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Overview

Michael assists clients with appellate proceedings, complex litigation and high-stakes regulatory disputes.

He regularly advises organizations on constitutional, statutory and procedural issues, including the First Amendment, the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), the False Claims Act (FCA), class certification, federal jurisdiction, immunity and due process.

Michael has specific experience navigating litigation and challenging regulatory compliance matters for colleges and universities, including Titles IV, VI and IX of the Higher Education Act, First Amendment free-speech protections for students and faculty, and student discipline. He has worked with both public and private institutions to achieve successful resolutions.

As a former federal appellate law clerk, Michael maintains a robust appellate practice, counseling clients through all stages of appeals including briefing and oral argument. He has helped clients secure significant judgments in federal and state appellate courts throughout the country. Michael also drafts amicus briefs in important appellate cases, assisting organizations in having their voices heard on critical legal issues.

Before attending law school, Michael was an investment analyst at an asset-management firm that focused on investments in China. While there, he focused on evaluating the current operations and growth plans for numerous businesses, providing him a unique perspective when advising on business and finance disputes. Michael has assisted businesses and organizations of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 public companies and major research institutions, defending their interests in contract disputes, trade-secret litigation and consumer disputes.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • The American Lawyer, Young Lawyer of the Year-Litigation, Finalist, 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Commercial Litigation, 2024 and 2025
  • Ingram's, 40 Under Forty, 2024
  • David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award, The Missouri Bar Foundation, 2023
  • Benchmark Litigation, 40 & Under List, 2023 and 2024
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, 2021-2023
  • Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Up & Coming Award, 2018
  • Kansas Bar Association, 2018 Kansas Bar Association Pro Bono Award
  • Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Appellate, Rising Star, 2015-2023
  • Education Law Association, August Steinhilber Award for Outstanding Brief in Education Law, 2017
  • Missouri Pro Bono Wall of Fame, 2014-2018

Education

  • J.D., University of Texas School of Law
    • with high honors
    • Texas Law Review, Editor-in-Chief
    • Order of the Coif
    • Supreme Court Clinic, 2011-2012
    • ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, national semifinalist team, 2011
    • Thad T. Hutcheson Moot Court Competition, champion, 2010
  • B.S., University of Kansas
    • with distinction
    • Business
    • Frank T. Stockton Award
    • KU School of Business, top senior finance student

Admissions

  • Missouri
  • Kansas
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
  • U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Law360 Appellate Editorial Advisory Board, 2024
  • Earl E. O’Connor American Inn of Court
  • Kansas Bar Association
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
    • Appellate Practice Committee
    • Federal Courts Advocates Section
  • The Missouri Bar
  • Ross T. Roberts Trial Academy, 2015-2016

Clerkship

The Hon. Duane Benton, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 2012-2013

Experience
  • Successfully represented university and its leadership in due process and age discrimination case before the district court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, obtaining and securing dismissal in favor of the university parties based on sovereign immunity and compliance with due process obligations.
  • Successfully represented large publicly-traded bank, obtaining full reversal of adverse jury verdict, as well as securing entry of judgment in the bank's favor from the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.
  • Successfully represented public university officials in First Amendment challenge to a university policy before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, obtaining reversal of the district court's order and entry of judgment in favor of the University.
  • Successfully represented large national warranty company to defend grant of summary judgment on breach of contract claim before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
  • Successfully represented public university president before U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, obtaining reversal of the district court's denial of qualified immunity.
  • Successfully represented public university in briefing and oral argument before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to obtain reversal of denial of motion to dismiss on qualified immunity for university police officers.
  • Successfully represented hospice provider in False Claims Act (FCA) and Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) case before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, securing affirmance of full dismissal of all claims.
  • Successfully represented state representative in First Amendment case related to blocking on Twitter, briefing and presenting oral argument to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to secure reversal of the trial court's adverse ruling.
  • Successfully represented precision-agriculture company Farmobile in briefing and oral argument before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, securing affirmance of summary judgment on all counts in trade-secret dispute.
  • Successfully represented employee from large public university in lawsuit alleging several tort claims, obtaining grant of motion to dismiss all claims, and successfully defending that judgment in the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.
  • Successfully represented large public university in obtaining reversal from U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, on denial of qualified immunity to several university administrators on First Amendment retaliation claims.
  • Successfully represented large public university in Title IX lawsuit, obtaining summary judgment on all counts and securing full affirmance from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
  • Successfully represented leading national insurance regulatory organization with regard to amicus briefing in the Supreme Court of the United States, at both the petition and merits stages, in Maine Community Health Options v. United States, dealing with health insurers' claims for outstanding Risk Corridor payments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
  • Successfully represented family of deceased Marine veteran pro bono in wrongful death action against U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), securing verdict for family following seven-day bench trial.
  • Successfully represented large national bank before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, securing affirmance of summary judgment on all counts.
  • Successfully represented hospital before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, to obtain affirmance of jury trial defense verdict on all counts in employment-termination dispute.
  • Authored amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court of the United States on behalf of the Council of the Great City Schools in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, which was awarded the August Steinhilber Award for Outstanding Brief in Education Law from the Education Law Association (ELA).
  • Successfully represented private university in student-discipline lawsuit in federal district court, obtaining dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction.
  • Filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of a Wisconsin mother after a county child welfare agency took away one of her children and, as the mother maintains, violated her constitutional rights in the process.
Case Studies
Farmobile LLC

Farmobile secured a complete defense victory in enterprise-threatening trade secret litigation.

News Releases | December 18, 2020
Husch Blackwell Elects 23 to 2021 Partnership Class

Women comprise 57 percent of the 2021 partnership class.

News Releases | August 19, 2020
Husch Blackwell Scores Eighth Circuit Win for Farmobile in Trade Secret Dispute

The earlier court ruling granted summary judgment to Farmobile.

Community Leadership
  • Centurions Leadership Program, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Class of 2019
  • Kansas City Hospice, Young Ambassadors, 2016-2018; Foundation, Board of Directors, 2019
  • Operation Breakthrough, Leadership Council, 2012-present