Michael Velladao

Partner

Michael.Velladao@lewisbrisbois.com

Michael Velladao is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Lewis Brisbois and the national coordinating chair of the Bad Faith Litigation & Insurance Coverage Practices. He specializes in insurance coverage and declaratory relief. He has more than 35 years of experience in handling insurance coverage disputes and related matters. Mr. Velladao has been practicing since 1983. He is a specialist in insurance coverage and declaratory relief, and is certified to practice before the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern U.S. District Courts.

Mr. Velladao has authored over 2,500 coverage opinions. He also litigated declaratory relief actions regarding coverage disputes involving construction defects, intellectual property, pollution, aviation liability, intentional and business torts. He has also represented insurers in several Court of Appeal decisions.


Primary Area(s) of Practice

  • Insurance Coverage
  • Insurance Law
  • COVID-19: Insurance Coverage
  • COVID-19 Response Resource Center

Additional Experience

Admissions

California

U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern U.S. District Courts

Associations

  • American College of Coverage Counsel
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • Phi Delta Phi International
  • Defense Research Institute

Awards & Honors

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America® 2023 & 2024 —Insurance Law
  • Super Lawyers Magazine, 2018

Education

Pepperdine University Law School

Juris Doctor, 1983

University of San Francisco

Bachelor of Arts, 1980

Publications

Editor and author of the quarterly Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Newsletter

Published Decisions

  • Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins. Co., 130 Cal.App.4th 890, 2d Dist. Calif. Court of Appeal, 2005
  • Garriott Crop Dusting Co. v. Superior Court, 221 Cal.App.3d 783, 1990
  • Barth-Wittmore Ins. v. H.R. Murphy Enterprises Inc., 169 Cal.App.3d 124, 1985