Michael D. O'Mara

Managing Partner

momara@stradley.com

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Overview

Mike O’Mara is managing partner of Stradley Ronon and a seasoned, results-oriented trial lawyer focusing on contentious and complex disputes. Mike’s experience trying cases of all kinds, at all levels — over 25 years, in federal and state court as well as private arbitration — provides him unique insight into the ways in which well-crafted themes and arguments move decision-makers, whether it’s a judge, a jury, or a board member.

Mike’s advocacy encompasses a broad array of complex, high-exposure commercial litigation, including defending and prosecuting financial services cases, merger and acquisition disputes, intellectual property litigation, restrictive covenants, class actions, ERISA claims, trust and estate disputes, insurance and commercial real estate matters. In professional liability cases, he frequently represents professional services firms, including law firms and publicly-traded insurance intermediaries. Mike also counsels sophisticated nonprofit organizations, including religious, educational and healthcare organizations, on litigation-related matters.

Widely respected throughout the legal community, Mike is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, a highly selective, invitation-only organization dedicated to elevating the standards of trial and appellate practice. A similar mission informs his work teaching trial advocacy to Villanova School of Law students.

As Stradley Ronon’s managing partner, Mike serves on and works closely with the firm’s management committee and board of directors in articulating and implementing the vision and direction of the firm. He oversees the firm’s practice groups, administrative operations, and leads various initiatives related to strategic growth and practice development. Prior to his role as managing partner, Mike also spent a decade chairing Stradley Ronon’s award-winning litigation department.

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Results

Representative Matters

  • defeated a petition for injunctive relief following four-day evidentiary hearing in which neighboring commercial property owners sought to halt a $350 million construction project
  • tried a $26 million commercial real estate dispute, securing a dismissal of all claims against a real estate developer by way of a motion for nonsuit following a four-day trial and testimony from six witnesses
  • secured a seven-figure settlement in an actuarial malpractice case on behalf of a local, preeminent preparatory school
  • tried an $80 million dispute between a marine terminal operator and its landlord port authority before a panel of three arbitrators, securing an unanimous award in his client’s favor
  • tried a $40 million condemnation case on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, securing a favorable settlement several days into a jury trial
  • tried a Fair Labor Standards Act and retaliation case, securing a complete defense verdict for a multistate employer following a week-long federal court jury trial
  • defeated a preliminary injunction petition filed by a publicly traded company seeking to preclude a former high-level executive from embarking on a new business venture
  • defended a Swiss electronics company against patent infringement claims relating to transistor design in high-speed logic circuits
  • secured dismissal of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit alleging civil conspiracy and tortious interference against a global distributor of industrial and specialty chemicals
  • secured dismissal of alleged violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) against a global manufacturer of industrial heating and ventilation equipment
  • represented investors in South Carolina federal court in a securities fraud case against a Wall Street short seller, securing a liability finding
  • secured the dismissal of more than 50 cases against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and other religious institutions
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Credentials

Bar Admissions
  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Education
  • J.D., cum laude, Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law
  • B.S., magna cum laude, James Madison University
Memberships

  • Adjunct Faculty, Villanova School of Law
  • American Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • Board of Directors, Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS)
  • Board of Directors, The Center for Autism
  • Board of Directors, Committee of Seventy
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • Member, National Diocesan Attorneys Association
  • Former Member, Board of Directors, Malvern Retreat House
  • Former Member, Board of Governors, St. Thomas More Society
  • Former Member, Development Advisory Council, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • The Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

News

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Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, “Sponsorship in Jeopardy,” Resource Center for Religious Institutes, Annual Conference 2022
  • Presenter, "Legal Issues Updates: Maintaining Identity and Fidelity in a Changing Environment,” Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities 2022 Annual Meeting
  • Presenter, “The Implications of 2020 Court Rulings on Catholic Institutions,” Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
  • Presenter, “Economic Experts: What They Can Add to Your Employment Case, How to Work with Them and When You Don’t Need Them,” PBI 20th Annual Employment Law Institute
  • Presenter, “Tort Reform in 2012. What’s New? What’s Next?,” Risk and Insurance Management Society 2012 Annual Conference
  • Guest Speaker, Naturalization Ceremony, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2008
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Recognitions

  • The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
  • Suburban Life Magazine, "Five-star Attorney"
  • Suburban Life Magazine, "Top Attorney"
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, recognized for Pennsylvania: General Commercial Litigation
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Star
  • The Legal Intelligencer, “Lawyers on the Fast Track”
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In The Community

Mike serves on the boards of The Center for Autism and Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS). He is also a former member of the Development Advisory Council for the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

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