MICHAEL P. O’CONNELL was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1992. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1988. He received his Juris Doctorate and his Masters of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School in 1991, graduating cum laude and magna cum laude, respectively. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert T. Quackenboss and Honorable Joseph C. Messina, Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County.
Mr. O’Connell was also admitted to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1991, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in 1993, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 1995, the United States Supreme Court in 1997, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in 2000, and the State of New York in 2001.
His practice involves governmental and regulatory affairs including the representation of clients before the legislature and executive branches concerning legislation and administrative regulations. Clients include financial institutions, alcohol beverage companies, numerous health and property casualty insurance companies, health care providers, trade associations, municipalities, a telecommunications provider, an animal protection organization, a worldwide vehicle and equipment rental company, and a transportation technology provider. Presently, he also serves as counsel to the Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund which consists of nineteen member municipalities.
Mr. O’Connell’s experience also includes insurance defense, civil rights litigation, plaintiff litigation, and extensive representation of public entities. He served as the Assistant Borough Attorney in Bradley Beach, and has worked in the Law Departments of the Township of Edison, City of Rahway, and Township of Franklin. He was appointed Special Litigation Counsel to the Borough of Sayreville in 1998. Mr. O’Connell has served as trial counsel for the Central Jersey Joint Insurance Fund and the Monmouth County Joint Insurance Fund. He served as trial counsel for New Jersey Steel Corporation. Mr. O’Connell’s trial experience includes the State and Federal Courts, including appellate practice.
Mr. O’Connell worked on two successful gubernatorial races and numerous other political campaigns in New Jersey. He is a member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh. Additionally, he has served as Treasurer and subsequently Vice President of the Freehold Area Running Club and as a Team Captain in the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life.
