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About Michael
Biography
I am the founder of South King County's largest law firm, and have served as a Managing Partner for all of its existence. I conceived the firm as having Seattle/Bellevue law firm image and quality, but with the convenience and reasonable fees permitted by a Kent location. The firm is now approaching its tenth anniversary; with eighteen lawyers - the experiment was a success! I believe the lawyers in this firm are among the finest there are in the State.
I have over 36 years of legal experience, nearly all of it in a Partner/Leader capacity. My own practice emphasizes the representation of municipalities, builders, developers and businesses in land use, commercial, construction, governmental and litigation matters.
I have substantial court and trial experience, including personal injury and criminal jury trials, commercial litigation, matters in the State Courts of Appeals and Supreme Court; and Federal trial and Appellate matters. Although I still end up in Court a fair amount, more recently my cases tend to be resolved with Mediation, which I have found to be a very effective method to get my clients the best possible results at a reasonable cost.
I am regularly appointed by the King County Superior Court as an Arbitrator, and after hearing and deciding many such cases, I don't believe I have ever been appealed by the litigants.
I am married to Peggy and we have four sons - two of whom are fine attorneys with the firm. My personal interests are photography, boating (we have a big, old Chris Craft), motorcycling (a big, old Harley), traveling, and eleven grandkids.
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Construction and Development
35%
49 years | 100 cases
State, Local, and Municipal Law
35%
50 years | 400 cases
Litigation
20%
50 years | 300 cases
Commercial Real Estate
10%
50 years | 100 cases
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Washington for 50 years
State: Washington
Acquired: 1975
No misconduct found
Location
Hanis Irvine Prothero, PLLC
6703 South 234th Street, Suite 300, Kent, WA, 98032-2903
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Michael Martin Hanis's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
4 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (4)
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews | General Knowledge
Posted by anonymous | May 13, 2009 | Contracts & Agreements
Finally, an opportunity to beat up on a lawyer!!
Our agency used Mike, and others, in handling a very complex long term contract negotiation between a couple dozen potential parties. The planning period for the negotiation took more than a decade. The contract itself took a few years. During this time period I found Mike to be highly skilled and...
Posted by anonymous | March 05, 2009 | Business
Ron Speer - District Manager
Mike has worked for our company for over 20 years. The reason Mike is still our primary attorney is because of his skills as an attorney along with having integrity.
Michael Martin Hanis's Lawyer Endorsements
Colette Kostelec
State, local, and municipal law lawyer | Sep 06
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Mike is the general counsel for a water & sewer district that I represented on a complex litigation case. Mike protected his client's interests diligently and I very much appreciated his responsiveness and insightful comments during the litigation. Highly recommended."
"I have known Mike for more than 10 years and worked with him in the community frequently during that time. Mike is highly regarded, both as a volunteer and as an attorney."
"I worked with Mike as a partner at Hanis Irvine Prothero, PLLC for about four years. Mike is a fine attorney, dedicated and detail oriented. He has more experience in his field(s) of law than most attorneys can rightfully claim. I would endorse him any time and would give him a five out of five rating. Remember, his gray hair is a sign of experience (not age)."
Mark Albertson
Construction and development lawyer | Oct 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Michael is not only a superb lawyer, he's a caring and involved person in his community. Michael's longstanding reputation in excellent legal services in the areas of construction and commercial transactions, is well-known in the community. Michael gives back to his community with a great deal of community service work, and has worked hard to build a great law firm. I regularly refer clients to Mike's firm and will continue to do so."
"Although I have a personal connection to Michael, from a purely professional standpoint I fully endorse him. I have worked with him on numerous matters as well as sought his legal advise for numerous legal matters and would recommend him to anybody without hesitation."
"A well like, thorough and smart attorney who obtains great results for his clients."
