
Mike is the chair of the Litigation Practice Area and co-chair of the Mediation Practice Area. For forty years he has practiced in the area of commercial litigation and has been certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a civil trial attorney. He has appeared before the New Jersey Supreme Court and Appellate Division, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and in state and federal trial courts throughout New Jersey. He devotes his practice primarily to commercial litigation with emphasis in the following areas: professional liability, in which he has defended over 100 attorneys and accountants in malpractice cases, general civil and commercial litigation, insurance litigation, contract and corporate litigation and trust and estate litigation.
He represents policyholders seeking declaratory judgments for insurance coverage under comprehensive general liability, product liability, directors' and officers' liability, professional liability, fire, employee dishonesty, life, health, disability, credit and other insurance policies. The coverage litigation includes claims arising from environmental contamination, wrongful employment termination, construction of multifamily residential homes, workers compensation, professional liability and other claims. He also represents professionals in professional liability actions under their professional liability policies and insureds in premium disputes with insurers. He has been ranked in Chambers USA as a Band 3 and Recognized Practitioner in Insurance Litigation.
He counsels both plaintiffs and defendants in contractual and corporate disputes including real estate, employment, business, construction and franchise contracts, partnership dissolution, corporate "divorces", minority shareholder actions and trust and estate matters.
He has extensive practice in the chancery courts in New Jersey involving temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, enforcement of restrictive covenants, challenging and upholding Wills, removing fiduciaries, compelling accountings, imposing constructive trusts and other forms of equitable relief. He has received several judicial appointments by the chancery courts as an administrator of estates, special fiscal agent and special counsel to evaluate litigation matters. He has served as a speaker on chancery practice. Most litigation matters are resolved by way of settlement and often through mediation. Mike has successfully resolved numerous cases through mediation as a practitioner. He is qualified as a private mediator, having completed a private mediation program through the Administrative Office of the Court, and has been appointed to serve as a mediator in civil litigation matters.
Practice Areas
Professional Activities
- Member of the New Jersey State Bar Association
- Member of the Monmouth County Bar Association
Other Professional and Personal Information
Mike has spoken before trade and professional organizations on topics relating to professional liability, insurance coverage, commercial litigation and chancery practice.
Admissions
- New Jersey
- Federal District Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
Education
- Fordham University School of Law, J.D. (1984)
- Union College - New York, B.A., cum laude (1981)
Honors/Awards
- Voted a 2021 Monmouth County Top Lawyer,* Monmouth Health & Life, October 2021
- Voted a 2020 Monmouth County Top Lawyer,* Monmouth Health & Life, October 2020
- Ranked Band 3 in Insurance Litigation in Chambers USA*
- Voted a 2019 Monmouth County Top Lawyer,* Monmouth Health & Life, November 2019
- Voted a 2018 Monmouth County Top Lawyer,* Monmouth Health & Life, November 2018
- Named The "Woodbridge Area Best Lawyers Insurance Lawyer of the Year" for 2013, 2016 and 2018*
- Named as a New Jersey Super Lawyer®* for 2007-2024
- AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell*
- Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney
- Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers* since 2010
- Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum*
- Ranked in Chambers USA* as a Recognized Practitioner in Insurance Litigation
News
- 21 Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. Attorneys Recognized as 2025 Best Lawyers® Award Recipients
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2024 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Twenty-Two GH&C Attorneys Recognized in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 24 Lawyers from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. Were Recognized in the 2023 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America®
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2022 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Several GH&C Attorneys Named "Monmouth County's Top Lawyers 2021"
- 24 Lawyers from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P. C. Were Recognized in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2021 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 23 Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, P.C. Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® List
- Business Interruption Coverage for Coronavirus Losses
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2020 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 23 Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named to 2020 Best Lawyers® List
- Twelve Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Ranked in Chambers USA Guide 2019
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2019 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- 22 Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named to 2019 Best Lawyers® List
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2018 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Insurer Can't Recoup $9M Payout for Drug Theft: 3rd Circ.
- 22 Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named to 2018 Best Lawyers® List
- Three Attorneys from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Named 2018 Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" in Woodbridge Area
- Court Affirms Expert Needed for Proximate Cause in Legal Mal
- Ten Giordano Attorneys Ranked in 2017 Chambers USA
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected as 2017 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- "Insurer Can't Revive Legal Mal Claim Against County Lawyer"
- "Fed. Courts Move to Speed Up Hurricane Sandy Litigation"
- Twenty One Lawyers From Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Selected For Inclusion In Best Lawyers in America 2014 List
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla To Receive 2013 Pro-Bono Service Award By Volunteer Lawyers For Justice
- Michael J. Canning Quoted in NJ Law Journal Article "New Jersey Unveils Mediation Plan For Sandy-Related Coverage Claims"
- "New Jersey Unveils Mediation Plan For Sandy-Related Coverage Claims"
- Michael J. Canning Publishes "Business Insurance Coverage in the Event of a 'Superstorm'" in the Architects' League of Northern NJ's Leagueline
- Insurance Coverage For Superstorm Sandy Claims
- 22 Lawyers from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Selected For Inclusion In The Best Lawyers in America
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected As 2012 New Jersey Super Lawyers And Rising Stars
- GH&C's Commercial Litigation Department Successful Representation Report: February 2012
- 20 Lawyers from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America
- Insurance Coverage for Junk Faxes Is Question for Jury, Appeals Court Says
- Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Attorneys Selected As 2011 New Jersey Super Lawyers And Rising Stars
- Can my company recover its legal fees if we win a lawsuit that we file or if we successfully defend a lawsuit in which we are sued?
