Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
4.9 /5.0
39 Client Reviews
As a retired U.S. Marine Corps Officer with over 46 years of civil trial experience, the focus of my trial work has been on complex civil litigation, business litigation, employment litigation, family law, insurance and defense of professional licenses. I have tried over 40 jury trials to verdict and 30 court trials to judgment. From 2009 to 2014, I was in trial for more than 250 days alone.
As an expert witness in the areas of Attorney Ethics, Standard of Care and Fee Disputes, I have been qualified in several Superior Courts including Los Angeles County, Santa Clara County, and Kings County.
I am also available as a mediator, arbitrator, and a legal consultant.
5
Practice Areas
50 years | 250 cases
50 years | 200 cases
50 years | 1,000 cases
38 years | 51 cases
$ 450-500 per hour
State: California
Acquired: 1974
No misconduct found
Fax
1550 Airport Blvd, Suite 201, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
obrienlaw.com/our-team/michael-g-watters/Other places you can find Michael online.
Showing 1 - 5 of 7 reviews | General Knowledge
Posted by Chris | June 07, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation
Extremely experienced and knowledgeable
Mr. Waters is not only an exceptionally knowledgable Divorce Lawyer but a highly experienced litigator which is critical should your divorce reach the courts. I believe he represented my interests very well and I had full confidence that he would have won my case had we ended up going to court. Howev...
Posted by K | September 04, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation
Divorce Attorney
I hired Mr. Watters to represent me in a divorce. It ended up being a custody battle, which ultimately ended with my ex wife and her attorney trying to get me fired and charged. Mr. Watters and his staff (Carol Notaro) were amazing. Not only did they get me through the divorce, they helped me fight f...
Posted by anonymous | August 29, 2019 | Litigation
Great advice
Mr. Watters answered my question about demurring vrs motion to dismiss in minutes and helped me move forward with confidence.
Posted by anonymous | May 20, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Complex child custody case
We hired Mr. Watters to help with an extremely complex child custody case. Mr. Watters helped us succeed in what was characterized as a virtually impossible case to win in the family courts. After that was completed, he went to great lengths to help us settle a secondary part of our situation out of ...
Posted by Bruce | February 26, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Business
A review of Mike Watters
This review is a long time in coming. Mike Watters represented me in an arbitration of a dispute between the buyer & seller of a business I was involved in. His knowledge of my case and the law, as well as the preparation he and his team provided me was excellent. Mike’s handling of the depositio...
"The answers of Mr. Watters are consistently accurate, analytic, and customized to the needs of the Avvo askers. These are exactly the qualities that every client would look for when hiring an attorney."
"Mr. Watters is a highly experienced and effective litigator who has a proven track record. I strongly endorse him."
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2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
AV Preeminent (1989 - 2021), Martindale-Hubbell®
2021
Gold Client Champion, Martindale-Hubbell®
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer (2007 - 2020), Super Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Top Contributor, Avvo
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Client's Choice, Avvo
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2016
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
Pro Bono Service Award, Sonoma County Bar Association
2013
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2012
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2011
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2010
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2009
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2008
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2007
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
1998 - Present
Managing Partner, O'Brien Watters & Davis, LLP
1990 - 2000
Law & Mediation Center Mediator, American Arbitration Association
1990 - 1992
Professor, Empire College Of Law
1982 - 2005
Founding Partner, O'Brien Watters & Davis, LLP
1980 - 1982
Partner, Spridgen, Barrett, Achor, Luckhardt, Anderson & James
1978 - 2000
Commercial Arbitration Panelist, American Arbitration Association
1975 - 1979
Associate, Spridgen, Barrett, Achor, Luckhardt, Anderson & James
1969 - 1971
1st Lieutenant, USMC
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Board of Directors
1993 - 1993
United Way of Sonoma-Mendocino-LakeChairman
1990 - 1990
United Way of Sonoma-Mendocino-LakeCampaign Chairman
Initial jury trial loss followed by successful appeal followed by successful jury retrial
Win, upheld on appeal
1974
JD - Juris Doctor
1968
MBA - Master of Business Administration
1967
BS - Bachelor of Science
2020
Documents
2016
Depositions
2015
Deposition Objections
2014
Depositions
2011
Expert Witness Depositions
2011
Depositions
2006
Litigation Skills fro Legal Staff
2001
Evidence
1997
Depositions
1995
Depositions
1992
Expert Witnesses
2018
English
Legal Answers
What kind of area of law(yer) would I need to pursue a judgment award and possible lawsuit to get money owed from an unpaid debt
16 May 2021
How to obtain right of way?
16 May 2021
Can you avoid an evidentiary trial in a contested move away case with joint custody?
16 May 2021