About Michael J.
Michael J. Needleman followed a straightforward path into law. He earned a B.A. from American University in 1998 and a J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 2001. Those early years set the groundwork for a career that has spanned state courts, federal districts and appellate work.
Soon after law school, Needleman gained admission across multiple jurisdictions. He is licensed in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. He also appears in federal courts, including the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey, and maintains admission to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Those credentials have allowed him to handle cases at different levels of the judiciary.
Professionally, he is a partner at Reger Rizzo & Darnall LLP. In that role he has taken on litigation responsibilities that require frequent appearances, brief writing and courtroom argument. He also maintains a credential as a State Certified Mediator in New Jersey, which adds an alternative dispute resolution option to the services he offers clients. The mediator certification is state-issued and used alongside his litigation work.
Needleman’s professional affiliations reflect a mix of bar activity, defense-oriented groups and industry contacts. He holds memberships with the New Jersey Defense Association, the New Jersey State Bar, the Pennsylvania State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar. He is a member of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the General Building Contractors Association. He also volunteers with Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. Those associations tie him to both legal peers and specific industry communities.
Colleagues describe Needleman as methodical in court preparation and attentive during settlement discussions. He handles pretrial discovery, dispositive motions and trial strategy, and steps into mediation sessions when cases present settlement possibilities. His practice has required work in both state and federal arenas, and he is experienced at moving cases through procedural stages in each. He currently concentrates his practice on civil litigation, including defense and construction-related matters, and on mediation in New Jersey cases.
