Mike has practiced exclusively in family law since graduating from the University of Washington Law School in 1983. He has been in the same firm since 1981 and assumed its leadership in 2001. He has served as a mediator and arbitrator in family law matters since 1987. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a past president of the Washington Chapter. He served on the King County bench as a Family Law Commissioner pro tem from 1998 – 2007. He served several terms as board president for both the Center for Conflict Management (a non-profit mediation service) and Northwest Family Life (a non-profit Domestic Violence Treatment agency).Mike authored the Washington Deskbook Chapter on mediation for the WSBA and has presented at numerous legal conferences.He has three adult children, each of whom works with him at the firm in one capacity or another.
Mike literally saved my life. Before I found him, my husband had moved to another State, stole my two sons, and got a restraining order against me so I could not see my children. He left me with nothing. My ex completely alienated our mutual friends and destroyed every professional and religious connection I had. No one would touch my case and basically said I lost and there wasn’t a hope to save me. But then I connected with Mike on the phone. I had no money and no one I could refer him to vouch for my personal integrity. Mike listened. He took my case without even meeting me. I couldn’t afford to fly up to meet him. He believed in me when I had given up on myself. In a few short months Mike didn’t just represent me but he put together a team to go after my ex. It was an ugly fight but Mike with his great compassion and insight quelled the fury on both sides so that an equitable resolution could be found. He got my ex to pay for me to fly up and meet Mike and see my children on regular visits. It was all Mike. He barely charged me enough to cover his costs. In the end I got my house back, my children’s love back, my children back and a comfortable settlement so I could live without ever having to beg my family members for money to live. In essence my life back. Mike is my hero although he is much too humble and gracious to except to accept such compliments.
