For more than 20 years, Mike has represented local governments, departments of social services, and other public agencies. With a unique understanding of the needs of local governments, Mike provides counsel on myriad issues including municipal litigation, local government law, employment law, defense of civil rights claims, and representation of local departments of social services.

Mike currently serves as City Attorney for the City of Radford, Town Attorney for the Town of Narrows, County Attorney for Craig County, and Assistant Galax City Attorney where he served as its City Prosecutor for over nine years.

He also serves as Agency Attorney for the local departments of social services in the City of Galax and the counties of Wythe, Carroll, Grayson Bland, and Floyd. His past experience includes representing the local departments of social services in the counties of Pulaski, Smyth, Stafford, Tazewell, Louisa, Mathews,  and Rockbridge.

Mike's clients also include the New River Valley Juvenile Detention Home, the New River Valley Regional Jail, Floyd County, Carroll County, Grayson County, and the Peppers Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment Authority.

Education & Admissions

Education

Virginia Polytechnic & State University
B.A., cum laude, 1993

University of South Carolina School of Law
J.D., 1997

Admissions

Virginia

Supreme Court of Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia

Honors & Recognitions

"Legal Elite”, Virginia Business magazine, Family Law/Domestic Relations 2016-2017, 2019 - 2023

Virginia Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2010

“20 under 40” Emerging Leaders, 2009 Blue Ridge Business Journal

Experience

Mike's government and litigation experience includes:

  • Obtaining a defense judgment after two-day federal jury trial in malicious prosecution and conspiracy action.
  • Defending a board of supervisors member against alleged violations of RICO and other white collar crimes in federal court.
  • Defending successfully multiple § 1983 suits against a regional jail.
  • Representation of localities in employment matters, including grievance hearings and proceedings before the VEC and EEOC.
  • Representation of matters involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the FLSA, FMLA, ADEA, ADA, and other employment laws.
  • Representation of local departments of social services in child protective services, foster care, termination of parental rights, adult protective services, and employment matters.
  • Representation of a locality in suit for breach of fiduciary duty against town clerk.
  • Representation of a locality in the abolition of a constitutional office.

His social services experience includes:

  • Representation in all legal proceedings concerning child protective services, removals in abuse or neglect cases, foster care, termination of parental rights, entrustment approvals, relief of custody, delinquency, and CHINS cases
  • Representation in adult protective services matters, including appointments of guardians and conservators, judicially authorized medical treatment, and emergency orders for adult protective services
  • Appeals of administrative findings of abuse or neglect and challenges to adoption assistance agreements before the Virginia Department of Social Services
  • Right to Review appeals by identified perpetrators in substantiated adult protective services cases
  • Appeals before the Virginia Court of Appeals in termination of parental rights cases
  • Out-of-family investigations of school personnel and child care providers
  • Ensuring compliance with Title IV(E) and CSA funding eligibility requirements

Affiliations

Community

Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Private Bar Involvement Program Former Member

Virginia Tech English Department, Distinguished Alumni Board Member

Professional

Local Government Attorneys of Virginia

Montgomery-Radford Bar Association

Virginia Association of Counties

Virginia State Bar

Virginia Bar Association

Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys

News & Insights

Insights

VACo Handbook, Chapter 17 (Social Services) and Chapter 18 (Mental Health)
Co-Author

Events & Speaking Engagements

Local Government Attorneys of Virginia
Conference Speaker

Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police
Conference Speaker

Virginia League of Social Services Executives
Employment Law Speaker

Seminar Leader and Trainer to local government officials on FOIA, COIA, Virginia Public Procurement Act

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