Mike has been licensed to practice law since 1986 and his practice emphasizes real estate transactions, land use/zoning, alternative dispute resolution, litigation and school law. A signifncant part of his practice involves advising property owners on waterfront property issues.  He is a certified mediator and arbitrator, a licensed real estate law instructor and 2012-2013 President of the Bainbridge Island School Board. He frequently serves as a Court-appointed referee on real estate matters.  Prior to entering private practice, Mike represented the Realtor® organization to local, state and federal legislative bodies, and in that capacity, he has had a hand in the drafting of many major pieces of real estate-related legislation.

Mike studied planning and economics at the University of Wisconsin and worked as a Planner and in the title insurance industry before becoming licensed to practice law. Because of this combination of experience, Mike was invited to Shanghai, China to consult with housing and land use officials on regulation of real estate markets, and he subsequently took a one-year leave of absence from Harrison, Benis & Spence to serve as Lead Attorney for a USAID and World Bank-sponsored land reform project in the former Soviet Republic of Moldova.

Mike’s passion is education, and since 1994 he has taught real estate law and related topics to brokers and others for North Seattle Community College, the Rockwell Institute, the Seattle-King County and Washington State Realtor® organizations and every major brokerage in Puget Sound. In 2009 he was elected to the Bainbridge Island School Board. Mike lives on Bainbridge Island and is part owner of the Green Bay Packers.

MIke is available for the following:

• Residential and Commercial Transactions
• Real Estate Litigation
• Seller and Private Financing
• Land Use Entitlements and Land Use Petitions
• Consultation on waterfront property issues
• Code Enforcement matters
• Court-appointed referee services
• Real Estate Arbitrfation and Mediation
• Business entity formation, operation and dissolution
• Real Estate Expert Witness Services