As U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, Mike supervised many prominent lawsuits filed by or against the United States. He made the charging decision in the first flag burning case in America, an action granted direct review by the United States Supreme Court. He reorganized the office to more efficiently handle specialized cases including environmental crime, drugs, and bank fraud, mainstays of the office today.
Since founding McKay Chadwell in 1995, Mike’s busy practice calls upon his unique skills to handle legal problems involving federal and local governments and their impact on companies and individuals, including civil, criminal and administrative matters. He represents corporations and corporate officers, as well as physicians and dentists, facing governmental investigations and also a variety of clients in civil litigation.
Private companies and municipal corporations have hired Mike to conduct internal investigations. On rare occasions, the investigation results are made public:
Mike began his career in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where he served for five years and became a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney who handled cases in the civil, fraud, juvenile, and criminal divisions. He represented the Kingdome in the first major litigation with the Seattle Mariners and was lead prosecutor in the investigation and prosecution of a juvenile prostitution ring. Mike also played a principal role in the implementation of the innovative Washington State Juvenile Justice Act.