About Michael D.
Michael D. Whipple trained first as a planner and later as a lawyer. He earned a B.A. in geography from the University of Delaware in 1984. He then completed a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning at Virginia Tech in 1997, concentrating on community land use and natural resource planning. He added an M.A. in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art & Design in 2004 and a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2010.
Whipple’s early career followed a familiar path for someone with planning credentials. He worked on land use and preservation matters before entering law school, bringing practical planning experience into legal studies. After obtaining his J.D. he became a member of the Washington State Bar Association in 2010 and has maintained that membership since. He is also admitted to practice in Idaho and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He holds professional certification as an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certified Planner and is a Washington State Certified Professional Guardian.
That blend of training—planning, preservation and law—shapes the kinds of matters Whipple handles. He has worked on zoning, permitting and regulatory compliance, and he understands how municipal and regional policies affect individual projects. His planning background gives him a working knowledge of land use processes, environmental review and preservation standards. Colleagues and clients have relied on him for analyses that connect technical planning questions to legal strategy.
Whipple participates in professional associations related to both planning and the law. He maintains membership in the American Planning Association and the Idaho State Bar Association, and he remains active in bar activities in Washington. The professional guardian credential further signals experience with fiduciary and guardianship responsibilities when those issues intersect with property and planning decisions.
He practices out of The Whipple Law Group, PLLC. His courtroom admissions include state and federal venues that commonly hear appeals and administrative law matters tied to land use. He combines regulatory experience from his planning years with legal skills developed since earning his law degree. He currently practices at The Whipple Law Group, PLLC, where his work focuses on land use, zoning, and related regulatory matters.
