Michael W. Bragg

About Michael

Mike has focused primarily in the business, real estate, and estate planning areas and has represented numerous public entities, including but not limited to, various school districts, The University of Toledo, The Toledo Lucas County Port Authority, The Sandusky County Regional Airport Authority, The Toledo Lucas County Public Library and the Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area. Mike is a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, current Executive Secretary of Serra International, the current District Governor of the Toledo Serra Club, past President of the St. Joan of Arc Athletic Board, on the Executive Committee of the Maumee Valley Historical Society, and sits on the boards of Friends of Russian Orphans and Image Trinity. Mike volunteers as a coach and scout leader. Mike is a past President of the Toledo Bar Association Real Estate Committee and currently sits on the Bar Admissions Committee. He is active at St. Joan of Arc Parish, has been married for 32 years, and has four children.

Representative Matters

Assisted a public university in acquiring real property, both privately and through eminent domain, for the expansion of its main campus
Assisted County library system in a multi-million dollar expansion of its main library as well as the construction and renovation of numerous branch libraries
Represented numerous school districts in Lucas County with regard to school finances and real estate tax appeals as well as real property tax exemption matters, including Enterprise Zones, Tax Increment Financing and Community Redevelopment Areas
Assisted County park system in multi-million dollar acquisition of numerous parcels of real property

Affiliations

Ohio State Bar Association
Toledo Bar Association (past chair of the Real Estate Committee) Associate Editor of the Case Western Reserve University Law Review
Maumee Valley Historical Society (Executive Committee)
Toledo Serra Club (District Governor)
St. Joan of Arc Athletic Board (President)
Friends of Russian Orphans

Education

College of Wooster (B.A. 1982, with honors)
Case Western Reserve University (J.D. 1985, cum laude)

Bar Admissions

All Ohio Courts
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Ohio
Ohio Board of Tax Appeals

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy and Creditor Protection

Our attorneys help companies and individuals address the issues and take advantage of the opportunities which exist in todays markets. Our clients include banks, manufacturers, distributors, health care providers, and retail merchants.

Business and Corporate Law

Our attorneys assist clients with entity formation and the drafting of organizational documents for such businesses as limited liability companies, for-profit corporations, and non-profit entities. We also counsel new and established businesses and corporations regarding mergers, acquisitions, compliance, taxation issues, corporate governance, and a variety of other areas.

Commercial and Residential Leasing

Our attorneys are adept at both the commercial and residential aspects of real estate leasing law. We will prepare or review your lease, carefully explain the contents, and assist in the negotiations of its terms. We have handled numerous commercial and residential leasing transactions for landlords, developers, and tenants.

Commercial Law

Commercial law is a body of law that regulates the conduct of persons, merchants, and businesses who are engaged in trade, sales, and commerce. Also known as business law, our commercial law attorneys are experienced in a subject that interacts with many other areas of law .

Competitive Bidding

With our extensive background in public law, our attorneys are experienced and knowledgeable about Ohio’s competitive bid laws. We often advise school districts and other public clients regarding the situations in which bidding is required, the selection of qualifying bids, and the strengths or weaknesses of challenges to the bid process, and further have successfully defended against such challenges in court.

Construction and Lien Law

Our attorneys have broad experience in construction and lien law, from the planning stage through completion and, when needed, dispute resolution. We have represented homebuilders, developers, homeowners, condominium developers, general contractors, architects, engineers, surveyors, construction managers, financial institutions, investors, landlords and tenants, municipalities, and title, bond and liability insurers.

Elder Law

Our attorneys work with clients and their caregivers, where applicable, to provide the appropriate means to protect elderly clients from potential problems related to their assets and their physical well-being. Issues we can assist with can include Medicaid planning and estate planning, asset protection and assistance with issues related to in-home or nursing home care.

Environmental

Our attorneys have experience in many aspects of environmental law: from the issues raised during the handling of hazardous materials to the resolution of natural resource problems. These services include helping buyers and sellers of property avoid environmental liabilities through the use and analysis of Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments. We also have experience in the preservation of wetlands, conservation easements, parklands and other dedicated uses.

Estate Planning

Our attorneys offer a full array of estate planning services, including the drafting of wills, various types of trusts, limited liability companies, and family limited partnerships, as well as generation skipping tax planning and tax return preparation. We also help with preparation of advance directives, such as living wills and durable power of attorney. We can help you plan for your future to make the transition of your wealth to younger generations as seamless as possible.

Landlord/Tenant

Our attorneys have experience handling various aspects of landlord/tenant relationships—both residential and commercial. From drafting and advising on leases, renting policies, tenant notices, counseling landlords as tenant issues arise, and handling eviction proceedings and litigation. We can be a resource for both landlords and tenants alike.

Probate

There are two aspects to our representation in this area of the law. First, we represent the estate representative in the administration of the estate and distribution of estate assets. Second, we represent heirs in monitoring estates where there are issues with the designated estate representative and in wills/trusts contests and actions to recover assets belonging to an estate, a trust, or other individual.

Real Estate

Our attorneys represent owners, builders, contractors, developers, landlords, and tenants in all types of real estate transactions, whether residential, commercial, industrial, retail, or office, and as to all types of administrative matters, including building and fire code compliance matters. We have extensive experience in acquisitions, financing, leasing, development, construction, and sales.

Trusts

Trusts are an effective, and in many cases, a necessary part of a good estate plan. Trusts can be used to protect, transfers, control, and disburse assets. Our attorneys can help clients identify the benefits of setting a trust for their family and oversee the proper administration of a trust assets.

Zoning and Land Use

Our attorneys represent clients in matters of rezoning, planned unit developments, conditional use permits, zoning variances, and other growth management permit and development order issues. Our clients have included local governments, trusts, partnerships, property owners, and developers of residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use community projects.

Our Attorneys