J. Michael "Mike" King

J. Michael "Mike" King is a licensed attorney (DC and Colorado) with over 12 years of experience in the private, public, and non-governmental sectors. With a background in employment law and civil rights, international law and international arbitration, and environmental and energy law, and a deep passion for rule of law and justice, Mike brings a unique perspective to litigation and advisory services as a Counsel at the Law Offices of Peter C. Hansen, LLC in Washington, D.C.

Mike specializes in employment law and employment litigation in the District of Columbia, representing employees in matters involving a wide range of issues including harassment, discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, whistleblowing, wrongful termination, redundancy, removal, suspension, non-selection, demotion, reassignment, disability determinations and benefits, worker’s compensation, leave and other benefits, performance reviews, employment agreements, and separation/severance agreements. He also represents employees in disciplinary proceedings and internal investigations involving allegations of misconduct.

The employees Mike represents comprise the full range of employers in the public, non-governmental, private, and nonprofit sectors. He counsels staff at international organizations—including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank, and United Nations organs—in international civil service employment disputes at the administrative review, grievance, appeal, and arbitration stages. He also represents locally-engaged staff of embassies, consulates, and other foreign missions in employment-related claims brought before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and D.C. Office of Human Rights.

Mike also advises U.S. Government employees and federal contractors located all over the world in federal law matters including administrative grievances, EEO complaints, disciplinary actions, and adverse actions involving federal agency management, EEOC, Merit Systems Protection Board, Office of Special Counsel, and Offices of Inspector General. He also represents employees of the D.C. Government, private businesses, and nonprofits.

In the D.C. courts, Mike has experience litigating a diverse range of civil matters, including employment disputes, contract claims, and torts.

Prior to joining the Law Offices in 2012, Mike served as a Consultant (2009-2010) and Legal Counsel for Institutional Matters (2010-2012) at the World Bank Group's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington, D.C. He advised ICSID's Secretary-General and senior management on institutional matters including governance, policy, public relations, document management, annual meetings, conferences, and publications. He also served as Staff Editor (2009), Managing Editor (2010-2011), and Associate Editor (2012) of ICSID's scholarly journal, the ICSID Review Foreign Investment Law Journal.

In 2008, Mike worked as a legal intern at the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management in Washington, D.C., whose mission is to manage the cleanup of the nation’s Cold War environmental legacy resulting from more than 50 years of nuclear weapons production and nuclear energy research.

Mike obtained a BA in psychology from Duke University in 2004, and a JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2007. He is licensed to practice law in Colorado and the District of Columbia. 

In his free time, Mike enjoys hiking with his wife and two rescue dogs (a beagle mix and an aussie/sheltie/spaniel mix), volunteering, and playing drums and percussion in several bands made up of lawyers who rock for charitable causes.