Mike is a partner with Spencer Fane where he is a member of its Environmental Law practice group and has served in a variety of firm management positions, including as a member of the firm’s executive committee. Mike's practice concentrates on litigation, environmental law, and renewable energy, with an emphasis on environmental litigation, regulatory permitting, and environmental enforcement proceedings.
In addition to representing individual clients in hazardous waste, Clean Air Act, and multi-media enforcement and permitting proceedings, he has chaired Superfund site steering committees, served as group counsel to steering committees and industry groups in environmental litigation, and served as a mediator in complex multi-party litigation. Mike also frequently counsels clients on environmental compliance issues.
Mike has served in leadership roles in a variety of civic and professional organizations. He is the Chair of the United Way of Greater Kansas City and is a charter member of its Board of Directors. He is past Chair of the United Way of Johnson County and the Alliance of Greater Kansas City United Ways. Mike chaired the One United Way Committee resulting in the merger of four area United Ways to form the United Way of Greater Kansas City. Mike also is past President of the Overland Park Rotary Club Foundation and Vice President of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Foundation Board of Trustees.
Mike has served as the Chair of the American Bar Association's Superfund and Hazardous Waste Committee of the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources and as a Vice-Chair for the Section's Special Committee on Practice Development. He has also served as a sub-committee chair for the Litigation Section's Committee on Environmental Law.
He is a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers and is listed in Who's Who in American Law, The Best Lawyers in America, Madison's Who's Who of Professionals, Chambers USA List of Leading Lawyers, the Kansas and Missouri List of Super Lawyers, the Missouri and Kansas List of Top Attorneys, and has been recognized in Who’s Who Legal: The International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers 2010 and 2011. He was named The Best Lawyers Kansas City Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year for 2012.
Mike graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1973 and the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1980, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and Order of the Barristers. Mike served 14 years as an active duty Army officer and completed his service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. In that capacity advised the U.S. Army Environmental Law Division in Washington, D.C. on environmental compliance issues.
He frequently writes and speaks to a wide variety of audiences on environmental law topics.