriting Society
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Professional Liability Committee
- Court appointed facilitator and mediator
Accomplishments
- State Bar of Michigan “Distinguished Service Award” Recipient (2024)
- MI Lawyers Weekly “Hall of Fame” Award Recipient (2024)
- Oakland County Bar Association 2021 Professionalism Award
- Michigan Defense Trial Counsel 2021 Excellence In Defense Award
- Kimberly M. Cahill Bar Leadership Award Recipient (2019)
- Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” (Metro Detroit)
- Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2012, 2014, 2018, 2022)
- Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (2011, 2013, 2017, 2020)
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2025)
- Best Lawyers of America®
- Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2010-2025)
- Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (2010-2025)
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2018-2025)
- Super Lawyers™
- Professional Liability – Defense (2006-2024)
- Top 50 Michigan Business (2018)
- Top 100 Michigan (2009-2011, 2018,2019)
- DBusiness® Top Lawyer
- Professional Malpractice Law (2011-2013, 2015-2018, 2020, 2022, 2024)
- Legal Malpractice Law (2011-2013, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023)
- Professional Liability (2010, 2024)
- Product Liability (2020, 2022, 2023)
- “Leaders in the Law” Award, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2013)
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rated (5.0 out of 5.0)
- Served as neutral arbitrator for the National Association of Security Dealers
Publications & Speaking Engagements
Legal Malpractice Report, Michigan Defense Quarterly (January 2010-Present)
News & Insights
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that 25 lawyers have been included in the 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, including two receiving “Lawyer of the Year” distinction. Ten of the 25 lawyers have been included in the Ones to Watch edition, which recognizes attorneys who are early in their careers…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that 21 of our firm’s lawyers have been included in the 2024 editions of Super Lawyers. Five of the 21 recognized lawyers have been included in the Rising Stars edition, which recognizes attorneys who are early in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that ten of our colleagues have been named to the 2024 “Top Lawyers” list by DBusiness magazine: David C. Anderson Legal Malpractice Law Joshua I. Arnkoff Professional Malpractice Law Theresa M. Asoklis Legal Malpractice Law Donald D. Campbell Legal Malpractice Law Michael J. Cook Appellate Law…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that 27 lawyers have been included in the 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, including three receiving “Lawyer of the Year” distinction. Eleven of the 27 lawyers have been included in the Ones to Watch edition, which recognizes attorneys who are early in their careers…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that 22 of our firm’s lawyers have been included in the 2023 editions of Super Lawyers. Seven of the 22 recognized lawyers have been included in the Rising Stars edition, which recognizes attorneys who are early in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that 27 lawyers have been included in the 2023 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, including four receiving “Lawyer of the Year” distinction. Eleven of the 27 lawyers have been included in the Ones to Watch edition, which recognizes attorneys who are early in their careers…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that 22 of our firm’s lawyers have been included in the 2022 editions of Super Lawyers. Four of the 22 recognized lawyers have been included in the Rising Stars edition, which recognizes attorneys who are early in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice….
