Biography | Michael J. Duffy

Michael Duffy has more than 35 years of experience representing insurers in insurance coverage matters, extra-contractual liability, bad faith and reinsurance matters. He regularly advises clients with respect to insurance coverage issues, drafts insurance policy language, and litigates coverage and bad faith cases for general and specialty lines insurance and reinsurance companies. He is a cochair of the firm’s Insurance & Reinsurance Coverage Practice.

Michael also has experience handling class action matters, particularly against insurers. He draws on the firm’s national resources and collective experience to realize desired legal outcomes for his clients based on their individual reputational challenges and financial objectives.

Michael is involved with several nonprofit organizations, including Friends of the Orphans, which is dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned children in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Gateway Foundation, which provides treatment for indigents addicted to drugs and alcohol. He also served as the DePaul University College of Law Alumni Liaison and as a lector for St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church.

Education

DePaul University College of Law (J.D., 1987)
- with honors
Northern Illinois University (B.A., 1984)

Bar Admissions

Illinois
Wisconsin

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin

Professional Affiliations

Pastoral Counsel, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich
DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar

Awards & Honors

Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2023-2026
Selected for Inclusion in The Legal 500 United States: Chicago Elite: Commercial Disputes section Tier 4, 2025
Selected for inclusion in The Legal 500 United States in Insurance: Advice to Insurers Tier 3, 2024-2025
Selected for inclusion in Illinois Super Lawyers®, 2005−2006, 2008−2024
Selected for inclusion in The Legal 500 - Insurance Tier 4, 2023
Named by the Leading Lawyers® Network as an Illinois Leading Lawyer in Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law, 2017, 2021−2023

Insights

Seventh Circuit Finds Access or Disclosure Exclusion Bars Coverage for BIPA Claims

June 5, 2024

Authors: Michael J. Duffy, Michael J. O’Malley, Joseph M. Dybisz

Insights

Illinois Legislature Passes Amendment to BIPA to Respond to Plaintiff-Friendly Decisions by Illinois Supreme Court

May 22, 2024

Authors: Michael Duffy, Michael O’Malley, Lisa Handler Ackerman, Joseph Dybisz

Legal Analysis

Wilson Elser’s Punitive Damages Review 2023 50-State Survey

October 24, 2023

Insights

Seventh Circuit Holds Insurer Must Defend BIPA Lawsuit: Broad Violation-of-Statutes Exclusion Creates Ambiguity

June 28, 2023

Legal Analysis

Required Language in Coverage Letters - A 50-State Survey

April 3, 2023

Insights

Illinois Supreme Court Expands Private Entities’ Exposure to Liability & Damages

February 28, 2023

Insights

Illinois Supreme Court Holds Five-Year Statute of Limitations Applies to All Causes of Action Alleging Violations under All Sections of BIPA

February 9, 2023

Insights

Northern District of Illinois Decisions Find Access or Disclosure Exclusion Precludes Coverage for BIPA Claims, Creating a New Split in the District

April 29, 2022

Insights

Does the Employment-Related Practices Exclusion Preclude a Duty to Defend for Claims Under Illinois BIPA?

March 22, 2022

Insights

Do Certain Exclusions Preclude a Duty to Defend for Claims Under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act?

March 10, 2022

Insights

North Carolina Federal Court Finds No Duty to Defend Illinois BIPA Suit

October 13, 2021

Insights

Northern District of Illinois Holds No Coverage for Punitive Damages Awarded Because of Insured’s Conscious Indifference in a Negligent Failure to Warn Case

June 24, 2021

News Briefs

Super Lawyers Names Four Wilson Elser Attorneys to 2026 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

January 21, 2026

News Briefs

The Best Lawyers in America 2026 Includes 140 Wilson Elser Attorneys

August 21, 2025

News Briefs

The Legal 500 United States 2025 Selects Wilson Elser in Four Practice Areas

June 23, 2025

News Briefs

Super Lawyers Names Six Wilson Elser Attorneys to 2025 Illinois Lists

January 21, 2025

News Briefs

The Best Lawyers in America 2025 List Includes 108 Wilson Elser Attorneys

August 15, 2024

News Briefs

The Legal 500 United States 2024 Selects Wilson Elser Once Again in Three Practice Areas