- Michael J. Canning Highlighted in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition
- 18 Lawyers from Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America ®
- Michael J. Canning and Patrick S. Convery Named Members of Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Articles/Publications
- "Business Interruption Coverage for Coronavirus Losses," GH&C Alert, March 20, 2020
- "Labor Commissioner Rules in Favor of Trucking Company on Owner Operator Issue," The Litigation Landscape Blog, December 18, 2017
- "Business Insurance Coverage in the Event of a 'Superstorm,'" Leagueline, The Architects League of Northern New Jersey, 1Q 2013
- "Insurance Coverage For Superstorm Sandy Claims"
Published Decisions
- State National Insurance Company v. County of Camden, 842 F. 3d 399 (3d Cir. 2016)
- Nuveen Municipal Trust v. WithumSmith+Brown, 692 F.3d 283 (3d Cir. 2012)
- Howard Wein, et al. v. Jack Morris,194 N.J. 364 (2008)
- Williams v. Kenney, 379 N.J. Super. 118 (App. Div. 2005)
- Newell v. Hudson, 376 N.J. Super. 29 (App. Div. 2005)
- Waterloov Gutter Protection Systems Co., Inc. v. Absolute Gutter Protection, LLC, 64 F. Supp. 2d 398 (D.N.J. 1999)
- Whalen v. Schoor, DePalma & Canger Group, Inc., 305 N.J. Super. 501 (App. Div. 1997)
- Federal Ins. Co. By and Through Associated Aviation Underwriter v. Purex Industries, Inc., 972 F. Supp. 2d 872 (D.N.J. 1997)
- Robertson v. Central Jersey Bank & Trust Company, 47 F. 3d 1268 (3d Cir. 1995)
- Gatto v. New Jersey Automobile Full Insurance Underwriting Association, 284 N.J. Super. 665 (App. Div. 1995)
- Aetna Insurance Company v. Trans American Trucking Service, Inc., 261 N.J. Super. 316 (App. Div. 1993)
- Trans American Trucking Service, Inc. v. Ruane, 273 N.J. Super. 130 (App. Div. 1994)
- Kuhn v. Spatial Design, 245 N.J. Super. 378 (App. Div. 1991)
- Patterson v. Monmouth Regional High School Board of Education, 222 N.J. Super. 448 (App. Div. 1987)
Press Mentions
- "NJ Justices Won't Hear Challenge to $5.4M Junk Fax Ruling," Law 360, January 11, 2019
- "Insurer Can't Recoup $9M Payout for Drug Theft: 3rd Circ.," Law 360, December 6, 2017
- "Court Affirms Expert Needed for Proximate Cause in Legal Mal," New Jersey Law Journal, August 4, 2017
- "Truck Stop Asks 3rd Circ. To End $9M Drug Theft Dispute," Law 360, March 9, 2017
- "3rd Circ. Axes Appeal In NJ County Atty Malpractice Complaint," Law 360, May 24, 2016
- "Split 3rd Circuit Denies Insurer's Bid to Reinstate Legal Mal Suit," New Jersey Law Journal, May 24, 2016
- "Transport Cos. Can't Sink AXA's Suit Over $9M Drug Theft," Law 360, December 23, 2015
- "GH&C Obtains Dismissal Of Claim For Specific Performance Of Claimed $45 Million Contract," GH&C Updates, December 24, 2015
- "Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Obtains Summary Judgment In $9 Million Inadequate Security Case," GH&C Updates, December 24, 2015
- "Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla Co-Counsel on $5.4 Million Judgment in Insurance Coverage Case," August 19, 2015
- "Insurer Can't Revive Legal Mal Claim Against County Lawyer" New Jersey Law Journal, December 2, 2014
- "Fed. Courts Move to Speed Up Hurricane Sandy Litigation," New Jersey Law Journal, August 27, 2014
- "Affidavit of Merit Statute Applies to Fraud Claims Against Professionals," NJ Law Journal, May 19, 2014
- "GH&C Successfully Represents New Jersey Accounting Firm," May 19, 2014
- "Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla To Receive 2013 Pro-Bono Service Award By Volunteer Lawyers For Justice" GH&C News, August 12, 2013
- "New Jersey Unveils Mediation Plan For Sandy-Related Coverage Claims," NJ Law Journal, March 2013
- "Public Forum Held with Local Businesses"
- "NJLJ: Insurance Coverage for Junk Faxes Is Question For Jury, Appeals Court Says"