Michael has a national practice, spanning almost 40 years, representing utilities, municipalities, corporations, and developers in a broad array of water, wastewater, and energy related matters. In the water sector, Michael is legal counsel to state chapters of several U.S and international associations of public water suppliers. He has served as general counsel for public water suppliers in Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. He has significant experience in the regionalization and sale of public water and sewer facilities, and in the siting and construction of such facilities. He has also negotiated numerous bulk water sales and purchase agreements. He has represented clients in obtaining water allocation permits/approvals from state agencies and interstate compacts.
In the energy sector, Michael has been involved in the leasing of natural gas and oil interests. He has represented companies involved in the fracking of shale plays, including the Marcellus. He has significant experience in the permitting, siting, and construction of large energy projects, including wind farms.
With respect to project development, Michael has extensive experience in construction law, having grown-up working in his family’s building supply and construction operation. Through the years, he has helped guide a broad spectrum of clients through significant construction issues and legal challenges, involving NPDES permits for storm water discharges associated with construction activities; erosion and sediment control permits; post-construction storm water management plans, land use, and eminent domain. When legal challenges to permits and other approvals issued to clients arise, Michael has the experience and knowledge to defend in negotiations and litigation, the permits and other approvals issued to his clients. Michael has years of experience litigating cases before federal and state courts, and other forums, including state environmental hearing boards, and state public utility commissions.
Michael writes a regular column providing water law updates for a water industry magazine, is quoted by national and international media, and is often a featured speaker at law conferences on subjects ranging from crisis communications to utility infrastructure projects, and regulatory compliance. Michael is rated by Martindale-Hubbell® as AV Preeminent, the “highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.”