Senior Associate

Dallas
901 Main Street
Suite 4000
Dallas TX 75202
TEL: (214) 749-4246
FAX: (214) 760-8994

mobrien@zellelaw.com

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Practice Areas

Bar and Court Admissions

State Court: Texas
U.S. District Court: Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals: Fifth Circuit

Education

The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 2017
The University of Dallas, M.Hum., 2011
Middlebury College, B.S., 2004

Michael Patrick O'Brien

Michael represents many of the world's largest insurance companies in all aspects of civil litigation. His practice focuses on property, inland marine, and construction insurance coverage. As a former law clerk, Michael enjoys the intricacies of civil procedure and motion practice. And as a former English teacher, Michael excels in analyzing coverage for unique, complex issues.

Michael served as a law clerk for the Honorable Hal R. Ray, Jr., Federal Magistrate Judge for Wichita Falls in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Representative Matters

Obtained summary judgment in federal court on million-dollar contingent business interruption claim arising out of Hurricane Harvey.

Aided clients in having multiple entries of default and default judgment set aside.

Obtained summary judgment in federal court, later affirmed on appeal to the Fifth Circuit, concerning application of policy exclusion for lack of storm-created opening.

Successfully argued numerous discovery motions and motions to dismiss (including dismissal of entire case on mandatory forum selection clause).

Articles & Presentations

“Hamlet Analyzes a Construction Exclusion” The Zelle Lonestar Lowdown, October 9, 2024, author

“Court Considers Complicated Commercial Connections in Considering Coverage,” The Zelle Lonestar Lowdown, April 9, 2024, author

“How to Obtain Costs After Winning Summary Judgment,” The Zelle Lonestar Lowdown, March 13, 2024, author

“Fort Worth Appeals Court Confirms Prompt Payment of Appraisal Award Means No Attorney's Fees,” The Zelle Lonestar Lowdown, July 11, 2023, co-author

"Texas Insurers' Paths To Post-Appraisal Summary Judgment," Law360 Insurance Authority, November 22, 2021, co-author

Moderated an all-judge panel on federal civil litigation at the 2020 Northern District of Texas Bench Bar Conference.

“The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 intends to increase disaster preparedness,” CAT-Law Navigator, May 2019, author

Noteworthy

Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, 2024, 2025.

Law is a second career for Michael, as he was an English teacher for ten years before going for his J.D. and has a Master’s with a focus on medieval literature.

While at the University of Texas School of Law, Michael was the Editor in Chief of The Review of Litigation, a Teaching Quizmaster tutor for the first-year research and writing program, and Curriculum Coordinator for Street Law, an organization dedicated to mentoring and teaching local public-school students.