Mike has spent more than 25 years representing energy companies, manufacturers, and the transportation industry in complex environmental and health and safety matters. His experience includes regulatory and administrative proceedings, as well as environmental, tort, and commercial litigation in state and federal courts and before regulatory agencies and administrative tribunals.
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Curia, Capital University Law Review, Capital University Law School, 1998
B.A., cum laude, Ohio University, 1995
Professional and Community Affiliations
- Columbus Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Franklin Inn of Court
- Development Board, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Greater Columbus Habitat for Humanity
Honors
- 2006 graduate of Leadership Columbus
- Ohio Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine, 2006, 2007, 2009-2012
- “Barrister Leader”, Columbus Bar Association, 2001
Representative Matters
- Obtained dismissal of criminal charges brough against data center operator for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act construction storm water permit.
- Obtained dismissal of administrative enforcement action filed against international company operating medical and recreational cannabis cultivation facility alleging violations of state and federal FIFRA regulations addressing pesticide handling and use.
- Advised international company operating recreational and medical cannabis product production facility on hazardous waste management and disposal matters
- Represents large food processing company in environmental, health, and safety matters throughout the United States.
- Represents national manufacturer in ongoing internal investigation of workplace death and related regulatory, law enforcement, and civil inquiries.
- Represented industrial controls manufacturers on behalf of international insurers in investigation of paint and resin factory explosion and fire.
- Defended hazardous waste transporter in wrongful death action filed by the estate of a third party that was exposed to hazardous waste at a Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF).
- Represents petroleum refinery in response to ongoing Benzene Waste Operations NESHAP (BWON) enforcement matter.
- Negotiated BWON consent decree and provides ongoing compliance counseling to petroleum refinery covered by consent decree.
- Provided immediate and long-term incident and regulatory response for petroleum refinery fire.
- Provides environmental and regulatory counsel to multiple petroleum refineries on an ongoing basis.
- Provides ongoing counseling and regulatory advice addressing compliance with Clean Air Act consent decrees for multiple petroleum refineries.
- Negotiated and terminated multiple Clean Air Act consent decrees.
- Represented the owner and operator of one of the largest petroleum refineries in the United States in the defense of state administrative appeals filed by environmental groups challenging Clean Air Act construction and operating permits authorizing large expansion project.
- Defended the owner and operator of one of the largest petroleum refineries in the United States from Clean Air Act citizen suit brought by national environmental group alleging violations of the new source review provisions of the Clean Air Act. Obtained dismissal of most of environmental group's claims during early motion practice. The plaintiff subsequently dismissed the remainder of its claims.
- Defended the owner and operator of one of the largest petroleum refineries in the United States from national environmental group's motion to enforce compliance with consent decree.
- Defended administrative appeal of Clean Air Act construction permit authorizing large refinery expansion project in the Environmental Appeals Commission of Ohio.
- Defended owners and operator of large coal-fired power plant from federal citizens suit alleging violations of the new source review provisions of the Clean Air Act, emission limits contained in Ohio's CAA state implementation plan, and the plant's Title V operating permit.
- Defended electric utility and obtained dismissal of administrative appeal of Clean Air Act construction permit at United States Environmental Appeals Board.
- Represented electric utility trade group and owners and operator of large coal-fired power plant before the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission in appeal contesting unlawful and unreasonable terms and conditions of Clean Air Act Title V operating permit.
- Represented electric utility trade group and owners and future operators of combustion turbine peaking bn./units before the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission in appeals contesting unlawful and unreasonable terms and conditions of Clean Air Act construction permits.
- Represented electric utility trade group and owners and operator of large coal-fired power plant before the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission in appeal contesting emissions fees levied against them under Title V of the Clean Air Act.
- Represented electric utility trade group and owners and operators of large coal-fired power plants before the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission in appeals of Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act rulemakings promulgated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
- Represented electric utility trade group as interveners in Clean Water Act citizens suit attacking Ohio's Total Maximum Daily Load program.
- Obtained defense verdict in bench trial defending the owner and operator of aggregate mining operation from nuisance brought by adjoining landowners alleging that air emissions from mining operation caused damage to their property.
- Defended owner and operator of foundry from action in state court alleging violations of Ohio's Clean Air Act state implementation plan and Title V program.
- Represented small business owners before the Supreme Court of Ohio in successful legal challenge of county-wide indoor-air smoking ban.