Services
Industries
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1982
University of Michigan, Ford School of Public Policy, M.P.P., 1983
University of Michigan, A.B., 1979
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- Michigan
Mike is a senior member of Miller Canfield's Public Finance group, with primary responsibility for general obligation and revenue bond issues amounting to more than $3.5 billion. With degrees in economics and public policy in addition to law, he brings a unique perspective to his broad legal experience in structuring transactions. He has served as team leader and responsible principal on a wide range of public finance projects including infrastructure financing and refinancing, restructuring actions, compliance review, intergovernmental agreements and public entity creation, operation, and financing.
He served as the firm's CEO from 2013 to 2021. Under his leadership, the firm renewed and strengthened its commitment to law firm diversity, equity and inclusion, becoming the only Michigan-based firm, and one of only 24 nationwide, to have earned Mansfield Plus Certification for three years in a row. Certification is awarded to law firms that meet high standards for significant representation of women, people of color and LGBTQ+ attorneys in firm leadership roles. Additionally, during McGee's tenure as CEO, the firm expanded capacity in the rapidly growing autonomous and connected vehicles sector and the aerospace and defense industry, and grew its footprint domestically and internationally, forging alliances through North and South America and adding offices in Washington, D.C., California, Ohio and Qatar.
Representative Matters
Mike has served as bond counsel on behalf of cities, counties, townships, authorities, and governmental entities of all types, and as underwriters' counsel in hundreds of transactions covering all areas of public infrastructure finance. In addition, he has negotiated complex intergovernmental agreements for a wide variety of clients, including major economic development projects and related legislation.
- Represented a Michigan county in both formulating legislation and crafting the public-private intergovernmental agreement between two counties, four cities, and three townships to establish an aerotropolis aimed at attracting logistics, transportation and manufacturing firms to transportation hubs and other regional facilities.
- Acted as bond counsel on a $1 billion financing for airport improvements.
- Crafted legislation enabling creation and financing of a regional convention authority.
- Represented cities in respect of local government emergency management laws.
Honors
Michigan Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Lawyer of the Year, 2023
State Bar of Michigan Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2022
Michigan Municipal League, Special Award of Merit, Outstanding Service Award
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Regional Ambassador Award
Best Lawyers in America, Public Finance Law, 2010-present; 2025 Lawyer of the Year; 2022 Detroit Public Finance Lawyer of the Year
Michigan Super Lawyers, Bonds/Government Finance, 2006-present; Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers, 2008-2009
DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Banking & Financial Service Law, Municipal Law and Public Finance
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
National Association of Bond Lawyers
State Bar of Michigan, Government Law Section, Board Member
Michigan Municipal League
Michigan Townships Association
Michigan Government Finance Officers Association
Michigan Association of County Administrative Officers
Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners
Law360 Michigan Editorial Advisory Board
Civic, Cultural & Social Activities
U.S. Naval Institute
Michigan Municipal League Foundation, Board of Directors, 2019-present
The Right Place, Board of Directors, 2017-2022
Detroit Regional Chamber, Board of Directors, 2013-2021; Executive Committee, 2016-2021; Chair, Nominating & Governance Committee, 2016-present; Member, 2016-present
Citizens Research Council of Michigan, Board of Directors, 2011-present; Chair, 2021-22; Vice Chair, 2017-2021; Executive Committee, 2017-present; Chair, Nominating Committee, 2018-2021
Turnaround Management Association, Michigan Chapter, Board of Directors, 2011
Detroit Regional Chamber, Leadership Detroit XIV Graduate
Rotary International Foundation, GSE Member
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), Past vice-chairman
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Past Alumni Board member
Speeches
"City Management Ethics in an Era of Division," 2024 Michigan Municipal Executives Winter Institute, January 30, 2024
"Voting Rights & Racial Justice: What’s at Stake and What Law Firms and Companies Can Do," Panelist, Law Firm Antiracism Alliance webinar, May 12, 2021
"The Way Forward: A Plan for Boosting Diversity and Inclusion in Law Firms," Michigan Lawyers Weekly webinar, Oct. 20, 2020
"Emergency Management as an Alternative to Bankruptcy," 2013 ABA Annual Convention, San Francisco, Calif, August 10, 2013
"Understanding Tax Increment Finance: The Legal Basics," 2010 Economic Development Finance Conference, Detroit, Mich, March 30, 2010
Publications
Interview with Michigan Radio, "Michigan cities team up to offset 'fundamentally unsustainable' municipal finance system," July 19, 2016
"PACE programs, growth of green building due diligence take spotlight," (Co-authors Mark J. Bennett and Eric M. Jamison), Michigan Lawyers Weekly, April 19, 2010
"Intergovernmental Cooperation—Myths and Realities," Michigan Municipal Review, July/August 2010
"Brave New World: The Changing World of Municipal Finance," Public Corporation Law Quarterly, State Bar of Michigan, Spring 2010
"The Lawyer and the Bridge: How a Public Corporation Lawyer Saved the Mackinac Bridge," Public Corporation Law Quarterly, State Bar of Michigan, Summer 2007
"Government Entities Brace for an Accounting Tidal Wave," Hot Points, Fall 2006
"Financing Stormwater Facilities – or - Through the Looking Glass, Again," Michigan Municipal Review, July/August 2003
"Ethics," a chapter within the Michigan Municipal League’s Handbook for Municipal Officials, most recently published in 2003
