Michael R. Perry

 Michael R. Perry

Michael’s Legal Background

Michael has been a licensed attorney in Arizona and Federal Courts for more than 37 years. He is a trial lawyer, practicing almost exclusively in the field of civil litigation – including personal injury, insurance coverage & disputes, insurance bad faith, attorney malpractice, products liability, premises liability, employment law, and commercial law.

mperry@dessauleslaw.com Direct Line: 602.753.3864

[email protected]
Direct Line: 602.753.3864

Michael has litigated cases in all 16 Arizona counties, both Arizona Courts of Appeals, the Arizona Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. He is an experienced, pragmatic, sensible, straight-shooting attorney with dozens of successful bench and jury trials to a verdict. Michael has served as an expert witness in the areas of Insurance Bad Faith and Reasonableness of Attorneys’ Fees. Michael frequently serves as an arbitrator and mediator.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

AV® Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell® (1997-2020) an, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. 

Southwest Super Lawyer (2009-2020) a distinction held by only 5% of the attorneys in the region.

Lifetime Achievement from America’s Top 100 Attorneys®. Selection to America’s Top 100 Attorneys® is by invitation only and is  a designation received by less than one-half percent (0.5%) of active attorneys in the United States.

America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators (Arizona) 2018-2020, by the Association of America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators.

PROFESSIONAL PURSUITS

Michael has been involved in numerous legal organizations in his career. From 2005 to current Michael has served on the Fee Arbitration Committee for the State Bar of Arizona. He is a former Member and President (2003) of the Board of Directors for the Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (AADC). Michael was appointed and served as Member and Chairman (1998) of the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Examinations. He is a lifetime member of DRI. Michael has been a designated lobbyist at the Arizona Legislature and a witness before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. During law school Michael was Chairman of the ASU Moot Court Board, which he still supports.

EDUCATION

J.D. 1982 Arizona State University (Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law).

B.S. 1979 Arizona State University (Political Science) Magna Cum Laud

HS  1975 Washington Sr. High School (Sioux Falls, SD) NHS

PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY

Michael has been married for 37 years to the former Karen MacMillan, who is also an attorney. Michael & Karen have two children, Caroline (31) and Michael (28), as well as two beautiful Bichon Frise’ dogs, Gracie and Teddy. Away from the office Michael enjoys time with his wife and two puppies, golf, travel, and reading fiction or biographies.