Picture of Michael J. Needleman

Michael J. Needleman

Partner
mneedleman@regerlaw.com
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T: 215.495.6513
F: 215.495.6600

2929 Arch St 13th Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

Michael J. Needleman is a Partner in the firm’s litigation department.  He has extensive trial experience, having tried cases across Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well as in the District of Columbia.  He has also tried cases in federal court in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Although Mr. Needleman concentrates on insurance-based litigation and bad faith defense, he also handles employment-related litigation and complex commercial matters for businesses in the region.  

As with nearly every area of business, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced significant changes on the legal profession.  Mr. Needleman prides himself on his adaptability.  He has successfully moved most of his practice online.  In each of the jurisdictions in which he practices, Mr. Needleman has litigated remotely, including: depositions; court hearings; and even trial.  It is this kind of flexibility, combined with thorough preparation and skill, that makes Mr. Needleman an effective litigator, whether live in the courtroom or by remote platform.  Notably, he has successfully defended each case tried remotely.

Mr. Needleman is frequently asked to speak to continuing legal education audiences and to the insurance industry on litigation-specific topics, trial practices and new developments.  His audiences are local, regional, national and overseas.  

A former law clerk to the Hon. Theodore Z. Davis, P.J. Ch., Camden County, Mr. Needleman has continued with his commitment to public service.  He is a past member of the Advisory Board of Directors of the CMT Association, co-chair of the ADR committee of the New Jersey Defense Association, and currently serves on the school board in his local township.  

Some of Mr. Needleman’s more notable experience includes:

  • Efficiently obtained a full dismissal on behalf of our client, an excavation and site work contractor, before extensive discovery was conducted on a multi-million dollar motor vehicle accident claim, saving the client a significant amount of money in litigation fees. 
  • Obtained a defense verdict in a premises liability case in Philadelphia
  • Successfully represented a mid-size manufacturer in discrimination litigation in Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas
  • Won summary judgment on behalf of a large insurer in bad faith litigation in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • Successfully represented a large manufacturer and supplier in Title VII and related litigation in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • Won a defense verdict at trial in the Superior Court of New Jersey in bad faith litigation
  • Won a defense verdict on behalf of a homeowner at trial in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Mr. Needleman is also a frequent contributor to Reger Rizzo & Darnall's Employment Law Update, a collection of timely, informative and thought-provoking updates on critical topics impacting employers, employees, HR professionals, business owners, and everyone associated with the employment law arena. Please visit our Employment Law Update page for access to all of our educational client alerts. 
Education

J.D., Widener University School of Law (2001)

B.A., American University (1998)

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice Pennsylvania
New Jersey
District of Columbia
U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Civic & Charitable Associations
Co-Chair, The ADR committee of the New Jersey Defense Association
Member, Advisory Board to the Board of Directors of the Charcot Marie Tooth Association
Volunteer, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Member, Civil Rights Panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Honors & Awards
Honored as Attorneys on the Court’s Civil Rights and Employment Panels of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Selected for Inclusion in the 2008, 2010 – 2016 list of Pennsylvania Rising Stars Super Lawyers®
Publications & Press Mentions
Author, If Drafting an Arbitration Agreement, Take Your Time and Draft Wisely. The New Jersey Defense Association. (Winter 2018)
Author, The Medicare Secondary Payer Act and Distribution of Settlement Funds: Life in the Trenches. (December 14, 2015)
Author, Forum Non Conviens in the Keystone State: A Common Sense Approach. DRI: The Voice (Vol. 14, Issue 44). (November 4, 2015)
Author, Out of Joint (and Several Liability). New Jersey Defense Association. (Spring 2015)
Featured, Michael Needleman Named 2014 Pennsylvania Rising Star.
Author, Defending Workers’ Compensation Discrimination Claims. New Jersey Defense Association. (Fall 2013)
Author, New Jersey Makes it Easier for Employees to Sue Under the Family and Medical Leave Act. (March 5, 2013)
Author, Update Regarding the SMART Act. (March 1, 2013)
Author, Expansion of Bad Faith Case Law Blog. (November 6, 2012)
Presentations & Speaking Engagements
Presenter, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email and Smartphone Evidence: From Preservation and Discovery to Authentication and Admission. LawPracticeCLE. (August 25, 2020)
Presenter, Summary Judgment in Bad-Faith CasesStrafford Webinars. (April 21, 2020)
Presenter, Federal Court 101: How to Take a Federal Court CaseLawPractice CLE. (April 10, 2020)
Presenter, Personal Injury from A to Z. LawPractice CLE. (April 3, 2020)
Presenter, The Risk of Anonymity - Privacy Laws Reach Beyond TechSt. Joseph's University Annual Insurance & Reinsurance Symposium. (March 12, 2020)
Presenter, Court Rules and Updates: What You Need to KnowThe National Business Institute. (December 20, 2019)
Presenter, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email and Smartphone Evidence: The Ultimate GuideThe National Business Institute. (December 18-19, 2019)
Presenter, Current Laws Update & Bad Faith TrendsThe National Business Institute. (December 17, 2019)
Presenter, 2019 Civil Trial SeminarThe New Jersey Defense Association. (December 13, 2019)
Presenter, Personal Injury from A to ZThe National Business Institute. (November 14, 2019)
Presenter, Federal Court: Start to FinishLawPractice CLE. (October 7, 2019)
Presenter, EPLI: Current Issues, Trends, Coverages. St. Joseph's University Annual Insurance & Reinsurance Symposium. (March 14-15, 2019)
Presenter, Representing Your Client in Federal CourtLawPractice CLE. (February 11, 2019)
Presenter, Advanced Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Law. The National Business Institute. (December 21, 2018)
Presenter, Nuances of Federal Trial Practice and Removal Procedures. The Federal Bar Association. (February 8, 2018)
Presenter, Nuances of Federal Trial Practice and Removal ProceduresThe Federal Bar Association. (August 10, 2016)