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that twelve attorneys have been named to the 2022 “Top Lawyers” list by DBusiness magazine: David C. Anderson Legal Malpractice Law Professional Malpractice Law Joshua I. Arnkoff Legal Malpractice Law Theresa M. Asoklis Legal Malpractice Law Professional Malpractice Law Donald D. Campbell Legal Malpractice Law Professional Malpractice…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that 28 lawyers have been included in the 2022 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, including four receiving “Lawyer of the Year” distinction. Eleven of the 28 lawyers have been included in the Ones to Watch edition, which recognizes attorneys who are early in their careers…
We are proud to announce that the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel has awarded Michael J. Sullivan the 2021 Excellence In Defense Award. The MDTC “Excellence in Defense Award” honors those civil defense counsel who, over a number of years and through their professionalism, intelligence, creativity, judgment, personality, sensitivity, civility, advocacy skills, community involvement and efforts…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that sixteen attorneys have been named to the 2021 “Top Lawyers” list by DBusiness magazine: David C. Anderson Legal Malpractice Law Professional Malpractice Law Product Liability Joshua I. Arnkoff Legal Malpractice Law Professional Malpractice Law Theresa M. Asoklis Legal Malpractice Law Professional Malpractice Law Donald D. Campbell…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is proud to announce that 13 of its attorneys have been named Michigan Leading Lawyers, including one attorney receiving the distinction of 2020 Top 10 Leading Women Business Lawyers. Leading Lawyers recognitions are peer-recommended through survey and approved by an advisory board. The organization limits the total number of Leading Lawyers…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that 19 lawyers have been included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, including 5 receiving “Lawyer of the Year” distinction. Four additional lawyers have also been included in the “Ones to Watch” edition, which recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in…
We are proud to announce that 22 attorneys have been named to either the 2021 Super Lawyers list, or the 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. Congratulations! Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is proud to announce that 15 of its attorneys have been named to the 2020 Michigan Super Lawyers list, and an additional 8 attorneys were named to the 2020 Michigan Rising Stars list. Additionally, Melissa Graves was named to the Top 50: 2020 Women Michigan Super Lawyers list. Super Lawyers, a…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC attorney Michael J. Sullivan was recently recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” for Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants in the Detroit area. This is the seventh time Sullivan has received such recognition. He was named Lawyer of the Year in the field of Professional Malpractice law…
Southfield, Mich.,May 2, 2019 – Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is proud to announce that shareholder/past president Michael J. Sullivan will receive the 2019 Kimberly M. Cahill Bar Leadership Award. Since its inception in 2009, the State Bar of Michigan’s Kimberly M. Cahill Bar Leadership Award is presented to a recognized local or affinity bar association,…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC President Michael J. Sullivan has been recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2017 Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” in Metro Detroit. This is the fifth time Sullivan has been designated as a “Lawyer of the Year.” He has been recognized as such in the field of Professional Malpractice law in 2011, 2013, and 2017, in addition to having been named the “Lawyer of the Year” in the field of Legal Malpractice Law in 2012 and 2014. Sullivan is also one of eleven attorneys within the firm who have been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017. This also marks the seventh year in a row that a Collins Einhorn lawyer has been named the “Lawyer of the Year” in the fields of either Professional Malpractice Law or Legal Malpractice Law. Sullivan has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for the past eight consecutive years.
Michael J. Sullivan and Jason M. Renner obtained summary disposition of plaintiff’s counterclaim for legal malpractice (and several other torts) on the basis that plaintiff had failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The plaintiff brought his counterclaim in response to a lawsuit initiated by a law firm that sought recovery…
On July 22, 2015, Michael J. Sullivan, Trent B. Collier, and Jason M. Renner successfully obtained summary disposition in a legal malpractice action pending in Oakland County Circuit Court. The corporate-plaintiff brought an action for professional negligence, alleging that its attorney failed to conduct “due diligence” with respect to legal services provided in connection with…
Nine Collins Einhorn Farrell attorneys were named 2015 “Top Lawyers” DBusiness: David C. Anderson was listed for Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants Theresa M. Asoklis was listed for Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants Donald D. Campbell was listed for Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law Timothy F. Casey was listed…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC announced today that 13 attorneys have been named to the 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers list. An additional 4 attorneys were named to the 2014 Michigan Rising Stars list. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a…
Collins Einhorn Farrell PC is pleased to announce that 11 attorneys have been named to the 2015 edition of Best Lawyers in America©. For over three decades, Best Lawyers® has been considered the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers has since partnered with U.S. News®, the leading rankings publication in the U.S., to rank…
Three Collins Einhorn attorneys were honored by 2014 Best Lawyers as “Detroit Lawyers of the Year” in their practice areas. Attorneys listed in Best Lawyers are selected based on peer reviews. Those lawyers honored as “Lawyers of the Year” have received especially high ratings from their peers for their skill, professionalism, and integrity. Michael Sullivan,…
Ten Collins Einhorn attorneys were selected by their peers for inclusion in 2014’s Best Lawyers in America: David C. Anderson (legal malpractice law and professional malpractice law) Theresa M. Asoklis(professional malpractice law) Donald D. Campbell (ethics and professional responsibility law) Timothy F. Casey(insurance law) Brian D. Einhorn(legal malpractice law, professional malpractice law, product injury litigation,…
Michael Sullivan will serve as the program chair and moderator of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Professional Liability Roundtable scheduled for May 16, 2013 at New York University Law School in New York City. The theme of this year’s roundtable will be “Managing the Tripartite Relationship.” Presenters will include lawyers and claims professionals…
On March 21, 2013, Collins Einhorn attorney Michael Sullivan was honored as one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2013 Leaders in the Law. According to Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Leaders in the Law are selected based on characteristics such as: (1) “Being passionate and active on behalf of clients, the legal community and the community at large;”…
Collins Einhorn is proud to announce that our colleagues Noreen L. Slank and Michael J. Sullivan were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” for 2013 by Best Lawyers in America. Noreen received the honor of Best Lawyers’ 2013 Detroit Appellate Practice “Lawyer of the Year.”
