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Mike is a litigator and trusted advisor whose practice centers on eminent domain, real property, and land use disputes. Over more than two decades of practice in Alaska and Washington, he has represented both public and private clients in state and federal courts — from condemnation and natural resources litigation to property rights and First Amendment matters. Alongside his litigation practice, Mike advises private and public clients on real estate development, land use and planning, municipal law, and commercial matters.

Mike brings a rare dual perspective to eminent domain matters: over the course of his career, he has represented both public entities and private landowners. He understands how governments plan, value, and acquire property — and how owners can protect their rights and pursue just compensation when their land is taken or damaged. His broader property litigation experience spans disputes over land entitlements, easements, boundaries, and property rights.

Before joining Ashburn & Mason in 2020, Mike served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alaska. In the Special Litigation and Natural Resources sections of the Attorney General’s Office, he advised state agencies and represented Alaska in state and federal courts on a wide variety of issues, including land entitlements, easements, natural resources, employment, and the First Amendment. He also served as general counsel to the Anchorage and Fairbanks International Airports, responsible for providing legal counsel on all aspects of their business, real estate, and governance issues. Mike remains knowledgeable about airport law, including general aviation, and has earned his Certified Member (C.M.) designation from the American Association of Airport Executives.

Before making his home in Alaska, Mike was a member of a large Seattle firm, Foster Pepper PLLC (now Foster Garvey). During his decade practicing Outside, he worked with private developers, municipalities, college officials, businesses, and individuals on a variety of land use, real property, municipal governance, eminent domain, and taxation issues — in the courtroom and out. His work ranged from securing the legal rights for a 28-mile electric transmission line to leading a five-person team in securing land use and environmental review approvals for The Spring District in Bellevue, Washington, a 36-acre, $2 billion mixed-use development.

Mike’s peers have repeatedly recognized his work. He has been selected to the Super Lawyers list every year since 2023 and named among Alaska’s Legal Elite by Alaska since 2024. He is also active in the leadership of the Alaska legal community: in 2026, he was elected to the Alaska Bar Association’s Board of Governors, after serving on the Bar’s Law Examiners Committee from 2019 to 2026. He has been a guest faculty member at the University of Wyoming College of Law Summer Trial Institute.

Mike’s land use and planning experience goes beyond traditional legal practice. From 2009 to 2013, he taught the required land use law class for the Masters in Urban Planning program at the University of Washington. Prior to law school, Mike worked as an Assistant County Planner for Island County, Washington.

Mike strongly believes in pro bono publico service and has represented several domestic violence survivors in court proceedings.