MANAGING ATTORNEY
🌐VERVIEW
Michael brings a unique blend of high-stakes litigation experience, sharp negotiating skills, and entrepreneurial acumen to his legal practice. He has an uncommon ability to navigate complex legal issues while maintaining a relaxed, approachable demeanor.
💪ITIGATION ATTORNEY
At Hollingsworth, Michael worked a wide range of complex personal injury matters, including product liability, toxic torts, motor vehicle, and wrongful death cases. His personable nature and “jack-of-all-trades” ethos allowed him to quickly develop a versatile skill set in all phases of litigation, notably medical expert depositions, settlement negotiations, and a ranging motion practice (including multiple Daubert wins).
🎙️USINESS ATTORNEY
Returning to law in 2022, Michael joined Schroder Davis PLC, a top entertainment law firm based in Richmond, VA. There, he refined his expertise in negotiating and drafting contracts for individual and corporate clients across various creative industries and commercial ventures. Michael recently jumped back into the world of complex litigation, negotiating a significant financial settlement for a client stemming from a corporate freeze-out.
📚DUCATION
Born and raised in Virginia, Michael played baseball at Emory University ('05) before earning his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law ('08). That same year, he passed the Virginia Bar and joined Hollingsworth LLP, an internationally recognized litigation firm in Washington, D.C.
🫘NTREPRENEUR
In 2013, Michael stepped away from full-time law practice to conceive, launch, and grow a successful line of food establishments, with multiple locations that continue to operate today. This hands-on entrepreneurial experience gave him a deep understanding of what it takes to start, run, and scale a business (in the notoriously difficult restaurant industry) — insight he now uses to advise clients with both legal and business goals in mind.
🌎UTSIDE THE OFFICE
Michael is a film buff and avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and treasure hunting (as both a participant and a creator). He once built, wired, and plumbed a house from the ground up — with no prior building experience. He is a lifelong fan and steadfast supporter of the Baltimore Orioles.
No bloated staff, no wasted motion. Just sharp tech and sharp thinking, focused entirely on your goals.
No bloated staff, no wasted motion. Just sharp tech and sharp thinking, focused entirely on your goals.
LONGEVITY CHECKLIST ☑️
- 10,000+ steps per day (🌧️ or ☀️)
- Healthy diet, high energy, active 🥾 🚴 🏀
- Sturdy 6'4", 210 lb. frame
- 🧠 boosting 📚 🎧 📺 consumption
- Naturally overcame Alpha-gal (tick bite) allergy
- Biological age minus-11 years to actual age
- Estimated lifespan of 💯+ years
- No plans to ever stop working for you 🤜🤛
PRIMARY PRACTICE AREAS ⚖️
-
ENTERTAINMENT LAW
Creativity is big business — and the rules are evolving fast, especially with the recent AI boom. I work with artists, influencers, producers, athletes, and creators navigating the high-stakes world of entertainment, media, and NIL deals. From contracts to endorsements to compliance, Sturgeon Law brings savvy big-firm chops with the agility of a boutique shop. The result? Maximize your opportunity, minimize your risk, and keep you ahead of the curve every step of the way.ENTERTAINMENT LAW
Creativity is big business — and the rules are evolving fast, especially with the recent AI boom. I work with artists, influencers, producers, athletes, and creators navigating the high-stakes world of entertainment, media, and NIL deals. From contracts to endorsements to compliance, Sturgeon Law brings savvy big-firm chops with the agility of a boutique shop. The result? Maximize your opportunity, minimize your risk, and keep you ahead of the curve every step of the way. -
ESTATE PLANNING
Estate planning isn’t paperwork — it’s peace of mind. I help clients cut through the noise to design estate and end-of-life plans that actually work: clear, streamlined, and built to avoid familial disputes, tax traps, and needless complexity. Whether it’s a straightforward will + healthcare directive, or a multi-layered trust structure, my focus is on future-proofing your assets and legacy, while making the process as painless as possible for you and your loved ones.ESTATE PLANNING
Estate planning isn’t paperwork — it’s peace of mind. I help clients cut through the noise to design estate and end-of-life plans that actually work: clear, streamlined, and built to avoid familial disputes, tax traps, and needless complexity. Whether it’s a straightforward will + healthcare directive, or a multi-layered trust structure, my focus is on future-proofing your assets and legacy, while making the process as painless as possible for you and your loved ones. -
ASSET PROTECTION
Between sports betting apps, shiny new tech toys, travel splurges, and on and on, sometimes the biggest threat to your wealth isn’t a lawsuit or creditor — it’s you (and your dopamine center). I designed the exclusive Caviar Asset Protection Trust specifically to lock down your assets, grow them strategically, and keep them out of reach — from predators, opportunists, and even your own impulses.ASSET PROTECTION
Between sports betting apps, shiny new tech toys, travel splurges, and on and on, sometimes the biggest threat to your wealth isn’t a lawsuit or creditor — it’s you (and your dopamine center). I designed the exclusive Caviar Asset Protection Trust specifically to lock down your assets, grow them strategically, and keep them out of reach — from predators, opportunists, and even your own impulses. -
BUSINESS & NONPROFIT
Launching a business or nonprofit should feel bold, not buried in red tape. As an entrepreneur myself, I know exactly how to help founders get off the ground with smart structures, clean governance, and compliance that doesn’t choke creativity. And when disputes come knocking, I'll fight to keep your momentum alive. I’ve lived business from the inside, and I'll protect what you’re building.BUSINESS & NONPROFIT
Launching a business or nonprofit should feel bold, not buried in red tape. As an entrepreneur myself, I know exactly how to help founders get off the ground with smart structures, clean governance, and compliance that doesn’t choke creativity. And when disputes come knocking, I'll fight to keep your momentum alive. I’ve lived business from the inside, and I'll protect what you’re building. -
PERSONAL INJURY
Having defended serious personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death cases at a large litigation firm, I know how the other side thinks and moves. I use that insight to craft strategies built for tough fights — not quick payouts. If you’re looking for an advocate who will take your complex, difficult case and push it forward with precision, creativity, and innovation — while being an absolute bulldog in settlement negotiations and the courtroom — then you're in the right place.PERSONAL INJURY
Having defended serious personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death cases at a large litigation firm, I know how the other side thinks and moves. I use that insight to craft strategies built for tough fights — not quick payouts. If you’re looking for an advocate who will take your complex, difficult case and push it forward with precision, creativity, and innovation — while being an absolute bulldog in settlement negotiations and the courtroom — then you're in the right place.
