Michael Wales is a construction lawyer whose western-states practice focuses primarily on investigating, negotiating and, if necessary, litigating residential, high-rise condominium construction defect cases.
Mike has over 25 years experience as a trial lawyer and is a former judge as well as a frequent author and speaker on the topic of construction litigation. Mike is admitted to multiple federal courts across the nation in addition to being a long-time member of the Arizona, California, and Texas State Bar Associations and has appeared pro-hac vice in cases in Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Oregon.
Formerly a partner with a multi-state insurance defense law firm and the managing partner for a multi-state construction law firm, Mike has represented numerous homeowners’ associations, business owners, commercial and residential property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, insureds and insurers in a myriad of construction claims, soils subsidence claims, insurance litigation and surety indemnification claims.
From 1991 to 1993, Mike was employed as a Deputy County Attorney in Maricopa County, Arizona. From 1993 to 1995 he was employed as a Deputy City Attorney in Anaheim, California. Mike was an Administrative Law Judge and subsequently a Municipal Court Judge from 2005 to 2009, before returning to his construction law practice.
When not practicing law, Mike enjoys sailing and travel.