| Michael Lee Is a husband, father of four, commercial real estate and land use attorney, and former State Senator for District 9. Michael also has served at the County and State level on public board and is a current and former member of numerous nonprofit boards.
Highlights of Michael Lee's public service and experience, and the track record of successful legislation that Michael will bring back to the NC Senate, can be found below.
FAMILY & WORK
Married to Heidi Wooten Lee and together they have four wonderful children; Miles, Sydney, Sam, and Sawyer.
Founded Lee | Kaess, PLLC (formerly Lee Law Firm, PLLC) in 2012, after leaving a large southeastern law firm. Lee | Kaess has expanded to include attorneys in Wilmington, Raleigh and Dallas, Texas, working in commercial real estate, trusts and estates, land use and litigation.
Selected as 2020 Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Commercial Real Estate in Wilmington
Elected to Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite"for 2020
Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1997
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A. 1991
Attended University of North Carolina Wilmington
Graduate of the Wilmington Leadership Institute
Admitted to Bar in NC and SC
RECOGNITION
Hunt-Kean Institute Education Policy Fellow, 2019
Exceptional Education for Exceptional Children from Parents for Educational Freedom in NC, 2019
First in Teaching- Elevating Educators for Student Success from the Education Innovation Lab, 2018
Leadership Award from the College Board, 2018
Legislative Champion from NC Public School Options, 2018
Appointed to Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children, 2018
Appointed to Education Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference of State Governments, 2017
Nominated to National Conferences of State Legislators "Legislative Institute on School Choice- The Next Chapter" 2017
Education All Star Award from Education Freedom Alliance, 2016
PUBLIC SERVICE
North Carolina Port Authority Board of Directors, Chairman
North Carolina Department of Transportation, Board Member
North Carolina Courts Commission, Member
B-3 Interagency Counsel Member
Hunt Institute, Board Member (current)
University of North Carolina Wilmington, Board of Trustees (current)
Holshauser Legislative Retreat for the Hunt Institute, Co-Chair (current)
University of North Carolina Wilmington, Adjunct Professor
City of Wilmington, Board of Adjustment
Carousel Center for Abused Children, Board of Directors
NC State Logistics Strategic Planning Subcommittee, Member
National Assembly of Sportmen's Caucuses |