Mike's first experiences in property taxes began over 15 years ago when he joined the Los Angeles County Assessor's Office. While employed by the L. A. County Assessor, Mike prepared and presented the assessor's defense of property tax appeals, appraised real property, assisted in the professional education of new appraiser trainees, and developed taxpayer education materials.

During February 1997 Mike joined the Board of Equalization in Sacramento, where he helped to revise the statewide Assessors' Handbook and assisted in the drafting of new property tax regulations. Eventually, Mike was promoted to supervisory and management positions in the Board's Assessment Practices Survey Program. This valuable program conducts compliance audits of California's 58 county assessors to ensure the fair and equal treatment of property taxpayers throughout the state. Under Mike's direction, the Board's staff worked hard to detect and prevent over assessments.

Concurrent with his employment at the Board, Mike enrolled in the evening division at the McGeorge School of Law. Graduating in 2002, Mike earned the degree Juris Doctor with Great Distinction, and successfully completed McGeorge's Tax Concentration. Mike was admitted to the State Bar of California on December 3, 2002.

Until 2007, Mike held attorney positions in the Board's Legal Department and the office of the Honorable Claude Parrish, the Board's Vice Chairman. Both of those positions required him to apply and interpret a wide variety of tax laws involving individuals and businesses.

As of June 4, 2007, Mike joined the Los Angeles law firm of Cahill•Davis & O'Neall. Mike's practice is limited to state and local tax controversies.