Michael A Guadagno

Partner | Seattle, United States
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Profile

Education

  • Seattle University School of Law, JD, cum laude, 2003
  • Seattle University, MBA, 2003
  • University of Missouri - Columbia, BA, 1999

Michael Guadagno is a partner in the Seattle office. His practice includes leading insurance and reinsurance companies in third-party liability coverage disputes and bad faith litigation, involving different lines of insurance products, including commercial general liability, professional liability, homeowners, and property and casualty.

Michael excels in managing simultaneous lawsuits and thrives on resolving complex cases to deliver results for his clients. He assists and advises insurers on a variety of claims, including construction defect, sexual assault, transportation and environmental pollution.

Memberships

  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) (Member | CIPP\US, 2022 – Present)
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (Member, 2015-2022)
  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (Member; Board of Trustees, Strategic Planning Committee, 2005-2018) 
  • Foundation for Washington Courts (Board of Trustees, 2016-2018) 
  • Puget Sound Adjusters Association (Member, Speaker, 2014-2018) 
  • Washington State Bar Association (Member, Legislative Committee, 2007-2010) 
  • Catherine Blaine Middle School (Facilitator, Mock Trial, 2017-2018) 
  • Nathan Hale High School (Coach, Mock Trial, September 2009-2011) 
  • Villa Academy (Facilitator, Mock Trial, 2010-2018) 
  • Washington YMCA Youth & Government

Related articles

News

Kennedys continues momentum on West Coast with eight lawyers joining Seattle

09/09/2025

View more

Qualifications and admissions

Admission

  • Alaska
  • Idaho
  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • US District Court for the District of Alaska
  • US District Court for the District of Idaho
  • US District Court for the District of Oregon
  • US District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
  • US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Market recognition

  • Ranked lawyer and notable practitioner for 'Insurance (Washington) Chambers USA 2024-2025
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America©(2024-2025 — Insurance Law; 2024-2025 — Commercial Litigation)
  • Selected for inclusion in Washington Super Lawyers(2017-2025 — Insurance Coverage & Civil Litigation Defense)
  • Recipient of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers 2016 President’s Awardfor his contributions to the civil justice system 
  • Named as a “Rising Star” in Washington Super Lawyers(2009 — Insurance Coverage) 
  • Awarded “Linda Crum Service Above Self Award,” Seattle Public Schools (2010) 
  • Awarded “Community Leadership Award,” Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) (2011) 
  • Awarded “Professional Excellence Award,” Seattle Select Attorneys (2012) 
  • Awarded “Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation,” Washington State Bar Association (2009-Present) 

Presentations and publications

  • “Coverage Implications of Washington’s My Health My Data Act,” presented for the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Annual Insurance Law Update (2024)
  • “The Duty to Defend in Washington & Oregon: West Hills Dev. Co. v. Chartis Claims, Inc., 360 Or. 650, 385 P.3d 1053 (2016),” presented for the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Annual Insurance Law Update (2017) 
  • “When Settlement Negotiations Are Not Privileged – How to Successfully Negotiate Claims Settlements with One Arm Tied behind Your Back,” presented at the Puget Sound Adjusters Association (PSAA) Claims College Symposium (2017) 
  • “Insurance Coverage Complexities, Concerns, Liability & Litigation,” presented at the Trucking and Transportation Conference, National Business Institute (NBI) (2016) 
  • “Blurring the Lines of Subrogation and Reimbursement,” presented for the Puget Sound Adjusters Association (PSAA) (2016) 
  • “Comparing Work Product Applications to Claim Files in Pacific Northwest Jurisdictions,” presented and published for the Puget Sound Adjuster Association (PSAA) (2016) 
  • “Comparing Work Product Applications to Claim Files in Pacific Northwest Jurisdictions,” presented and published for the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Seattle Chapter Educational & Networking Event (2016) 
  • “Real Life Cedell Issues,” presented for the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Insurance Law Update (2016) 
  • “Privilege and Ethics in the Tripartite Relationship,” presented at the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Annual Ethics Seminar (2015) 
  • “Challenges to the Attorney-Client Privilege in U.S. Jurisdictions After Cedell and TransCanada,” presented for the Lloyd’s of London (2015) 
  • “Admission/Exclusion of Unique Evidence,” presented for the National Business Institute (NBI) (2015) 
  • “Handling Email, Social Media and Other Electronically Stored Information (ESI),” presented for the National Business Institute (NBI) (2015) 
  • “Keeping Evidence Out (Pre and Post Trial),” presented for the National Business Institute (NBI) (2015) 
  • “Powerful Closing Arguments,” presented for the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) Defense Academy (2014) 
  • “Shhhh! The Attorney-Client Privilege after Cedell v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash.,” presented for the Puget Sound Claims Managers Council (2013) 
  • “Cedell v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash.,” presented for the Puget Sound Adjusters Association & Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) (2013) 
  • “New Marijuana Laws: Weeding Out the Coverage Implications of I-502,” presented and published for the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) (2013)

Services

Sectors