Michael D. Haupt is a founding partner of the firm with nearly 30 years of experience. His practice focuses heavily on business and contract disputes, litigation arising from the development, purchase, sale, lease, and finance of real property, surety claims, mechanic’s lien actions and other construction-related matters. Additionally, Michael has experience in condemnation actions, probate and trust litigation, title insurance claims, and a variety of other insurance-related matters.
Michael successfully represents a variety of clients, including corporate entities, real property owners and developers, ranchers and farmers, and individuals and companies in the construction industry. He handles all aspects of litigation for his clients, including trial and appellate work in both state and federal courts throughout the Central Coast and the State of California.
In addition to his litigation and trial practice, Michael is regularly involved in the negotiation and drafting of business and real estate transactions on behalf of his clients.
Prior to joining Glick Haupt Marino, LLP in 2008, Michael was a partner with a leading national law firm ranked in the “First Tier” of all U.S. law firms by U.S. News and Best Lawyers, where he practiced commercial litigation in the firm’s San Francisco office and served as hiring partner.
As an accomplished attorney with experience successfully representing clients in disputes with municipalities, insurance companies, and corporations, Michael’s strategic approach and unwavering dedication to achieving favorable outcomes have made him a highly trusted and effective advocate for his clients.
Michael grew up in San Luis Obispo, attending both Old Mission School and Mission College Preparatory. He earned his Bachelor’s degree with High Honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he was a two-time recipient of the Big West Scholar-Athlete Award. He received his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law. During law school, Michael served as an editor on the Law Review and was a judicial extern for the Honorable Ronald M. Whyte of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Michael is licensed to practice before all courts in the State of California, the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern District Courts of California, as well as the Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals. He is also a member of the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association, where he served on the Board of Directors from 2010-2014.