Michael W. Davis
About Mike
Mike has been active in the Howard County legal community since 1982. He is a recognized leader in the complexities of estate planning and other issues of interest to the aging community. He works with our Estate Planning practice group to assist clients as they seek to address both their estate planning and their disability need in an innovative and education-focused manner.
When estates are difficult, clients turn to Mike for his vast experience, knowledge, and concern. He has been acknowledged for his legal acumen as he has continuously earned the AV (highest rating) from Martindale-Hubbell since 1996; named a Super Lawyer every year since 2011, and in 2019 Mike was recognized as one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Maryland. Mike has also been recognized as an Accredited Estate Planner by the National Association of Estate Councils. Mike was awarded the Leadership Howard County Legacy Award, the Leadership in Law by the Daily Record, and the James W. Rouse Award by the Community Foundation of Howard County.
Mike supports the future of our community by dedicating his talents to many area organizations including, Maryland State Bar Association’s Estates & Trusts Section Council, and the Maryland Cultural & Conference Center (Mc3).
Practice Groups
Areas of Focus
- Advance Directives & Medical Decision Making
- Asset Protection
- Business Succession Planning
- Co-Ownership Living Agreements
- Disability & Long-Term Care Planning
- Family Businesses & Succession Planning
- General Powers of Attorney
- Planning for Children
- Planning for Same-Sex Couples & Domestic Partners
- Premarital Agreements
- Special Needs Trusts
- Tax Planning
- Trusts
- Wills
Community Involvement
- Maryland Cultural & Conference Center (2020 – present)
- Chair (2020 – present)
- The Community Foundation of Howard County, Board Member (1996 – 2009)
- Chair, (2005 – 2007)
- Chair, Leadership Council (2009 – 2016)
- Downtown Columbia Partnership Advisory Committee, Member (2015 – 2018)
- First Maryland Disability Trust – Founding Member, Board of Directors (2006 – 2015)
- Treasurer (2011 – 2013)
- Vice Chair (2013 – 2015)
- Howard Community College Educational Foundation, Member (2000 – 2011)
- Planned Giving Committee, Chair (2003 – 2005)
- Strategic Planning Committee, Chair (2009 – 2011)
- Howard County Estate Planning Council. Founding Member, Chair (2014 – 2017)
- Howard County General Hospital
- Medical Review and Ethics Committee, Member (2010 – 2017)
- Vice-Chair (2012 – 2017)
- Co-Chair, Education Subcommittee (2013 – 2017)
- Medical Review and Ethics Committee, Member (2010 – 2017)
- Howard County Economic Forum, (1988 – 1997)
- Chair (1991 – 1992)
- Leadership Maryland, Class of 2000
Governmental Appointments
Gubernatorial Appointments
- Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission, (2016 – 2020)
- Howard County Judicial Nominating Commission, Chair, (2003 – 2007)
Government Commissions, etc.
- Task Force to Reorganize Departments of Citizen Services & Housing for the Kittleman Administration – Chair, (2015)
- Transition Team, Allan Kittleman Administration – Chair, (2014 – 2015)
- Transition Team, Charles I. Ecker Administration – Chair, (1990 – 1991)
- Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Commission– Chair, (1991)
- Howard County Charter Review Commission – Member, (1995 – 1996)
- Howard County Regulations Review Task Force – Chair, (1996)
- Howard County Commission on Aging, (1995 – 2005); Chair, (2001 – 2004)
- Howard County Senior Housing Master Plan Task Force, Member, (2004)
- Transition Team, Ken Ulman Administration, Member, (2006 – 2007)
- Howard County Charter Review Commission, Co-Chair, (2011 – 2012)
Professional Bar Associations
- Maryland State Bar Association, (1981 – Present)
- Estates & Trusts Section, Member (1990 – Present)
- Estates & Trusts Section Council, Member (2011 – 2020)
- MSBA, Vulnerable Adult Exploitation Task Force, Chair (2020-2021)
- Elder Law Section, Member (1993 – Present)
- Elder Law Council, (1993 – 2007); Chair, (2000 – 2001)
- Howard County Bar Association, Member (1982 – Present)
- Board of Directors, Member (1996 – 1999)
- Estates & Trusts Section, Founder (1995)
Schooling
- Pennsylvania State University, B.A.
- The George Washington University Law School, J. D.
Bar Admission
- Maryland
Awards
- Howard Community College, Honorary Degree, Associate in Arts (2007)
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Outstanding Achievement Award (2008)
- The Bar Foundation of Howard County, Maryland, Award of Excellence (2009)
- The Columbia Foundation, James W. Rouse Award (2009)
- SmartCEO, Maryland’s Legal Elite (2010)
- Legal Leaders, Washington D.C. and Baltimore’s Top Rated Lawyers (2015)
- Leadership Howard County, Leadership Legacy Award (2012)
- Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designee by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC)
