Direct: (919) 645-4317
Michael focuses his practice on land use and zoning, commercial real estate, and land use related litigation, and he offers clients experience in obtaining and protecting development approvals from local governments and state agencies. Michael regularly represents landowners and developers before local governing boards, planning boards and boards of adjustment in communities across the state and assists in the development process at the zoning, site plan, conditional and special use permit, variance, building permit and enforcement stages of a project.
Active in the community through service on boards and commissions, Michael recently served as chair of the Triangle Community Coalition, an organization focused on promoting good public policy concerning economic growth and development at the local government level. He also served as chair of the Raleigh Stormwater Management Advisory Commission; as vice-chair of the Wake County Planning Board; and as a member of the board of directors of SAFEchild, a local nonprofit focused on eliminating child abuse in Wake County.
Michael and his wife Jennifer have four children, Lilley, Tripp, Bowen and Betsy.
Practice Areas
Land Use
Land Use Litigation
Commercial Real Estate Development
Admissions
North Carolina
Community Engagement
Triangle Community Coalition, Past Chair
Raleigh Stormwater Management Advisory Commission, Past Chair
Wake County Planning Board, Past Vice-Chair
Urban Land Institute, Triangle District
Zoning, Planning & Land Use Section, NC Bar Association
Raleigh Development Services Advisory Committee
SAFEchild, Past Board Member
Distinctions
Super Lawyers Rising Star (2014 – 2020)
Business North Carolina Magazine, Legal Elite Young Guns (2014)
Education
Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, J.D., Cumberland Law Review
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Master of Public of Administration, Outstanding Student of the Year
Hampden-Sydney College, B.A., Phi Beta Kappa
