Michael Harris is a problem-solver who navigates complex issues for companies and individuals in breach of contract, real estate, landlord/tenant, homeowner association, and other business disputes.

Education

  • J.D., James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona: Arizona Law Review; Dean’s List (all semesters); Francis J. Ryley Scholarship
  • B.A., Emory University 

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Arizona
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona 

Honors & Awards

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America: Construction Litigation, Real Estate Litigation (2022-present)

Professional & Industry Memberships

  • State Bar of Arizona

Community Leadership

  • Ryan House, Governance Committee
  • Children in Need Foundation, Board of Directors
  • Men’s Arts Council, Phoenix Art Museum
  • Active 20-30 Club of Phoenix
  • Scottsdale Leadership Class 36
  • University of Arizona Law College Association, Board of Directors

Representative Matters

  • Successfully negotiated a buy-out for a minority owner of a business as a favorable settlement of a multi-million-dollar lawsuit filed by the majority owners.
  • Represented a marketing agency in arbitration for a breach of contract dispute. Agency awarded all of the money owed under the contract in addition to all of its legal fees and costs incurred in the arbitration.
  • Prevailed in an arbitration between two former business partners related to the sale of the business and its assets. Final award granted client all legal fees and costs incurred in the arbitration.
  • Recovered >$1M for a group of lenders that made large, unsecured, and undocumented loans to various related entities and parties.
  • Obtained a lack of jurisdiction dismissal for a lawsuit brought by an Arizona company against a Texas resident. Subsequently negotiated a favorable settlement between the parties to avoid a second lawsuit in Texas.
  • Prevailed in a lawsuit for a local landlord against a large national tenant that was refusing to pay rent and other charges due to force majeure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Negotiated a favorable lease extension for the landlord as part of the resolution of the dispute.
  • Obtained a dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a large national tenant against a local landlord after the landlord locked the tenant out of the premises due to a failure to pay rent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Prevailed on each contract claim asserted by a homeowners association against a property owner in a dispute regarding interpretation of CC&Rs. Received a final judgment granting client nearly all of its legal fees and costs incurred in the lawsuit.
  • Represented and advised dozens of homeowners associations in the areas of HOA governance, CC&R enforcement, and debt collection.

Clerkships

  • Judicial Clerk, Hon. Frank R. Zapata, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona