As Director of the Workers' Compensation Department, Michele oversees more than 35 attorneys throughout nine of the firm's offices. She is also a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. Michele has been with the firm for more than 35 years, and has been a shareholder in the Worker’s Compensation Department since 1998. Michele represents third party administrators, insurance carriers and self-insureds, handling matters for construction companies, steel product and technology companies, hospitals, retailers, supermarkets, hotels, personnel corporations, landscaping contractors, assisted living facilities, townships, and manufacturers. In addition to her managerial and litigation responsibilities, Michele supervises client development efforts for the Workers’ Compensation Department.
During her career, Michele has successfully defeated numerous claim petitions by presenting medical and factual evidence showing that the claimants did not sustain work-related injuries and/or corresponding disabilities. Her innovative legal strategies have included requesting the judge's presence at the employer's premises. In addition, Michele has argued numerous cases in front of the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board and has taken multiple cases to the Commonwealth Court.
In March 2022, Michele was inducted into the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers, joining a select group of attorneys from across the country who have distinguished themselves in the practice of workers' compensation law.
Michele has lectured for various organizations, including the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance and Philadelphia Bar Association. She has published many articles and educational/training materials and has authored a chapter on workers' compensation in the prestigious West Pennsylvania Forms and Commentary Employment Law treatise.
Michele graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh and the Widener University School of Law. Michele's success is due in large part to the care and dedication she exhibits to each client and the attention to detail shown in her work. It is these characteristics that have led many of her clients to look to her as a sounding board for business and legal advice.
Michele is active in the community, donating her time to a host of charitable organizations including Northern Children's Services and the American Cancer Society.
Honors & awards
AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
The Best Lawyers in America, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
2023-2026
Pennsylvania Self-Insured Association, Award of Excellence
2008
Pennsylvania Super Lawyer
2007-2008, 2021-2025
Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Corporate Counsel Edition, 2008-2009
Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star, 2005
Year joined
1988
Results
Successfully Prosecuted a Workers’ Compensation Termination Petition
Workers' Compensation
August 12, 2025
We successfully prosecuted a termination petition involving a 65-year-old, 35+ year employee of a renowned international automobile corporation who sustained a left knee injury on June 19, 2023. We secured medical records supporting a significant pre-existing history-with a prior left knee replacement and treatment leading up to June 1, 2023-establishing that the only work injury sustained was a left knee contusion.
Termination Petition Involving Low Back Injury Successfully Prosecuted
Workers' Compensation
February 28, 2024
We successfully prosecuted a termination petition involving a low back injury for a delivery truck service company. Our expert opined that the MRI failed to reveal any acute or post traumatic findings, that the claimant only sustained a soft tissue lumbar sprain/contusion and the exam revealed no objective findings. The workers’ compensation judge found our expert’s opinions were well-supported and terminated all liability.
Expert testimony by Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon key to workers’ comp win.
Workers' Compensation
November 1, 2022
We successfully defended a claim petition on behalf of a well-known local hospital. The judge’s decision was based upon a full recovery opinion by a Board Certified orthopedic surgeon who was found credible, competent and persuasive given his credentials and understanding of the claimant’s extensive history, along with his review of post- and pre-injury records and diagnostic study films supporting no post-traumatic abnormalities.
Successful prosecution of termination petition on behalf of hospital.
Workers' Compensation
May 7, 2021
We successfully prosecuted a termination petition on behalf of a well-known hospital and defended the claimant’s petition for review to expand the nature of the accepted injury. The injury was accepted as a right distal bicep strain, which included a partial tear that resulted in surgery. The claimant asserted the injury should be expanded to also include right carpal tunnel, right elbow sprain and trigger fingers.
Successful defense of workers’ compensation appeal involving penalty/termination petition.
Workers' Compensation
August 24, 2020
We successfully defeated a workers’ compensation appeal involving a claim penalty/termination petition on behalf of a worldwide youth adult development organization. A Medical Only Notice of Compensation Payable acknowledged liability for a skull contusion and denied any associated disability. The claimant alleged injuries to the cervical spine, head, eyes, a concussion and post concussive syndrome, resulting in total disability.
Thought Leadership
Liberty Mutual Insurance Names Marshall Dennehey External Law Firm Partner of the Year
October 24, 2025
Marshall Dennehey is honored to accept the External Law Firm Partner of the Year Award from Liberty Mutual Insurance.
98 Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America
August 20, 2025
Marshall Dennehey is proud to highlight the firm’s 98 attorneys who have been recognized in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Less than 6% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S.
Danger: High Risk Ahead - Managing Workers' Comp Exposure in Risky Industries
Philadelphia - Headquarters
Workers' Compensation
June 1, 2025
Marshall Dennehey Announces 2025 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
May 22, 2025
Thirty-three attorneys across Marshall Dennehey's five Pennsylvania offices have been selected to the 2025 edition of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine.
