Archives: Testimonials

I hired Mike to help me with the sale of my business. It was a difficult step and emotional step as I had grown it from nothing and at times uncertain if I could step away.  Mike was more than a legal advisor, but a sounding block and confidant during the process.  Since the closing I have come to him on several new business affairs.  He is always responsive and efficient in getting back to me. I consider him a friend.

I was asked by a childhood friend, who lives and has substantial business interests overseas, to help him with a real estate development project he had funded in the United States.  The president of the project was his relative, and a lawyer.  A few years into the development, the project was tens of millions of dollars over budget and was only about half completed.  There was lack of accountability in the project.  I had never seen as complicated a case as this, and we had to unraveled it.  In two separate suits, one against the general contractor and the other against the president, Mike really took the on case as if it was his own company, his own money. In litigation I have found it costs more than expected and the results are less than hoped for.  The opposite was true with Mike. We were able to resolve both cases at minimal cost and simply stated, Mike saved the project. He is the best, most dedicated, professional, competent and engaged lawyer I have ever known.  As a lawyer, I’ve never met a better lawyer than him. But his human side—this whole nightmare that was going on—he took such care to help us. In my book, that is his biggest achievement: He’s such a great human being.

My grandfather changed his estate plan while living with my uncle.  My sister and I were completely cut out.  It was so unfair.  I called several lawyers and couldn’t even get a call back.  Others listened, but just turned me down.  I was so fortunate to find Mike. He agreed to take on contingency, and it turned into a long case, lasting almost two years.  We had lots of discovery and depositions all across the country. It was stressful, but less so with Mike in charge.  He was kind to us and showed us an interest as people, not just another case.  As the trial date approached, we were finally able to settle.  Mike said from the beginning it was a marathon, not a sprint.  That really helped me prepare mentally to get the justice we deserved.

A relative’s estate plan got changed during the last year of his life cutting out everyone. We had to sue a family member to show it was wrong. It was hard, but I think harder if we had done nothing. The case took a while to get resolved. The other side’s lawyers were very uncooperative and wanted to fight and play games. Mike was always very responsive and even called us on weekends to keep us updated and let us know what was going on. After we won a big discovery fight the judge order them to produce their financial records and they finally caved, and we settled. I can’t say I enjoyed being in a lawsuit, especially with family, but I remember telling Mike when it was over that we were going to miss talking to him.  He is a good person and a good lawyer. He cares.

Michael is the best.  I heard about him from a family friend who had hired him to help settle his mother’s estate.  He spoke glowingly about how responsive Michael was.  He was right.  I was sued by my husband’s children from a prior marriage claiming terrible things were done to his estate.  Michael was so thoughtful to me, but relentless in setting us up for trial.  As soon as the trial was over the Judge said some unkind things to my stepchildren.  If was nice to have that kind of public vindication. Michael still calls me occasional to check up and see how I am doing.  I consider him a friend.

I am a business owner and can’t recommend Mike highly enough. My company got involved in a contract dispute. There was a lot of money involved. We tried to settle but got nowhere. It was a big case, with almost a dozen witnesses and testimony. The other side was represented by a big law firm who seemed determine to grind us into submission, but Mike always seemed a step ahead. We ended up arbitrating before a panel of attorneys and a retired judge. When it was over one of the attorneys came over and told Mike: “That was the best cross examination I have ever seen, you got him to admit his company was at fault without him even knowing it.”  We stood to lose millions. Instead we won and got our attorney’s fees awarded. I couldn’t be more pleased with the result.