Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that Arturo Michel, a partner in the firm’s Houston office, has been selected to serve as the City Attorney for the City of Houston. Michel, who joined Husch Blackwell in January 2019 as part of a three-lawyer team that bolstered the firm’s public law practice in Texas, will rejoin city government, taking over leadership of the City Attorney’s office which he previously led from 2004 to 2010.
“I have greatly enjoyed my time at Husch Blackwell and in helping the firm build its presence in the Houston market,” said Michel. “While I am saddened to leave the firm, I feel that heading up the City Attorney’s office at this pivotal point in time for our city, and our country at large, presents an opportunity to serve the public that will be both challenging and rewarding.”
In his previous stint as City Attorney, Michel oversaw a 100-lawyer department with an annual budget of more than $40 million. Michel led the department on a wide range of matters including intergovernmental relations, governance and compliance, voting rights and elections, and ethics, among many others. He successfully oversaw the renewal of the City’s MWBE program and the creation of Discovery Green, the 12-acre urban park and event venue in downtown Houston.
While at Husch Blackwell, Michel regularly served as outside counsel to a variety of large entities, including Harris County, Houston Community College, Houston Independent School District, the Varnett Public School, and the Tejano Center for Community Concerns. A University of Michigan law graduate, he has been the recipient of many honors and awards including being named Attorney of the Year by Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
“Arturo is a terrific lawyer, and his presence has been a big part of the public law team we have built at Husch Blackwell over the past few years,” said Kate David, Husch Blackwell’s Houston Office Managing Partner. “The City of Houston will be well-served by having an attorney of Arturo’s skill and experience.”