Michael concentrates his practice in workers’ compensation defense. He has experience working on a variety of matters including slip and falls, construction accidents, toxic tort, wage differentials and psychological injuries among others. His clients have included construction-related firms, trucking companies, manufacturers and insurance companies. He also has experience with subrogation, complex litigation and third party defense for employers.

• Education:

  • J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 2007
  • B.A., University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 2004

• Professional Memberships & Associations:

  • Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association

• Seminars & Presentations:

  • “Defending Shoulder & Knee Injury Claims: A Medical & Legal Perspective,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, June 2021
  • “Case Law and Legislative Update,” National Business Institute, June 2021
  • “From Struggle to Success: 2020 Lessons and 2021 Solutions,” RIMS Annual Conference, April 2021
  • “The McAllister Supreme Court Decision & the Future of Denying Accidents in IL,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, October 2020
  • “Workers’ Compensation and COVID-19 Rebuttable Presumption,” Illinois State Bar Association, October 2020
  • “5 x 4 — Five Compelling Workers’ Compensation Topics from Four Different Perspectives,” CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, June 2020
  • “The COVID-19 Effect: Impact on Workers’ Comp,” WorkCompCentral, April 2020
  • “2020 Workers’ Compensation News & Changes You Need to Know,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, January 2020
  • “3rd Annual BDL Great American WC Quiz,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, September 2019
  • “Workers’ Compensation Horror Stories,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, October 2018
  • “Ask Us ANYTHING Part II,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, April 2018
  • “Ask Us ANYTHING,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, December 2017
  • “Workers’ Compensation Mock Trial,” Artex Risk Management Conference, February 2017
  • “Common Workers’ Compensation Issues Defined Part II,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, October 2016
  • “Trial And Appellate Procedure,” Sterling Education Services, Inc., June 2015
  • “Fighting Fraud Claims,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, May 2015
  • “Permanent Partial Disability,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, April 2014
  • “Legal Considerations for a Telework Program,” Telework Summit, October 2013
  • ”AMA Ratings in Illinois,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, July 2013
  • ”Workers’ Compensation Mock Trial,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, April 2013
  • ”Multi-Jurisdictional Workers’ Compensation Claims,” Panelist for a CLE presentation, February 2012
  • ”Illinois Workers’ Compensation 101 Overview Seminar,” GuideOne Insurance Company, July 2011
  • ”IL Workers’ Compensation Reform,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Clients, June 2011

• Articles & Publications:

  • “Legislative Update,“ Bryce Downey & Lenkov Workers’ Compensation Newsletter, February 2017- Present
  • “COVID-19 Rebuttable Presumption Extended,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Workers’ Compensation Newsletter, February 2021
  • “Illinois Legislature Extends COVID-19 Rebuttal Presumption,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Client Alert, January 2021
  • “Amendment to Extend COVID-19 Rebuttal Presumption Filed,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Client Alert, January 2021
  • “McAllister: Common Bodily Movements and a Change in Compensability,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Illinois Workers’ Compensation Newsletter, October 2020
  • “The Realities of the Workers’ Compensation COVID-19 Rebuttable Presumption,” Illinois State Bar Association Building Knowledge Construction Law Newsletter, July 2020
  • “Dramatic Expansion of IL Employees Workers’ Compensation Rights,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Client Alert, April 2020
  • “Full Duty Release & Job Offer; TTD Suspension,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Illinois Workers’ Compensation Newsletter, December 2018
  • “Bank Teller Leaves Empty Handed,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Illinois Workers’ Compensation Newsletter, June 2018
  • “Early Bird Gets The Worm,” Bryce Downey & Lenkov Illinois Workers’ Compensation Newsletter, February 2018
  • “Illinois Workers’ Compensation Reform,” The Illinois Manufacturer Magazine, Winter Edition, 2012

• News & Insights:

  • Risk & Insurance, “5 Workers’ Comp Litigation Considerations Employers Should Review Before a Claim Heads to Court,” June 2020