Bringing a background in behavioral psychology to a client experience rooted in trust
Gaining experience by serving on in-house counsel teams for multibillion-dollar companies, Michael Wilgus understands what corporate companies want from outside counsel. A recent graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law, Michael was a founding board member of the school’s Richmond Business and Law Forum. As such, he was charged with identifying companies and professionals in the Richmond area to present to law school students, exposing them to the community and helping students to identify the types of corporate law available in which to practice. Michael was the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society Champion and subsequently served as the president of the organization, in addition to being a Moot Court board member.
An international relations and psychology major at the College of William and Mary, Michael was a behavioral therapist for children with autism and emotional distress. “Working with that population taught me the benefits of, and reward in, providing a great service. I directly saw the impact of patience and problem-solving in working with clients who truly need your help.” His background and experience in that field helped shape his approach with clients today. A stronger interest in law that was developed through his international relations background is what ultimately persuaded Michael to go into the legal field.
Having grown up practicing martial arts, Michael also developed a practice of discipline and intention that has helped shape his work ethic and everyday life. At ThompsonMcMullan, his practice primarily consists of corporate transactions, in addition to supporting contract litigation cases.
A self-described foodie, Michael, a transplant to the city, enjoys exploring Richmond through its restaurants in the hopes of becoming a “local” at his favorite spots.
Practices
Business Transactions, Corporate and Real Estate
- Business Entity Formations, Sales, and Mergers
- Business Succession Planning
- Commercial Real Estate Sales and Leases
- Contract Drafting, Review, and Negotiation
- Professional Services Entity Transactions
Civil Litigation
Representative Experience
- Performed extensive research on New York civil procedure rules applicability to arbitration and drafted memorandum advising on potential interpretation of New York abandoned property statues in commercial leases
- Conducted exhaustive background due diligence to leverage the corporation’s position in pre-litigation discussions
- Drafted memorandum analyzing District of Columbia regulations on business entity formation to determine viability of leveraging those regulations to obtain more infrastructure contracts
- Advised corporate counsel on the intersection of state and federal law for multimillion-dollar lawsuit regarding liability and immunity for state agencies
- Evaluated company lines of business to ensure operational controls were in compliance with federal and state regulations
Recognition
- Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© “Ones to Watch” in the field of Corporate Law (2024-2025)
Education
- University of Richmond, School of Law, J.D., 2021
- Recipient, American Corporate Counsel (ACC) National Capital Region Corporate Scholarship
- Champion, Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition
- President, Alternative Dispute Resolution Society
- Member, Moot Court Competition Board
- College of William & Mary, Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, 2015
Admissions
- All Virginia Courts including the Supreme Court of Virginia
Affiliations
- Richmond Bar Association
- Richmond Business and Law Forum
- Board Member, 2020-2021
- Higher Achievement
- Young Professionals Board member
- Virginia Bar Association
- Business Law Section, Young Lawyers Division Representative
Corporate Transparency Act: What Business Owners Need to Know