Congratulations to the following Collins Einhorn Farrell Ulanoff attorneys who were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America; 2013: Noreen L. Slank: Chosen both for Appellate Practice as well as Insurance Law. Donald D. Campbell: Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law. David C. Anderson: Chosen both for Legal Malpractice Law –…
Collins Einhorn congratulates our colleagues listed in the 2012 edition of Detroit’s Best Lawyers: Noreen L. Slank – Appellate Practice, Donald D. Campbell – Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Brian D. Einhorn and Michael J. Sullivan – Legal Malpractice Law, Clayton F. Farrell – Product Liability Litigation, and Theresa M. Asoklis and Michael J. Sullivan…
Mike Sullivan and David Anderson recently obtained summary disposition in the Oakland County Probate Court in a case arising from a decedent’s estate. The personal representative of the estate sued her former lawyers, contending that they should have advised her that she could not use trust proceeds to pay off the mortgage on her home…
Mike Sullivan recently obtained summary disposition on behalf of his lawyer client in the Oakland County Circuit Court. The claim arose out of divorce litigation, wherein the Plaintiff contended that he was given improper advice regarding his rights in arbitration, and ultimately was dissatisfied with the manner in which the arbitration was conducted. Mike filed…
Twelve Collins Einhorn lawyers are listed in the 2012 edition of SuperLawyers and Rising Stars. Of the twelve, those listed in SuperLawyers are: David Anderson (Professional Liability Defense), Theresa Asoklis (Professional Liability Defense), Tim Casey (Insurance Coverage), Brian Einhorn (Professional Liability Defense), Clay Farrell (Toxic Tort), Deb Hebert (Appellate), Jan Hildenbrand (Employment), Noreen Slank (Appellate)…
For the second consecutive year, nine attorneys from Collins Einhorn were named to the 2011 “”Michigan Super Lawyers”” and one to the “”Rising Stars”” lists. Of the nine, Michael J. Sullivan (Professional Liability Defense), Noreen L. Slank (Appellate), and Deborah Hebert (Appellate) were named among the Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers 2011. The trio’s selection…
Mike Sullivan and David Anderson recently obtained summary disposition on behalf of their law firm client arising out of a probate estate. After engaging in self dealing activities vis-à-vis her family trust, (Plaintiff and her husband had loaned trust assets to themselves in order to pay off a substantial mortgage on their home, and them…
Mike Sullivan recently obtained summary disposition on behalf of his lawyer client who was sued for malicious prosecution, abuse of process, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in connection with activities under taken in attempting to collect against a Judgment debtor. In what was seen as an effort to avoid collection of the debt, the…
Mike Sullivan recently obtained summary disposition on behalf of his lawyer client who was sued arising out of actions he undertook as an arbitrator. Mike asserted arbitral immunity as a defense, and defeated plaintiff’s contention that they were suing the lawyer defendant not for actions taken as an arbitrator (which they characterized as decisional acts),…
On November 15, 2010 Insurance Journal- National Region featured an article by CEFU lawyers Michael Sullivan and Monika Sullivan “Sore Losers Don’t Always Win.” The article focuses on the unsuccessful bidder in a business opportunity using litigation as a vehicle to validate their claims of “foul play.”
