Mike is a member of the Estates & Trusts Group.  With more than 35 years of legal experience, Mike concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, charitable planning and estate and trust administration.  He lectures extensively and has authored and been quoted in numerous articles on estate planning and estate administration topics.  Mike is a retired Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. 

Areas of Interest

Mike’s areas of concentration include:

• Estate Planning, Estate and Trust Administration, Charitable Planning and Family Dispute Resolution

Education

• J.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1971
• A.B., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1968

Bar/Court Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• North Carolina

Representative Transactions

• Valuation of diverse holdings of closely held interests, lifetime and testamentary distribution to family members and resulting tax treatments
• Establish private foundations and organize family charitable offices  
• Participate in federal and state level tax audits, both at the administrative level and in litigation  
• Minimize federal and state tax exposure for significant transfers of wealth
• Counsel public and private charities, corporate fiduciaries and individuals in disputes over distribution of assets and proper tax treatments
  

Professional and Community Involvement

• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel   
• Past Chair, Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section, Pennsylvania Bar Association  
• Course Planner and Lecturer for numerous Continuing Legal Education programs sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute
• Member, National Executive Board and Chairman, National Advisory Council; Boy Scouts of America

Honors and Awards

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who In American Law, Who's Who in America, and Philadelphia Magazine’s “Pennsylvania Super Lawyers”  
• Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), United States Marine Corps
• Silver Buffalo, Silver Antelope and Silver Beaver Awards, Boy Scouts of America