About F. Mike
F. Mike Shaffer entered law school after completing an English degree at Indiana University in 1980. He earned his J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law in 1985. The academic path combined a liberal-arts background with three years of formal legal training. That mix shaped an approach to litigation that relies on clear writing and attention to procedural detail.
He began his legal career in Georgia soon after receiving his law degree. In 1985 he joined Middleton and Anderson in Georgia, where he handled civil matters in state courts. Over time his practice moved across state lines and into the federal system. He later became Of Counsel at Gordon Thomas Honeywell LLP, a role that positions him to work alongside trial teams while advising on complex procedural issues and case strategy.
Shaffer is admitted in multiple jurisdictions. He holds licenses in Georgia and Washington and appears in federal courts including the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington and the Western District of Washington, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. He is also admitted to practice in the 9th, 10th and 11th Circuits. That range of admissions reflects a practice that spans both regional and national appeals and trial work.
He maintains active memberships in several bar and trial lawyer organizations. He belongs to the Washington State Association for Justice, the Washington State Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association and the American Association for Justice. Those affiliations keep him connected to developments in civil procedure, trial advocacy and federal practice rules. Colleagues describe him as someone who prefers the courtroom when a case calls for it and who spends as much time preparing pleadings as he does preparing witnesses.
Clients and fellow lawyers see a practitioner who combines courtroom experience with appellate access. His caseload has included civil litigation that requires coordination between state and federal forums, and he has experience responding to procedural challenges across multiple circuits. He currently practices as Of Counsel at Gordon Thomas Honeywell LLP, handling civil litigation matters in state and federal courts.
