Michael is the youngest attorney to become a Shareholder at Smith Alling, P.S. He is currently the firm’s President and sits on the management committee.
An active litigator his entire career, Michael’s trial practice includes both state and federal courts, emphasizing all types of litigation, including construction, trade secrets, property, corporate, employment matters, and significant personal injury claims. He also is experienced in arbitrations, both as an advocate and as an arbitrator.
For over two decades, Michael has tried cases to juries, judges, arbitrators, and governmental agencies, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Locally, Michael has argued cases before the Washington Supreme Court, the Washington Court of Appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Washington Shoreline Hearings Board, administrative law judges, and various hearing examiners. Michael has successfully represented international and Fortune 500 companies in class action litigation, racketeering, and anti-competitive practice claims. His practice has included construction law matters involving contractors, suppliers, public and private owners, engineers, and architects.
Michael also has substantial experience in general business law, representing emerging and established businesses in a variety of matters, including:
Formation and dissolution of business entities
Contract preparation, including purchase and sale, shareholder, investor rights and voting agreements
Employment and labor issues
Other general business matters
His personal injury practice involves:
Prosecution and defense of catastrophic injury
Wrongful death
Motor vehicle collisions
Government liability
Civil rights
Professional negligence and malpractice
Products liability
A few of the clients Michael has successfully represented include: TrueBlue, Inc.; Labor Ready Northwest, Inc.; Wells Fargo Bank; The World Boxing Association; The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Philadelphia Insurance Companies; United States Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee Mark Waldron; Cal Portland Company; and many others.
Michael is a longtime Pacific Northwest resident, with an Australian background. Outside of work, he devotes his time to his family, Golden Retriever, travel, and auto racing.
