Michele H. Dinterman (formerly Michele F. Hayes) is a trial lawyer representing professionals, businesses, and insurers in high-exposure commercial litigation. She defends design professionals, engineers, architects, construction firms, and hospitality and real estate clients in professional liability, construction defect, premises liability, and complex commercial disputes. She practices in state and federal courts throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and has worked with local counsel on matters across the country.
Michele draws on experience in both liability defense and insurance coverage to help clients navigate complex matters strategically and proactively. She works to identify overlapping issues early, develop thoughtful litigation strategy at every stage of a case, and provide practical guidance regarding risk, exposure, and available options. She is known for keeping clients closely involved in strategy, communicating clearly about risk and options, and staying focused on achieving the best possible outcome — whether through motion practice, negotiation, or trial.
Professional Liability & Construction Defect
Michele serves as lead trial counsel in high-exposure professional liability and construction defect matters involving catastrophic injury and significant financial and reputational risk. She represents design professionals, engineering and architecture firms, and their insurers in complex, expert-driven disputes centered on standard-of-care issues. She has eliminated substantial exposure through dispositive motion practice and has authored appellate briefs affirming defense outcomes in professional liability cases.
Commercial Litigation
Michele handles a range of high-stakes commercial litigation matters, including catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims, complex business and liability disputes, premises liability defense, and trucking and transportation liability, in state and federal trial and appellate courts, mediations, and arbitrations. She has represented Lloyd's syndicates, insurers, engineering and construction firms, and self-insured hospitality clients — including hotels and vacation rental companies — providing a broad perspective on layered liability and coverage issues.
Insurance Coverage
Michele handles insurance coverage litigation and analysis, including Representations and Warranties (R&W) claims and related coverage disputes. Her coverage experience directly informs her defense strategy, allowing her to identify and address coverage considerations before they become problems.
She is a frequent presenter at industry and legal conferences on professional liability, defense strategy, and insurance coverage, including at DRI Annual Meetings and conferences, where she serves as Chair of the Women's Committee on the DRI Young Lawyers Steering Committee. She received the 2023 DRI Young Lawyers Committee Unsung Hero Award for her dedication to DRI and its mission.
Outside of her practice, Michele is a certified yoga instructor. She previously served as a law clerk for the Honorable Yolanda Tanner of the Circuit Court for Baltimore, Maryland.
Michele is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Community Law Center, Co-Chair of her firm's Women's Committee, and Chair of its Marketing Committee. She is committed to pro bono service and has provided legal assistance to various organizations, including Marian House.
