Michael E. Holzapfel

Michael E. Holzapfel is of counsel in the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. where he focuses primarily on ERISA and complex commercial litigation. Clients turn to Michael for his institutional knowledge of benefits administration, his procedural litigation acumen in both ERISA Single-Plaintiff and class-action lawsuits, and his ability to understand the intricacies of federal and state insurance, financial, and other applicable laws and regulations.

Michael prides himself on understanding his clients’ business operations, benefits, and plan structures, with the objective of providing clients with both zealous representation and practical guidance. In the ERISA forum, Michael is a “go-to” lawyer for payers, plans, administrators, and fiduciaries across the country in benefits administration, coverage, and fiduciary disputes.

Over more than twenty years of practice, Michael has also represented businesses from closely-held family ventures to Fortune 500 companies in both Single-Plaintiff disputes and complex class actions. His clients have included publicly traded and privately held insurers, administrators, financial institutions, contractors, and construction management firms, among others. Michael’s sophisticated understanding of such diverse industries allows him to deliver advice tailored to his clients’ unique needs and environment, as well as to provide effective counsel throughout all aspects of the pre-trial, trial, and appeals process.  

During law school, Michael was an associate editor of the Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Lawrence M. Lawson, Assignment Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County.

Honors and Recognitions

• Legal 500 USA, "Recommended Attorney" (2024)
• The Best Lawyers in America©, "Construction Litigation" (2016, 2017)
• New Jersey Super Lawyers®, "Rising Stars" (2006-2017) and "Super Lawyers" (2021-present)

Pro Bono and Community Involvement

• Councilman, Borough of Little Silver (2018-2023)
• Planning Board Member, Borough of Little Silver (2014-present)
• Recreational Assistant Coach, Borough of Little Silver