About Michael
Michael Hales earned his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2009. He completed a course of study that brought him from classroom lawyering to practice. Early on he combined academic interests with practical training, a pattern that has continued through his career.
After law school Hales moved into roles that crossed teaching and practice. In 2017 he joined the business faculty at Brigham Young University–Idaho as a faculty member. That same year he began working at Skidmore Hales as a lawyer. The twin appointments speak to a professional life split between classroom engagement and client work.
Hales is licensed to practice in both Florida and Idaho. He has built experience in matters that touch on business and the types of legal issues companies face. His time in academia has informed the way he approaches problem solving. Teaching business students required him to explain complex concepts plainly and to test arguments under pressure. Those habits carry over into his legal work.
Colleagues describe Hales as methodical. He favors careful analysis and clear writing. He prepares cases and transactions with an emphasis on detail. That approach has guided him inside firm work and in the classroom alike. His peers note that he brings an educator’s patience to client meetings and negotiations, which can make technical material easier for nonlawyers to follow.
At Skidmore Hales, Hales handles matters that arise in the corporate and commercial context. He advises on transactions, regulatory questions and the everyday disputes that businesses face. He also continues to teach and guest-lecture, keeping a foot in both worlds. That combination allows him to test practical solutions against academic frameworks.
Outside the office he maintains professional ties in the jurisdictions where he practices. He keeps current on developments in both Florida and Idaho, balancing state-specific rules with broader commercial practice. He lives and works in the region served by his firm, and he remains active in the mix of teaching and lawyering that defined his path into the profession. He practices law at Skidmore Hales, concentrating on business and related matters.