"I have been Mike's law partner since 2004. I have come to know him as a lawyer with high ethical standards, one who can see the big picture, and one who will fight very hard for his clients. He is a well-respected leader in the field of utility, sewer, and water district law, as well as construction law. I have seen him in trial mode and can tell you he is always very well-prepared, highly focused, and an intense litigator who still has the ability to relate to, and effectively communicate to, the people on the jury. I've also had the pleasure of getting to become a friend of Mike's since joining him as a law partner. He's a fun person to be around, has a wicked sense of humor, and is about the nicest guy you could ever find."
"I endorse this lawyer's work."
Colette Kostelec
Land use and zoning lawyer
John Parnass
Construction and development lawyer
Michael Ditchik
Family lawyer
Greg Haffner
Commercial real estate lawyer
Melissa Rogers
Family lawyer
Mark Prothero
Criminal defense lawyer
Mark Albertson
Estate planning lawyer
Amy Meharry
Real estate lawyer
Gregory Girard
Criminal defense lawyer
Gregory Cromwell
Real estate lawyer
Brian Hanis
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
Sara Wahl
Family lawyer
Patrick Hanis
Litigation lawyer
Experience
Honors
2012
Avvo 2012 Clients' Choice Award, Avvo
2012
Avvo Featured Attorney - State and Local Law, Avvo
2011
Editor: "Annexations, Incorporation, and Boundary Review Boards”, WSBA Environmental Land Use Section
2006
Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation, Washington State Bar Association
2005
Thirty Year Membership, Washington State Bar Association
Work Experience
2007 - Present
Attorney and a Managing Partner, Hanis Irvine Prothero PLLC
2004 - Present
Court Appointed Arbitrator - 20+ cases, King County Superior Court Arbitrations
2003 - 2007
Attorney and Managing Partner, Hanis Greaney Prothero, PLLC
2003 - 2003
Founder, Hanis Irvine Prothero (predecessor)
1980 - 2003
Partner Attorney, Hanis & Olson
1978 - 1980
Partner Attorney, Harpold, Hanis & Fiori
1976 - 1978
Associate Attorney, Bonjorni, Harpold & Fiori
Associations
2012 - Present
Kent Homeless Shelter Task Force
2006 - Present
WSBA Business Law SectionMember
2005 - Present
Kent Downtown Business PartnershipExecutive Board - Past President
2000 - Present
ABA Law Practice Management SectionMember
1995 - Present
Washington State Bar Association, Environmental and Land Use Law SectionMember
1985 - Present
Washington Assoc. Sewer & Water DistrictsMember of Attorneys Group
1980 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
1976 - Present
King County Bar AssociationMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Balzer v. Dewitt
$544,000, plus interest and costs
Education
1975
Willamette University College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1972
Brigham Young University
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2013
Washington State Legislature, House Local Governance Committee Hearings
Water and Sewer District Industry Legislative Agenda - testimony
2013
Washington State Legislature Senate Local Governance Committee Hearings
Municipal Water and Sewer District Legislative Agenda - testimony before Senate Committee
2011
Kent Downtown Partnership Annual Dinner
Master of Ceremonies
2011
Kent Downtown Business Partnership Qtly Breakast
Keynote
2008
KCBA New Lawyer Orientation
Developing Legal Contacts
2005
WASWD Annual Educational Conference
Legal Issues Re: Collection and Enforcement of Water and Sewer Service Charges
2005
Washington Association of Boundary Review Boards Annual Conference
Legal Issues Related to the Assumption of Special Purpose Districts by Cities
2002
WASWD Annual Educational Conference
Report on Participation at Eastern Europe Infrastructure (Water and Sewer) Conference (Budapest)
Publications
2012
WSBA Environmental and Land Use Law Section
Editor of Real Property Deskbook - “Annexations, Incorporation, and Boundary Review Boards”
2006
Utility Contractor Association of Washington
Negotiating Claims With Public Owners - Psychology 101
Languages
Finnish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
What happens when a home is built inside the setback, causing an added deck to be built encroaching on the neighbors land?
06 Aug 2012
Q&A
Can a neighbor prevent you from building a fence on your own property?
08 Sep 2011
Q&A
Can you get a permit in WA state to conceal and carry a realistic bb gun
20 Dec 2008