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Overview

Because Mike developed strong relationships working in the public sector, government decision-makers have confidence that he will deliver the legal services they need. 

A former elected county attorney for Harris County, Texas, Mike has firsthand experience with how government works. He draws on those public-sector insights and the relationships he built during his 25-year public law practice in his current work with clients. When governmental entities or elected officials need legal services, they rely on Mike as a Houston public law attorney to help them resolve their issues.

Mike works with governmental entities on condemnations, regulatory compliance issues, civil rights lawsuits, permitting disputes, situations that arise in appraising tax values for tax purposes and various administrative matters. He also advises public officials and candidates for elected office on ballot challenges, election litigation and difficult statutory disputes.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • BL Rankings’ The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Real Estate Law, 2024 and 2025
  • Texas Navy, Admiral, Commissioned by Governor Perry

Education

  • J.D., South Texas College of Law
  • B.A., University of Texas at Austin
    • with honors
    • Chemistry

Admissions

  • Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Houston Bar Association
  • Houston Irish Lawyers Society
  • State Bar of Texas
Featured Experience

Condemnation Case with Large Difference Between Dollars Offered and Dollars Demanded Is Successfully Resolved

Mike represented Harris County, Texas, in one of the largest condemnation cases on record in terms of the difference between dollars offered and dollars demanded. Harris County was forced to condemn the property of a manufacturing company to make way for a freeway connector and valued the condemned property at $15 million. The manufacturing company sought $39 million in compensation for the property. Following extensive discovery and litigation, Mike successfully resolved the case for a dollar amount very close to the original offer.


Outside the Office

Mike enjoys traveling to Ireland and hunting for treasure in the Rocky Mountains.

Mike has traveled to Ireland four times. He also enjoys traveling to the the Rocky Mountains where he hunts for treasure. Legend has it, 87-year-old millionaire Forrest Fenn buried a treasure chest worth millions of dollars in the Rocky Mountains in 2011, and the nine clues to finding the treasure are imbedded in a poem written by Fenn. Mike has been following the clues to the treasure. So far, he has been on treasure hunting excursions to Montana, Yellowstone National Park and New Mexico. He says the joy is in looking for the treasure and pondering the possibilities.

Community Leadership
  • Greater Houston Partnership, Government Relations Advisory Committee
  • Houston Realty
  • Irish Society
  • South Texas College of Law Alumni Association