6 Key Workers’ Compensation Safety and Data Analysis Considerations
Philadelphia - Headquarters
Workers' Compensation
September 12, 2024
Classes/Seminars Taught
Preventable, Defensible, and Detectable: Managing Risk in Workers Compensation and Liability, CLM Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, March 26, 2026
Workers' Comp Risk Management Best Practices: Insights from High-Risk Industries, CLM Focus Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL, February 12, 2025
The Dream Team Approach to WC Case Management, co-presenter, CLM Workers’ Comp Week: A Virtual Series, August 1, 2024
Getting Caught With Your Hand in the Proverbial Cookie Jar, ClaimsXchange Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, October 12, 2023
Building a Better Business, Achieving a More Diverse Future, CLM Annual Conference, Tampa, FL, March 30, 2023
The Dawning of the Age of Remote Work, CLM Workers' Compensation and Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality Conference, Chicago, IL, May 19, 2022
The Right Way to Avoid a Wrongful Termination Claim When the Employee Is Also a Workers’ Compensation Claimant, Marshall Dennehey webinar, March 3, 2022
Workers' Compensation Winter Roundup, Graham Company webinar, December 15, 2020
Survivor: Workers' Compensation Edition, CLM Workers Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference webinar, June 16, 2020
Workman's Compensation & Third Party Liability, National Association of Women in Construction Philadelphia Chapter, February 26, 2020
Determining the Value of Your Case, Marshall Dennehey Workers' Compensation Seminar, October 24, 2019
Maximizing the Productivity of an Aging Workforce, CLM Workers' Compensation Conference, Chicago, IL, May 22, 2019
Driven to Distraction - Mitigating Distracted Driving Claims, CLM Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, March 14, 2019
Return to Work: Perfecting Job Offers and the Revival of the Labor Market Survey, Marshall Dennehey Workers' Compensation Seminar, October 25, 2018
Private Eyes: They're Watching You!,' Philadelphia Bar Association Workers' Compensation Section Meeting, September 14, 2018
Workers' Compensation Settlement Evaluation Analysis and Mediations, guest lecturer, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, April 11, 2018
The Rise in Workplace Violence: Practical Tips and Guidance to Avoid Devastating Consequences and Reduce Liability, CLM Annual Conference, March 15, 2018
Don't Get Burned: How to Keep a Medical Only Claim From Becoming an Indemnity Claim, Marshall Dennehey Workers' Compensation Seminar, October 19, 2017
Today's 'Medical Only' Claim is Tomorrow's 'Indemnity Claim,' CLM & Business Insurance Workers' Compensation Conference, Chicago, Illinois, May 24, 2017
Do's and Don'ts of Fact Witnesses, Marshall Dennehey Workers' Compensation Seminar, October 27, 2016
Developing a Robust Return to Work Program, CLM Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, May 2016
Put Me In Coach: Top 10 Opportunities in Claims and Litigation Management, Marshall Dennehey Workers' Compensation Seminar, October 22, 2015
The Dream Team Approach to Workers' Compensation Case and Litigation Management, 2015 CLM Annual Conference, Palm Desert, California, March 25, 2015
Checks and Balances: A Dream Team Approach, Marshall Dennehey Workers' Compensation Seminar, October 30, 2014
A New Era of Workers' Compensation Claims? The Potential Impact of Social Trends, claims workshop presented by The Graham Company, Philadelphia, PA, April 18, 2013
You Can't Handle the Truth: A Mock Trial, Marshall Dennehey Workers' Compensation Seminar, Philadelphia, PA, November 30, 2012
Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Forms and Defenses, MAC Risk Management, June 15, 2012
Defense Consideration and Limiting Exposure in Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation, Connor Strong & Buckelew, February 2, 2012
Judicial Panel, Annual Florida Workers' Compensation Institute Conference, August 2011
The New Uniform-Based Task Management System (UBTMS) Workers' Compensation Code Set, Annual Florida Workers' Compensation Institute Conference, August 2010
Understanding the WC Claims Process, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry Workers' Compensation Roundtable, June 3, 2010
The Litigation Process, Pennsylvania Self-Insured - A to Z Training Course , March 11-12, 2010
The Litigation Process, Pennsylvania Self-Insured - A to Z Training Course , March 27-28, 2008
Defense Considerations in Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation , The Graham Company Employer's Training Course, November 29, 2007
Successfully Navigating Workers' Compensation Law - Hot Topics in Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation - Case Law and Legislative Update , Insurance Society of Philadelphia, October 12, 2006
The Litigation Process, Pennsylvania Self-Insured - A to Z Training Course , March 23-24, 2006
Workers' Compensation Mock Trial , The Addis Group's 2006 Risk Management Forum, March 23, 2006
Workers' Compensation Mock Trial , Churchill Dallas Risk Control Workshop, March 16-17, 2006
Workers' Compensation Mock Trial , Raffles Risk Control Workshop, Captive Resource, April 2005
Tough Problems in Workers' Compensation 2003 , Pennsylvania Bar Institute, March 27, 2003
Workers' Compensation 2003 Fall Section Meeting , Pennsylvania Bar Association, September 2003
The Litigation Process, Pennsylvania Self-Insured - A to Z Training Course , April 11-12, 2002
The Impact, Aftermath and Reality of Act 57 , Annual Conference, Pennsylvania Self-Insured, June 25, 1998
Impairment Ratings from the Doctor's and the Attorney's Perspectives , Philadelphia Bar Association/Workers' Compensation Section, June 17, 1998
Legal Update , Annual Conference, Pennsylvania Self-Insurers Association, June 27, 1997
Impairment Rating Under Act 57 , REM, August 23, 1996
Media Commentary
'5 Questions on High-Risk Industries: CLM Session With Michele Punturi and Michelle Leighton,' Workerscompensation.com, January 26, 2025
“Workers’ Comp Making Gains in Attracting Claims Talent, ” CLM Magazine, November 2024
'Survivor: Workers' Compensation Edition,' Safety National Conference Chronicles, June 16, 2020
