Michelle was born in Illinois and grew up in both Detroit and Milwaukee. She earned her undergraduate and law degrees from Marquette University and studied International Law at Georgetown University Law Center and George Washington University Law School. She is licensed to practice law in California, Utah and Wisconsin.
Michelle began her legal career as an insurance defense legal assistant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and later moved to California where she served as a Deputy II Prosecutor with the Fresno County District Attorney’s office and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. While chairing prosecutions for the people of California, she logged thousands of court hours, including dispositive law and motion hearings and jury and bench trials.
Michelle’s practice focuses on the representation of individuals and corporate entities in transportation, construction, and general liability claims and transactional disputes. In three decades as a litigator, she has worked with nationwide insurance defense firms and mid-sized firms and has managed teams of attorneys in complex litigation representing developers, engineers, architects, and government agencies in residential and highway disputes.
Michelle is an avid downhill skier and a skilled watersports competitor. She has competed in multiple international sailing races and guided kayak tours in the La Jolla Sea Caves. She is a proud mother of teenage triplets, two boys and one girl, and a fan of mixed martial arts.