Member

Michael D. Risley

Mike Risley is Co-Chair of the firm’s Appellate Advocacy Group and former Chair of the Louisville office’s Litigation Service Group. A seasoned litigator, Mike frequently appears before both state and federal appellate courts. He also has deep experience in disputes involving insurance bad faith and coverage, ERISA, and commercial and employment-related matters. Mike formerly served as the Louisville Office Executive Member and is a former member of the firm’s Management Committee.

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

Tie Votes in the Kentucky Supreme Court

Bench & Bar Magazine, Kentucky Bar Association, March/April 2023

Friend or Foe - Dealing With Your Own Insurer

Kentucky Bar Association In-House Counsel seminar, March 8, 2022

IN PERSON: Stites & Harbison's Michael Risley goes from small town to the big time

How Louisville's lawyers, architects and accountants are going remote

by Marty Finley and Sarah Shadburne, Louisville Business First, April 2, 2020

Stites & Harbison names new top exec in Louisville

by Chris Larson, Louisville Business First, March 3, 2020

Kentucky High Court Restores $80M Punitive Damages Against Firm

Law360, December 13, 2018

Homebuilder's commercial liability insurance may not completely protect you

Q&A with Stites & Harbison's Michael Risley

Recent Assignments
Reported Decisions
Bar Admissions
Kentucky
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Supreme Court
Firm Leadership

Appellate Advocacy group, Co-Chair

Louisville Office Recruiting Committee, Member

Business Acceptance Committee, Former Member

Former Office Executive Member, Louisville Office

Diversity Committee, Former Member

Louisville Litigation Service Group, Former Chair

Management Committee, Former Member

Memberships
American Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Kentucky Defense Counsel
Kentucky Bar Foundation, Life Member
Community Involvement

Better Business Bureau of Greater Louisville, General Counsel

Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, Church Attorney

St. Francis School, former long-term Board of Trustees member

University of Kentucky Fellow

Education
More Than Stites & Harbison

Mike serves as General Counsel to the Better Business Bureau of Greater Louisville. He is a Church Attorney for the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, and a former long-time member of the Board of Trustees of St. Francis School, an independent school located in Louisville.

Mike spends some of his time away from the office travelling, being an avid sports fan, and serving at his Church. In addition, while a notoriously bad golfer, Mike will long be remembered for winning the closest to the pin contest at the 2005 Louisville Bar Association annual golf outing.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice (2011-25)

Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year in Appellate Law (2017, 2022)

Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2013-24)

Louisville Magazine's "Top Lawyers" for Insurance Law (2013, 2014, 2016)

Finance Monthly, Fintech Awards Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyer of the Year (2019)

MH AV 2024 300
Risley Best Lawyers 2025
Risley Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2022
Risley Bestlawloy2017
Risleysuperlaw
See more related to Michael D. Risley
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications

Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 97 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence according to the publication. Additionally, 12 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 30 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 16, 2024
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers® recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 35 attorneys to the Super Lawyers® list and 14 attorneys to the Rising Stars® list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 12, 2024
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 24, 2023
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 37 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 12, 2023
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 98 of its lawyers are included in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Additionally, 11 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 19 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 18, 2022
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 37 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2022

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2022 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 37 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 29 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and eight attorneys to the Rising Stars list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 11, 2022
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 93 lawyers are included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Additionally, 11 attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 14 attorneys are recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch,” which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC September 01, 2021
Articles

IN PERSON: Stites & Harbison's Michael Risley goes from small town to the big time

When Michael Risley entered law school at the University of Kentucky, he admitted to being initially intimidated by his big-school, big-city classmates.

by Michael D. Risley February 01, 2021