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Overview

Clients of all kinds—from individuals and startups to Fortune 500 companies—turn to Mike to guide them through high-stakes government investigations, as well as regulatory and intellectual property disputes.

Drawing on his background as a senior government attorney, Mike helps clients navigate complex government and internal investigations. Before joining the firm, Mike served as the General Counsel and Deputy Attorney General for Special Litigation in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. In those senior leadership roles, he managed many of the state’s most high-profile and sensitive matters, such as public-corruption investigations of elected officials, complex antitrust investigations and several of the largest consumer-protection and Medicaid-fraud claims in state history. He also advised government officials on a wide range of compliance, policy and communications issues.

Mike also regularly represents clients in patent and trade-secret litigation in federal courts across the country and before the United States International Trade Commission. He has successfully litigated significant disputes involving a wide range of technologies and products, including artificial intelligence, IoT devices, cellular phones, pharmaceuticals and computer software. Clients value his ability to find creative solutions that protect the innovations that drive the economy.

In addition to his extensive experience in investigations and trial courts, Mike has argued complex appeals in both federal and state appellate courts, and he has served as the principal brief writer in more than two dozen appeals.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2021
  • Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, Rising Star, 2021-2022

Education

  • J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
    • summa cum laude
    • Order of the Coif
    • CALI Award – Highest Grade in Federal Income Taxation, Corporations, Election Law, Constitutional Law I, Federal Jurisdiction, Land Use Law, Law and Philosophy, Contract Law Theory and Legal Practice I
  • A.B., Washington University in St. Louis

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit

Clerkships

  •  The Hon. Raymond W. Gruender, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
Experience

Representative Experience

  • Represented artificial intelligence company in litigation relating to performance of company's cutting-edge software, obtaining unanimous appellate decision in favor of client.
  • Led government investigation into misappropriation of sensitive and proprietary computer data, resulting in favorable resolution for government.
  • Led high-profile government investigations of leading Internet technology companies relating to user data privacy and cybersecurity.
  • Represented government agency in connection with proposed regulations involving IoT devices.
  • Represented clients in significant appeals before U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Courts of Appeals for Fourth, Eighth, Ninth and District of Columbia Circuits; three state supreme courts; and other state appellate courts.

Other Government and Law Enforcement Experience

  • Argued appeal in Missouri Supreme Court on behalf of state agency regarding taxability of food sales, obtaining unanimous decision in favor of client.
  • Argued appeal in U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, on behalf of former elected officials, obtaining unanimous decision in favor of clients.
  • Represented State of Missouri in investigations of alleged misconduct by public officials, including successful lawsuit removing elected county official from office.
  • Wrote petition for writ of certiorari to U.S. Supreme Court that was featured as "Petition of the Day" on legal commentary website SCOTUSBlog.
  • Led government investigation into company suspected of facilitating human trafficking, and represented State in resulting litigation, obtaining trial court and appellate decisions in favor of State.
  • Represented State of Missouri and Governor of Missouri in federal interlocutory appeal raising novel immunity issues, obtaining unanimous decision that reversed district court and terminated case against clients.
  • Represented Governor of Missouri in appeal challenging his constitutional authority to control state budget, obtaining unanimous decision in favor of Governor.
  • Represented statewide officials in litigation challenging validity of gubernatorial appointments.
  • Advised government agencies and officials on wide range of compliance issues, including ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations, records management and internal investigations.
  • Managed state agency's formulation and promulgation of regulations, including regulations relating to consumer protection, law-enforcement data collection and human trafficking.
News Releases | December 06, 2021
Husch Blackwell Elects 36 to 2022 Partnership Class
Outside the Office

Michael spends much of his free time with his two young children. A varsity college athlete in track and field, he also enjoys running recreationally, entering an occasional 5K race.