Michael P. Connolly

Michael P. Connolly is a senior associate in Bowles & Verna’s construction litigation practice group. 

Mr. Connolly represents owners, general contractors and subcontractors in single and multi-party litigation as well as non-litigation business matters.  He has experience in construction defect, delay, change order and cost overrun cases as well as contract review.  In addition, Mr. Connolly has experience representing parties in commercial contract and real property disputes as well as construction insurance coverage related matters.

Representative Experience

• Obtained a judgment of dismissal after demurrer for the general contractor of a 31 unit condominium project in San Francisco in response to allegations of construction defect brought more than 10 years after a notice of completion was recorded.  

• Triggered insurance coverage for an electrical contractor sued for indemnity in a multi-party construction defect action involving a condominium conversion in Solano County.

• Obtained a $137,000 judgment in favor of a homeowner against a general contractor that failed to complete construction on schedule and failed to correct construction errors and omissions.

• Successfully expunged mechanic’s liens improperly recorded by a subcontractor against a homeowner’s property.

• On behalf of general contractor, negotiated and obtained individual subcontractor settlements in multi-party action involving in excess of $7 million in late payment, change orders and mechanic’s lien claims on a high rise conversion project in Los Angeles.

• On behalf of general contractor, negotiated and obtained individual subcontractor settlements in multi-party action involving multi-million dollar delay, productivity and change order claims on a condominium highrise in Marina Del Rey.

• Obtained a successful settlement for a general contractor in a dispute with subcontractor who designed and supplied faulty window washing scaffolding forSan Francisco high rise condominium project and San Mateo commercial midrise.

• Lead associate in representation of public entity against commercial all-risk property insurer in claim for greater than $4 million in damages resulting from earth movement caused by crack in a pipe fitting improperly installed by subcontractor during renovation to the public entity’s water pumping station.

• Represented a general contractor in pursuit of more than $380,000 in construction payments on a bonded stop notice claim against a construction lender on a foreclosed condominium project in Oakland.

• Lead associate in current representation of a general contractor involved in a $20 million multi-party action involving mechanic’s liens, delay claims, construction defects, and claims of alter ego and improper distribution against the developer LLCs in relation to the construction of an 85 unit luxury condominium high-rise in Los Angeles.

• Lead associate in current representation of a subcontractor in a $6.5 million dispute arising out of the construction of the GSA federal building in San Francisco.

• Lead associate in the representation of a public entity against insurance carrier for improper handling of worker compensation claims arising out of an OCIP for construction of a large scale dam and water reservoir system.

Personal Information

Mr. Connolly obtained a bachelor degree in political science, with a minor in economics, from the University of California, San Diego, in 2001.  He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2005.  Mr. Connolly is admitted to practice law in both Arizona and California.  He is also admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Mr. Connolly is a native of Arizona and lives in Walnut Creek with his wife, Christina.  In his free time he enjoys golf, running, skiing, and photography.