Contacts:
(206) 388-0600
Practice Overview:
Mike primarily represents association creditors in nonjudicial and judicial foreclosures, bankruptcy proceedings, collections, attachments, receiverships, non-monetary enforcement of association rights, evictions and title insurance matters.
He also defends associations in federal and state forfeiture actions, condemnation actions, construction lien and construction bond cases, mortgage lender foreclosures, quiet title actions, and other state, federal district court and bankruptcy court litigation matters. He has handled creditor matters to trial and appeal.
He represents creditors in various bankruptcy matters under Chapter 7, 11 and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, from relief from stay and objection to plan litigation to adversary proceedings, evidentiary hearings and appeals.
Mike was formerly counsel for Freddie Mac, one of the national federal insurers of home loans. He has formerly served as Washington foreclosure, bankruptcy and collection counsel for various financial institutions, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Countrywide and Washington Mutual. He has represented foreclosure trustees, as well as title insurance companies in title insurance defense matters, and has served as Chapter 7 Trustee counsel.
He has represented creditors in lawsuits in all 39 Washington counties, state courts of appeal and supreme court, federal district court, both bankruptcy districts in Washington, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, as well as before various bankruptcy courts throughout the nation pro hac vice.
Mike serves on various industry committees that address legislation affecting associations in particular and creditors in general.
Education:
BPP University Law School, London (UK), BTT (2020) (Cr.L. First in Cohort)
University of Washington School of Law, J.D. (1996) (Moot Court Best Trial Brief)
University of Washington, B.A. Economics (1993) (Dean's List)
University of Washington, Certificate, International Economics (1992)
Professional Qualifications:
Washington (1996)
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington (1997)
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington (2003)
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1998)
Barrister (Unregistered), Called to the Bar, England and Wales (UK) (2020)*
Hall Member, The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, London (UK)
*No supply of, nor offer to supply, Leal Services or Reserved Legal Services regulated under the Legal Services Act 2007 (UK)
Reported Opinions:
In re Trustee's Sale of Real Property of Upton, 102 Wn. App. 220 (2000)
In re Omega Environmental, Inc., 219 F.3d 984 (9th Cir. 2000)
Mann v. Household Finance Corp. III, 109 Wn. App. 387 (2001)
In re Rodney Brown, 28 Fed. Appx. 725, 2002 LEXIS 1549 (9th Cir. 2002)
Fairway Estates Ass'n of Apt. Owners v. Unknown Heirs of Young, 172 Wn. App. 168 (2012)
Sixty-01 Ass'n of Apt. Owners v. Parsons, 178 Wn.App. 228 (2013)
Sixty-01 Ass'n of Apt. Owners v. Parsons, 181 Wn.2d 316 (2014)
Mountain High Ass'n of Apt. Owners v. Turner, 2017 Wn.App. LEXIS 59, No. 74529-8-1 (2017) (unpublished)
Klahanie Ass'n v. Sundance and Klahanie Condo. Ass'n, 1 Wn.App.2d 874 (2017) rev. denied, 190 Wn.2d 1015 (2018)
623 Main Street Ass'n v. Hall, 11 Wn.App.2d 1011, No. 79363-2-1 (2019) (unpublished)
Cedar West Owners Ass'n v. Nationstar Mortgage, LLC, 7 Wn.App.2d 473, rev. denied, 193 Wn.2d 1016 (2019)
Professional Activities:
Washington State Bar UCIOA (Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act) Legislation Drafting Committee Member
Washington State Community Association Institute (WSCAI) Legislative Action Committee (LAC) Member
Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington
Washington State Bar Association, Real Property Section Member
Washington State Bar Association, Creditor Debtor Rights Section Member
Washington State Bar Association, Construction Section Member
King County Bar Association, Real Property Section Member
King County Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section Member
King County Bar Associatioon, Judicial Screening Committee Member
University of Washington School of Law, New Building Committee Member (1996-2000)
Gates Foundation/Washington Education Foundation, Hometown Mentor Program, Mentor (1998-2006)
Publications:
The Mouse That Roared: How the National Forest Management Act Diversity of Species Provision is Changing Public Timber Harvesting, 15 UCLA Journal of Environmental Law & Policy 113 (No. 2, 1996/97)
How The New Bankruptcy Laws Affect Community Associations, Washington State Condominium and Homeowners Association Resource Book (2005)
Assessment Collection and the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: Do Not “Cry Wolf” Unless It's True, Washington State Condominium and Homeowners Association Resource Book (2006)
Update On Bankruptcy Legislation: Changes of Interest to Community Associations, Washington State Condominium and Homeowners Association Resource Book (2009)
Presentations:
Speaker, Unpaid Assessments and Bankruptcy: How To Get Your Money, WSCAI Legal Issues Forum (2004)
Speaker, Update On New Bankruptcy Legislation, WSCAI Legal Issues Forum (2005)
Speaker, Collection, Foreclosure & Bankruptcy For Management Agents, Management Forum (2005)
Speaker, Legal Aspects of Condominium and Homeowners Associations in Washington, Lorman Continuing Legal Education (CLE) (2007)
Speaker, Collections In Light of Increasing Foreclosures, WSCAI Legal Issues Forum (2009)
Speaker, Bankruptcy Boot Camp, WSCAI Law Day South Sound (2011)
Speaker, Lender Foreclosure Boot Camp, Management Forum (2011)
Faculty, Collections Panel Q & A, WSCAI Law Day (2012)
Speaker, Nonjudicial Foreclosures, Management Forum Lunch & Learn Seminar (2012)
Speaker, Foreclosure & Bankruptcy Boot Camp, Management Forum (2013)
Speaker, Lien Claim Releases, Management Forum (2014)
Faculty, Community Association Collections Panel, WSCAI Law Day (2014)
