Representative Experience
Mike has over 29 years of experience litigating a broad range of business and commercial disputes. His practice focuses on complex business litigation involving shareholder and partnership disputes, disputes relating to the purchase and sale of businesses, disputes relating the purchase and sale of goods and services, business and legal malpractice claims, lending disputes, employment disputes, securities law disputes and insurance disputes.
Mike has extensive experience representing insurance professionals, insurance carriers and businesses in disputes relating to the procurement and issuance of insurance, interpretation of insurance policies and handling of claims under insurance policies; and he has substantial experience representing employers in claims alleging breach of employment contracts, discrimination, sexual harassment, violation of restrictive covenants, wrongful interference with contractual relations and ERISA disputes.
Mike has represented clients in complex litigation in all three North Carolina federal district courts, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, state courts throughout North Carolina, the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, state and federal courts in the jurisdictions and various administrative and arbitration forums. He is a certified mediator in North Carolina.
Mike is recognized in the The Best Lawyers in America© (2003 - 2008) for commercial litigation and has been selected for inclusion in North Carolinas Super Lawyers in the area of Business Litigation (2007 - 2008). In addition, Mike was named in Business North Carolina's Legal Elite (2006) in the area of business litigation and has also been inducted as a Fellow into the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), a Trial Lawyer Honorary Society. He is AV rated in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
Mike represents clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to closely held corporations, partnerships and individuals. His clients have included: IBM, General Electric finance subsidiaries, Swiss Reinsurance Company, Employers Reinsurance Corporation, Highwoods Properties, Inc., Fonville-Morisey Realty, Inc. and BB&T Insurance Services, Inc.
Specific Matters
- Lead counsel for ten financial institutions in a lawsuit relating to claims in excess of $20 Million, and involving mortgage-backed securities and issues of contract law, securities law, insurance law, unfair trade practice, breach of fiduciary duty, alleged negligence in loan portfolio servicing, accountant liability, and securities broker liability
- Lead counsel for an insurance carrier in coverage litigation with more than $138 Million at stake and involving issues relating to insurance coverage, bad faith claims, alleged securities law violations, fraud and breach of contract
- Lead counsel for the seller of a multi-million dollar business in a lawsuit by a disappointed bidder, involving allegations of breach of contract, enforceability of letter of intent, wrongful interference with contractual relations and other matters
- Lead counsel for a computer software company in a lawsuit by value-added reseller, alleging fraud, breach of contract, unfair trade practice, unlawful interference with contractual relations and other claims
- Lead counsel for regional insurance broker in complex litigation relating to alleged mismanagement of extensive portfolio of workers compensation claims, failure to procure insurance, procurement of inappropriate insurance and other alleged negligence and unfair trade practice
- Lead counsel for a major department store in property tax appeals establishing principles governing valuation of department stores in large shopping malls
- Lead counsel for a real estate investment trust in a lawsuit arising from major acquisition of other corporations, properties and assets, and involving claims exceeding $10 million relating to alleged fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, wrongful interference with contractual relations, civil conspiracy and commercial real estate broker compensation
- Lead counsel for a real estate firm in a suit by 168 property owners relating to catastrophic failure of waste treatment system in a subdivision
- Represented commercial factor in dispute under Uniform Commercial Code about rights of factor and defenses of account debtors in connection with over $2.5 million in receivables
- Obtained summary judgement dismissing Truth in Lending and Unfair Trade Practice claims against Bank that purchased consumer loans
- Represented insurance professionals and insurance carriers in more than 300 lawsuits relating to insurance procurement, insurance interpretation and insurance claims with amounts in controversy ranging from a few thousand dollars to more than $5 million
- Represented Fortune 500 companies in numerous employment discrimination and retaliation lawsuits.
Professional Activities
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
- American Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Wake County Bar Association
- Professionalism Committee
- Lecturer and Course Planner for Continuing Education Seminars
- Federal Bar Advisory Counsel
- Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
- Law Clerk to Hon. Donald Russell, US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Certified Mediator
Community Activities
- Participation in alumni fundraising and committees
- Christ Episcopal Church
Associated News / Events
