Michael is co-leader of Husch Blackwell’s Appellate Practice and a litigation partner who helps clients win—and protect outcomes in—complex disputes and high-stakes regulatory matters.
He is often brought in when a case turns on critical issues that shape litigation strategy: jurisdiction, immunity, due process, class certification, and the framing of constitutional and statutory questions that are frequently decided on dispositive motions or on appeal.
A prominent focus of Michael’s practice is higher-education litigation. He represents public and private colleges and universities, as well as their leadership, in litigation and regulatory disputes involving student and faculty speech, campus discipline, and civil-rights and compliance matters, including Title IX and other campus-related claims. His experience includes guiding institutions through fast-moving, high-sensitivity disputes where strategy must account for legal risk, governance realities, and reputational pressure.
Michael also represents businesses and organizations in complex commercial and statutory litigation, including disputes implicating the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) and the False Claims Act (FCA), as well as consumer, contract, and trade-secret matters. Across industries, clients value his ability to translate complicated legal and procedural issues into clear options, strong briefing, and practical next steps.
As a former federal appellate law clerk, Michael maintains a robust appellate practice, having argued more than 30 cases and handled over 70 appeals in courts spanning nearly every federal circuit, as well as in state appellate courts throughout the country. He counsels clients through every stage of an appeal—from issue preservation and record development through briefing and oral argument. He has also authored briefs in the Supreme Court of the United States and produces amicus filings in significant cases at the Supreme Court and federal circuit courts, helping clients and organizations present a focused, persuasive voice on issues of broader importance.
Among his many recognitions in legal publications and organizations, Michael was named a finalist for The American Lawyer’s 2024 Young Lawyer of the Year – Litigation award.
Outside of his practice, Michael and his wife, Courtney, are active in the Kansas City community. He serves on the board of the Kansas City Hospice Foundation and is active in several civic and charitable organizations, including the Catholic Education Foundation and Church of the Nativity. Michael is an alumnus of the Kansas City Chamber’s Centurions Leadership Program and has been recognized as a Kansas City “40 Under 40” honoree.
The Hon. Duane Benton, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 2012-2013