Welcome
By now you have probably noticed that this site isn't full of flashy graphics, JavaScript, or stock photos. Could it have been? Of course. But this website is optimized to fulfill three purposes: 1) letting you know what areas of law I practice; 2) how to contact me; and 3) providing legal information on several key topics.
Give me a call (or email me) if you need to sue someone or if you are being sued, or if you are going through a divorce. I may be able to help. I'm always interested in hearing the unique legal issues people need help with, and if I'm not able to help you due to the subject matter or if I have a full caseload, I'll try to provide you a list of several other attorneys who may be able to help. Although my practice isn't confined to any specific area of law, the following areas are primarily what I practice:
Government Litigation
Family Law
Contracts
About Michael Hatfield
I am a physicist, turned software designer, turned government analyst, turned attorney. Clearly I have many diverse interests, all of which I utilize to benefit my clients.
As a physicist, I was part of the ATLAS experiment at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) during the search for the Higgs boson. Theoretical high energy physics continues to be a passion I'm always eager to have a conversation about, although most people who know me will probably warn you against getting me started talking about how time is treated different in General Relativity and Quantum Field Theory (unless you want to hear me ramble on and on for hours). Surprisingly, my math and physics skills come in handy quite frequently in the practice of law.
My background in the tech industry allows me to recognize software limitations, including the disadvantages of AI, to ensure my clients' data are safeguarded to the maximum extent possible. I always err on the side of privacy over convenience (I'm probably the only person under 70 who's never owned a smartphone) which is why you won't find me on any social media sites. I also unapologetically advocate using Proton Mail--an encrypted email service that was born in Restaurant One at CERN, where I've had numerous intellectually stimulating conversations over carbonated beverages.
I have more than a decade of experience working in government, including managing budgets, contracts, and personnel matters. These years were spent in law enforcement agencies--beginning in a Probation Department and ending in a District Attorney's Office. Having managed complex, multi-million dollar budgets, I'm comfortable working with accountants to simplify and resolve financial disputes.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention, even in passing, my passion for brewing. I plan to have a licensed brewery and a link to it on this page before long. Stay tuned!