All of Mike's background and experience make him the ideal person to assist you in having a positive outcome for your client in the pending or anticipated litigation. Navigating the various aspects of litigation disputes is probably the most important priority your client has had in their lifetime. Why not use the services and experience of the best to help in the dispute?
Mike is not just a Law School Graduate, but since 1979, Mike has worked successfully in the banking and real estate industries. The first 19 years of his career were spent as a senior executive of both LA-based Topa Savings Bank (formerly known as Bel Air Savings and Loan) and Topa Thrift and Loan, both owned by his mentor, John E. Anderson, for whom the UCLA Anderson School of Management is named. Mike was instrumental in successfully navigating the institutions through many successful business loans and ultimately the Savings and Loan crisis of the early to mid-90s, and was a key contributor in the successful negotiations to sell the Institutions to a Midwest bank holding company in late 1996.
After the company was sold, Mike became president and CEO of Royal Bank, a small bank in Los Angeles. After a detailed analysis of the portfolio and capital position, he guided the owners and Board of Directors in achieving approval of a consolidation plan from the Federal Banking Regulators. (FDIC) With that goal achieved, Mike changed careers entirely.
In mid-1997, Mike became one of the country’s most successful Berkshire Hathaway / Prudential Residential Real Estate sales agents. Mike, along with his team, ranked nationally as one of the top ten Berkshire Hathaway / Prudential Teams out of over 63,000 Prudential agents for 8 years of his sales career and ranked as one of the 100 top Real Estate agents by the Wall Street Journal. Since becoming a real estate practitioner, Mike and his team have participated in well over 2 billion dollars of residential real estate sales. In 2007, Mike represented the Seller in one of only two properties in Rancho Santa Fe that closed escrow for a price above ,000,000.
Mike grew up in Mesa, Arizona, attended the University of Arizona on a full basketball scholarship, and completed his education while working full-time in the banking industry, earning his Bachelor of Laws (1982) and his Juris Doctorate (1983) degrees from Western State University College of Law, located in San Diego. Mike is also a certified Mediator, having received his training and certification from the San Diego Mediation Institute in 1997.
In the past few years, Mike has also worked steadily as an “Expert Witness” in various lawsuits ranging from lender issues to easements to Agent and Escrow Officer Duties, as well as meeting or violating the industry expectation of the Standard of Care.
Having spent his entire professional career in the banking and real estate industries, Mike is uniquely qualified to assist anyone in the dispute/litigation they are pursuing.
EXPERIENCE:
Present
Real Estate Expert Witness
Periodically hired to provide expert testimony on agent duties, breach of fiduciary duty, broker valuations, commercial income/expenses, adequacy of disclosures, ethics violations, and reputational damage.
July 2024 - Present
Established Business Opportunities
Founder - CEO
April 2023 – Present
Coldwell Banker Realty
Luxury Global Specialist
July 1, 2019 – March 31, 2023
Residential Agent Inc.
Luxury Property Specialist
Chief Operating Officer
Manager, Broker Services
Executive Committee Member
July 1997 – June 2019
Prudential CA Realty / Berkshire Hathaway CA Properties
Sales Agent, Luxury Properties Group Director
National Top 10 Sales Agent/Team: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006
Rancho Santa Fe Top Sales Agent/Team: 1997–2007, 2008–2010, 2014–2016
Radio Show Host: Real Estate Forensics
January 1997 – April 1997
Royal Bank
President & CEO
Guided ownership and board of directors through the approved liquidation process under federal regulators.
September 1979 – November 1996
Topa Thrift & Loan / Topa Savings Bank
Senior Vice President (Jan 1989 – Nov 1996)
Turned around the newly acquired Topa Savings Bank (formerly Bel Air Savings & Loan). Supervised full loan portfolio, managed company litigation across California, navigated the Savings & Loan crisis, and negotiated the sale to First Bank of Oak Park, Chicago.
Regional Vice President (Jan 1984 – Dec 1988)
Oversaw operations and local management of 7 branches: San Diego, El Cajon, Escondido, Palm Springs, El Toro, Costa Mesa, and Long Beach.
Branch Manager (Largest Branch in Company) (July 1980 – Dec 1983)
Managed lending, collections, and deposit operations.
Management Trainee (Sept 1979 – June 1980)
May 1977 – August 1979
Self-Employed Campaign Manager/Consultant
Political campaign strategy and management
Consulted and managed campaigns for:
Premier, Province of Ontario, Canada
San Diego City Councilman
San Diego County Tax Collector
California State Representative
March 1976 – November 1976
President Gerald Ford National Re-Election Campaign
Field Advance Operations
Assisted in campaign event coordination across the Western U.S., collaborating with the Secret Service and recruiting volunteers.
September 1975 – February 1976
National Republican Correspondence Service
Chief Financial Officer
Helped build the Washington D.C.-based independent fundraising contractor for congressional and senatorial campaigns.
EDUCATION:
Juris Doctor – May 1983
Western State University School of Law (San Diego, CA)
Bachelor of Science in Law – August 1982
Western State University School of Law (San Diego, CA)
September 1971 – August 1975
University of Arizona
Emphasis in Finance, Economics, Accounting
Recruited on a full basketball scholarship.
Current and Past Additional Activities
Paid Expert Witness
Periodically hired to provide expert testimony on agent duties, breach of fiduciary duty, broker valuations, commercial income/expenses, adequacy of disclosures, ethics violations, and reputational damage.
Professional Involvement
Member of CABB, California Association of Business Brokers
Member of IBBA International Business Brokers Association
Broker Member / User www.BizBuySell.com
Member SDAR San Diego Association of Realtors
Member of SDMLS San Diego Multiple Listing Service
Member of CAR, California Association of Realtors
Member of NAR National Association of Realtors
Member of SDAR Educational Committee
Member of SDAR Membership Committee
Community & Charitable Involvement
Member, Rancho Santa Fe Rotary (2010 – Present)
President, Rancho Santa Fe Rotary (July 2018 – June 2019)
Board Chairman, Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Foundation (July 2024 - June 2025)
Board Advisor, Future Legends (College Scholarships)
Treasurer, District 5340 Rotary (January 2025 – Present)
Radio Show Host (Former)
Real Estate Forensics – A platform created to provide transparency in a dynamic real estate market. Hosted discussions with experts about business, social, and political developments, rumors, and myths impacting real estate
