Appellate Practice
Michael D. "Mike" Risley
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2011 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Mike Risley is Co-Chair of the firm’s Appellate Advocacy Group and former Chair of the Louisville office’s Litigation Service Group. A seasoned litigator, Mike frequently appears before both state and federal appellate courts. He also has deep experience in disputes involving insurance bad faith and coverage, ERISA, and commercial and employment-related matters. Mike currently is serving the firm as Louisville Office Executive Member and is a former member of the firm’s Management Committee.
More Than Stites & Harbison
Mike serves as General Counsel to the Better Business Bureau of Greater Louisville. He is a Church Attorney for the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, teacher at St. Matthews Episcopal Church and a former long-time member of the Board of Trustees of St. Francis School, an independent school located in Louisville.
Overview
- English
- University of Kentucky, J.D., graduated 1983
- Murray State University, BS, graduated 1977
- Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association
- American Bar Association - Member
- Defense Research Institute (DRI) - Member
- Kentucky Bar Association - Member
- Kentucky Bar Foundation - Life Member
- Kentucky Defense Counsel - Member
- Louisville Bar Association - Member
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- U.S. Supreme Court
- English
- Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association
- American Bar Association - Member
- Defense Research Institute (DRI) - Member
- Kentucky Bar Association - Member
- Kentucky Bar Foundation - Life Member
- Kentucky Defense Counsel - Member
- Louisville Bar Association - Member
- University of Kentucky, J.D., graduated 1983
- Murray State University, BS, graduated 1977
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- U.S. Supreme Court
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Appellate Practice, Louisville (2022)
- Appellate Practice, Louisville (2017)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Appellate Practice
Awards:
- Kentucky Super Lawyers (2013-present)
- Louisville Magazine Top Lawyers (2013-16)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated
- Finance Monthly, Fintech Awards Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyer of the Year (2019)
Case History
Cases
- Kentucky Supreme Court
- Currently representing appellant insurer before the Kentucky Supreme Court in appeal from a $3,450,000 bad faith verdict
- Successfully represented insurer before Kentucky Supreme Court in reversal of Court of Appeals dismissal of insurer's appeal
- Court of Appeals
- Currently representing successful plaintiffs before the Kentucky Court of Appeals in connection with $100 million judgment
- Co-counsel for ERISA plan in Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals addressing enforcement of forum selection provision in an ERISA plan
- Bad Faith
Currently representing a number of insurers in lawsuits in which the insurers have been alleged to have acted in bad faith toward policyholders or claimants. These cases are in both state and federal courts.
- Confidentiality
Lead trial lawyer representing the University of Louisville Foundation in its highly publicized dispute concerning the Foundation's right to honor the confidentiality of its donors' identities, Cape Publications, Inc. d/b/a The Courier-Journal v. The University of Louisville Foundation, 260 S.W.3d 818 (Ky. 2008)
- Utilities Litigation
One of a team of lawyers who represented Owensboro Municipal Utilities in litigation with Kentucky Utilities Company concerning their respective rights under a long-standing contract which resulted in 13 opinions on issues relating to discovery, expert witnesses, contract interpretation and maintenance of a power plant
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