Michael J. Carrigan

Partner

Mr. Carrigan represents companies and individuals involved in complex business disputes regarding government investigations, insurance coverage, and contracts. Mr. Carrigan leads the firm's Insurance and Coverage and risk management group and has significant experience in litigating coverage disputes on behalf of policyholders.   A former Senior Deputy District Attorney, Mr. Carrigan has tried over one hundred cases to judge and jury, and has litigated cases in the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, as well as several other courts in the United States.

Mr. Carrigan is an elected official, serving on the University of Colorado Board of Regents since 2005.  In 2012 and 2013, his colleagues elected him chair of the Board of Regents, which oversees the $3.4 billion University of Colorado, the third largest employer in the state of Colorado. Mr. Carrigan currently serves as chair of the University's Audit Committee and he has been interviewed on higher education issues by CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and other media outlets.  In September 2014, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock appointed Mr. Carrigan to the city's Crime Prevention and Control Commission. 

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  • Experience
    • Representative Matters
    • Some recent successes enjoyed by Mr. Carrigan’s clients: 

      An insurance brokerage was sued by a former client for numerous claims and asserted damages over $4 million.  Following dismissal of certain claims through dispositive motions, Mr. Carrigan led a team through a nine-day jury trial, resulting in a total defense verdict after less than two hours of deliberations.

      An insurance company sought declaratory judgment to void policy on multi-million structure and the first mortgage holder. Mr. Carrigan resisted the insurer’s multi-year effort to rescind its policy and obtained proceeds satisfying the full balance of the mortgage and fees. 

      Prevailed at trial in a multi-party dispute regarding ownership of securities following the death of the primary shareholder. 

      A state prosecutor charged a construction contractor with two counts of felony theft of project funds. Mr. Carrigan was hired after a court bound the case over after a preliminary hearing.  Mr. Carrigan coordinated a presentation of evidence that led the prosecution to dismiss the case in its entirety.  He then filed a federal lawsuit against the complaining parties and promptly secured a seven-figure policy limits settlement by their insurer.

      A small software company was the subject of a federal lawsuit seeking a restraining order and more than $10 million in damages. Within three weeks, the temporary restraining order was defeated and the adverse party agreed to withdraw its complaint and stipulated to a $1 million payment to Mr. Carrigan’s client.

      A state pension fund in a suit involving a real estate investment sale. After Mr. Carrigan deposed three of the plaintiff’s witnesses, the plaintiff voluntarily withdrew the complaint in return for Mr. Carrigan’s agreement not to seek attorney’s fees.

      A former franchisee sued a national hotel chain. Mr. Carrigan secured dismissal of the claims without any discovery whatsoever. Although the dismissed claims were outside the contract, Mr. Carrigan secured a five-figure payment of attorney’s fees to be paid by the opposing counsel.
  • Honors & Awards
    • The Best Lawyers in America© Commercial Litigation (2014-2017)
    • National Law Journal, Top Rated Insurance Lawyer (2012)
    • Colorado Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation (2009-2016)
    • Super Lawyers® Corporate Counsel Edition (2010)
    • American Bar Association Leadership Academy (2008, 2009)
    • Denver Bar Association, Richard Marden Davis Award (2007)
    • The Colorado Statesman, Fifty for the Future (2007)
    • 2006 Marshall Fellow: An international exchange program for young business, community, and political leaders in the United States and Europe
    • Denver Business Journal, Forty Under 40 (2005)
    • Colorado Institute for Leadership Training, Community Leadership Award (2005)
    • Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Chamber 100 Program (2005)
    • Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in Emerging Leaders
  • Memberships & Affiliations
    • Member, American Bar Association
    • Member, Colorado Bar Association
    • Member, Denver Bar Association
  • News
  • Publications
  • Speaking Engagements
    • Fall 2013
      Anti-Corruption/FCPA Enforcement Trends & Compliance Best Practices
      Association of Corporate Counsel–Colorado Chapter Conference
      Presenter(s): Steven Pelak and Michael Carrigan
      Denver, CO
    • September 2013
      Corporate Compliance
      Association of Corporate Counsel
    • 2010 and 2013
      Insurance Coverage Chapter, Colorado Construction Law Update
      Colorado Bar Association
    • November 2010
      Data Breach and Security: Risk Control and Insurance
      Seminar given in Denver, Colorado
    • September 2010
      New Liabilities from New Media
      Seminar given in Denver, Colorado
    • January 2010
      Legal Compliance for Digital Advertising
      Seminar given in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Community Involvement
    • Graduate, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s Hanley Advanced Trial Program, the National College of District Attorneys’ Career Prosecutor Course, and the Colorado Institute of Leadership Training
    • Completed a six-week intensive Spanish review course at the Maryknoll Language Institute in Cochabamba, Bolivia
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