Practice Areas
Education
Michael joined the firm “Of Counsel” after 35 years of practicing in the Chicago area concentrating in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate, corporate transactions and business counseling, including acquisitions, development, financing, construction, real estate-related litigation, property management/leasing and ongoing business operations.
Michael has substantial experience in real estate related litigation, including eminent domain litigation and mechanics lien litigation. In addition, Michael provides advice and counsel to businesses and their owners regarding a wide variety of issues including contract matters, personnel issues, collections, succession planning, business disputes and asset acquisition and sale.
Experience
- Governmental/Eminent Domain Land Acquisition matters: Michael spent multiple years as legal counsel representing a variety of governmental entities and private property owners litigating eminent domain matters. Responsible for hiring, directing and coordinating the real estate development professionals, including civil engineers, traffic engineers, land planners, appraisers, wetland/floodplain consultants and others to assess and determine value, highest and best use and all related site acquisition considerations. Clients included, among others, forest preserve districts, park and recreational entities, toll highway authorities, school districts, library districts and many private property owners.
- Michael sits as a professional employer trustee on several boards (including pension funds, severance funds and health and welfare funds) managing hundreds of millions of dollars of assets for the participants and their eligible beneficiaries associated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
- Assistant State’s Attorney. As a prosecutor, Michael was responsible for virtually every aspect of criminal prosecutions including numerous misdemeanor and felony trials, plea negotiations, preliminary hearings and probation violation hearings. Duties included representation of multiple and branch office.
Honors + Activities
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Mecklenburg County Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Community involvement as pro bono counsel and board member on multiple civic and economic development entities and youth athletics organizations
Admissions
- North Carolina State Bar, admitted in 2023
- Illinois State Bar, admitted in 1987
- District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, admitted to practice in the trial bar, 1992
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, admitted to practice in 1998
