Michael J. Watza

Mike graduated from Michigan State University with a BA and earned his Juris Doctorate from the Detroit College of Law. He is admitted to practice by the State Bar of Michigan, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Sixth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

An AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, Mike has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2007 and named a Detroit Business Top Lawyer in Energy, Government, and Product Liability. He is also listed in Crain’s Detroit Business annual “Book of Lists” of Leading & Top Lawyers.

Throughout his career, Mike has represented local governments and a wide range of public and private sector clients in complex litigation, regulatory proceedings, and public policy matters. Over the past 25 years, his work has focused extensively on telecommunications and energy-related regulatory issues.

He currently serves as counsel to PROTEC, a consortium of more than 100 Michigan municipalities committed to protecting public rights-of-way and public property, and to Merit Network, a nonprofit, university-affiliated organization that provides fiber internet access and cybersecurity services to research universities, nonprofits, and anchor institutions across the state.