June 17, 2024

News Briefs

Super Lawyers Names Nine from Wilson Elser to 2024 Illinois Lists

January 26, 2024

News Briefs

Insurance NewsNet Cites Wilson Elser Insight on Illinois Far-Reaching Privacy Protection Law

December 27, 2023

News Briefs

Best Lawyers in America 2024 Includes 91 Wilson Elser Attorneys Representing 27 Offices

August 17, 2023

Press Releases

The Legal 500 United States 2023 Selects Wilson Elser in Three Practice Areas

June 20, 2023

News Briefs

O’Brien and Duffy Obtain Summary Judgment for Carrier Client in Excess Coverage Case

January 24, 2023

News Briefs

Super Lawyers Names Seven from Wilson Elser to 2023 Illinois Lists

January 24, 2023

News Briefs

Duffy and O'Brien Obtain Affirmation of Dismissal in Declaratory Judgment Action

October 18, 2022

News Briefs

Best Lawyers in America 2023 Includes 69 Wilson Elser Attorneys Representing 24 Offices

August 18, 2022

News Briefs

3 Attorneys Named to 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers List

February 10, 2022

News Briefs

Duffy, Burd & O’Brien Receive Sixth Circuit Affirmance in $30 Million Contractual Liability Case

May 18, 2021

News Briefs

Six Named to 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers Lists

January 29, 2021

Events

Michael Duffy has more than 35 years of experience representing insurers in insurance coverage matters, extra-contractual liability, bad faith and reinsurance matters. He regularly advises clients with respect to insurance coverage issues, drafts insurance policy language, and litigates coverage and bad faith cases for general and specialty lines insurance and reinsurance companies. He is a cochair of the firm’s Insurance & Reinsurance Coverage Practice.

Michael also has experience handling class action matters, particularly against insurers. He draws on the firm’s national resources and collective experience to realize desired legal outcomes for his clients based on their individual reputational challenges and financial objectives.

Michael is involved with several nonprofit organizations, including Friends of the Orphans, which is dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned children in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Gateway Foundation, which provides treatment for indigents addicted to drugs and alcohol. He also served as the DePaul University College of Law Alumni Liaison and as a lector for St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church.

Duffy & Bruch Secure Declaratory Judgment Dismissal of Breach of Contract, Fraud, and Professional Negligence Claims in Construction Case

Michael J. Duffy (Partner-Chicago) and Sarah (Sally) Fry Bruch (Of Counsel-Milwaukee, WI) secured a declaratory judgment and dismissal of all claims with prejudice in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court on behalf of Wilson Elser’s insurance company client. The plaintiff, a business owner, allegedly sustained damages and business losses during a construction project, filing claims for breach of contract, fraud, and professional negligence against our client (under Wisconsin’s Direct Action Statute) and its insured, a licensed architect.

Mike and Sally, citing long-standing Wisconsin law, argued that there was no initial grant of coverage for the plaintiff’s breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation claims under the client’s Business Liability Insurance Policy. They further argued that the plaintiff’s professional liability claim was expressly excluded under the plain language of the policy’s Professional Services Exclusion and Endorsement, which excluded coverage for property damage arising out of rendering, or failing to render, any professional service by an insured. Following briefing in support of the motion by Wilson Elser and opposition briefing by plaintiff, and Mike’s compelling oral argument, the Court ruled in favor of Wilson Elser’s client. In its twelve-page Decision and Order, the court concurred that the client’s Business Liability Insurance Policy provided no coverage for the plaintiff’s claims and held that our client had no duty to defend or indemnify the insured in the underlying matter, with all claims against Wilson Elser’s client dismissed with prejudice, and granting the client statutory costs and fees.

Michael J. Duffy and Sarah (Sally) Fry Bruch