Michael A Stover

     Over the course of my 31 years of experience, my practice has primarily focused on surety and construction law.  I am rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, I have been selected as a Best Lawyer in Construction Law by The Best Lawyers in America 2013-2022 and I have been named as a Super Lawyer in Maryland for Surety law by Super Lawyers for 2015 - 2022.

      In the surety industry I have represented most of the major surety companies as well as many mid-size and smaller companies.  I have been involved as counsel on large multi-state, multi-project contract performance bond defaults, involving workouts, financing and takeovers as well as large national bankruptcy matters for commercial bond sureties.  I have also represented sureties in pursuing indemnity, salvage and subrogation rights.  Over the years I have been very active in the surety industry writing articles, giving presentations and attending/sponsoring conferences around the country.  I spearheaded the creation of the Philadelphia Surety Claims Association and I am a founding Officer and member of the Board of Directors.  In 2016 I was named a Vice Chair of the ABA/TIPS - Fidelity and Surety Law Committee and continue to serve in that capacity today.  I updated Chapter 10, Payment Bond Surety's Right to Contract Proceeds, in the ABA publication titled The Law of Payment Bonds, 2d Ed.  I co-authored Chapter 6 Surety Claims in Bankruptcy in the ABA publication titled Surety Aspects of Bankruptcy Law and Practice.  I co-authored Chapter 4, Financing the Principal in the ABA publication titled the Bond Default Manual, 4th Ed.  I co-authored Chapter 20, The Commercial Surety’s Collateral in a Principal’s Bankruptcy Case in the ABA publication titled The Law of Commercial Surety and Miscellaneous Bonds, 2d Ed.

      In May 2016, I spearheaded the creation of the Surety Today® live podcast program.  Surety Today® is a live podcast educational resource for professionals in the surety industry presented monthly by the attorneys of the Surety Law Group at Wright, Constable and Skeen.  Surety Today®  podcasts offer 30 minutes of in-depth discussion on topics of narrow focus and practical importance to those in the industry.  I am the host and have presented on numerous surety related topics.  The presentations are recorded and can be found as podcasts on spotify, apple podcast, amazon music, sticher, and Podbean and are also transcribed and can be found at and .

      In the construction industry I have represented fortunetors, architects, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers and owners in a wide variety of matters.  From negotiating and drafting contracts, to preparing and filing claims, bid protests, mechanics liens, litigation, collections, mediations and arbitrations.  I regularly present seminars for the construction industry.