CEFU attorneys Deborah Hebert (Appeals), Deborah Lujan (Professional Liability), Noreen Slank (Appeals), and Michael Sullivan (Legal Malpractice and Professional Malpractice), were listed in the November/December 2010 issue of dbusiness as “Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit for 2011.” More than 15,000 private attorneys in Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston Counties were polled in a peer…
Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named Michael J. Sullivan as the “Detroit Area Best Lawyers Professional Malpractice Lawyer of the Year” for 2011. After more than a quarter of a century in publication, Best Lawyers is designating “Lawyers of the Year” in high-profile legal specialties in…
Mike Sullivan and Geoff Brown obtained summary disposition on behalf of a lawyer client sued for defamation in the Oakland County Circuit Court. The lawyer issued a press release in connection with pending litigation. The opposite party in that action sued, asserting that the press release was inaccurate, and therefore defamatory. Mike and Geoff pointed…
Mike Sullivan and Rick Joslin obtained summary disposition for their lawyer client in the Genesee County Circuit Court. Plaintiff contended that the lawyer defendant was negligent in the matter in which he prosecuted a premises liability action, resulting in the action having been dismissed. Mike and Rick successfully argued that the underlying premises liability action…
Mike Sullivan and Monika Sullivan obtained summary disposition on behalf of their lawyer client in the Calhoun County in a claim arising out of a criminal prosecution. Plaintiff brought suit alleging that the lawyer’s negligence prevented him from having an opportunity to challenge on appeal his decision to withdraw his plea. The trial court granted…
Mike Sullivan, Rick Joslin, and Paul Bernard recently obtained an order from the Michigan Court of Appeals affirming a trial court summary disposition obtained on behalf of their lawyer client. Mike, Rick, and Paul were able to convince first the trial court, and then the Court of Appeals, that the severance agreement that the law…
Michael Sullivan will serve as the moderator of the International Association of Defense Counsel’s Professional Liability Roundtable in Chicago on May 20, 2010. Among the topics that will be covered will be liability pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the implications of the new Medicare and Medicaid reporting rules on Professional Liability…
Mike Sullivan will be a speaker at the American Conference Institute’s National Advanced Forum on Professional Liability Insurance on March 24, 2010. Mr. Sullivan will be on a panel evaluating the impact of the credit crisis on the EO market. Along the topics to be covered are an analysis of what the credit crisis really…
Mike Sullivan obtained Summary Disposition from the Jackson County Circuit Court on behalf of his lawyer client sued for violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Mike was successful in arguing that the FDCPA claim was untimely under 11 U.S.C. § 108 (a)(2), and, because the lawyer client had no duty to investigate the…
Collins, Einhorn, Farrell & Ulanoff is proud to announce that seven attorneys were selected for inclusion in Law and Politics Magazine’s Super Lawyers® for the 2009 issue. Brian Einhorn, Theresa Asoklis and Mike Sullivan were included in Super Lawyers for their work in Professional Liability Defense. Clay Farrell was included for his work in the…
Michael Sullivan participated in the “Risk-Spotting in the New Law Firm Landscape: Liability and Coverage Issues” for the Fall 2009 ABA national Legal Malpractice Conference held in Chicago on September 23-25, 2009. With an increasing number of lawyers on the move during the recent economic crisis, and with alternative employment arrangements becoming more prominent, new…
Michael Sullivan has been elected president of the Oakland County Bar Foundation for the July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010 term. The Foundation acts as the charitable arm of the Oakland County Bar Association; it’s mission is to serve the citizens of Oakland County and the legal profession through the funding of programs that foster the…
Michael J. Sullivan served as a moderator and presenter at the International Association of Defense Counsel’s Professional Liability Roundtable on May 14, 2009 in Manhattan, N.Y. The event entitled “Sub-Prime Redux (now for the rest of the story),” focused on the recent developments in the subprime crisis and the implication of those developments on lawyers,…
Collins Einhorn attorneys were selected for inclusion in Law and Politics Magazine’s Super Lawyers® for the 2008 issue. Attorneys Brian Einhorn, Theresa Asoklis and Mike Sullivan were included in Super Lawyers for their work in Professional Liability Defense. Super Lawyers represents the top 5 percent of attorneys in the state based upon survey and independent…