Throughout his legal career, Michael has been active in the legal community. He served on the Committee on Conduct, United States District Court, Colorado Supreme Court Attorney Regulation Committee, Civil Justice Committee of the Colorado Supreme Court, and a host of other professional and educational bodies. Michael is listed in the Best Lawyers of America (all editions) and SuperLawyers® (all editions) and has long held the highest AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Michael served as the first Colorado Special Assistant Public Defender. Michael was inducted in the American Board of Trial Advocacy in 1990.

He has always been active in Continuing Legal Education and is a frequent speaker and lecturer at seminars and teaching events. He was a Lecturer at Law, University of Denver College of Law, and has served as a faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy since 1985. Michael has authored numerous articles and papers and frequently presents outlines/papers in conjunction with seminar presentations in civil litigation, domestic relations, criminal law, legal ethics and malpractice prevention for the Colorado Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, National Center for Continuing Legal Education, and SMH Colorado Bar Review.

Michael is a member of the Denver and Colorado Bar Associations, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Colorado Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (founding member), Doyle's Inn of Court (founding member), the National Judicature Society and the Faculty of Federal Advocates, among others