Mike is from North Idaho. He grew up in Spirit Lake and graduated from Lakeland H.S. in 1984 and the University of Idaho in 1989. Before becoming a lawyer, Mike worked as a biologist for Weyerhaeuser Company in Federal Way, Washington from 1989-1994. While working for Weyerhaeuser, his exposure to environmental litigation led him to return to the University of Idaho where he obtained his law degree. Following graduation in 1997, Mike returned to North Idaho and began his legal career as a law clerk for First District Judge James F. Judd (retired). Following his clerkship, in 1999 Mike began his civil practice with the firm Ramsden & Lyons (now Ramsden, Marfice, Ealy & De Smet) where he handled construction, real estate and insurance defense related matters. In 2006, Mike became a partner and his practice became more focused on areas of construction law and construction defect litigation and real estate and boundary dispute litigation. In 2015, Mike earned his certification as a civil mediator and has expanded his practice to include civil mediation and arbitration services.
Having spent most of his life in North Idaho, Mike has always enjoyed the outdoors. He is an avid fly-fisherman who enjoys tying flies and fishing our local streams and lakes from his gold and black drift boat--the “Joe Vandal.” Mike is also an aspiring amateur landscape and wildlife photographer. You can view some of Mike’s photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelealy/ When Mike is not working, he’s probably out fishing or taking photos in a few of his favorite locations.
JOINED FIRM
1999
PRACTICE AREAS
Construction Law
Contract Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Insurance Defense
Water Law
Public Agency & Municipal Law -- Water Districts
Mediation
BAR ADMISSIONS
Idaho, 1997
Washington, 1999
U.S. District Court District of Idaho, 1997
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington, 1999
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2012
FRATERNITIES/SORORITIES
Phi Delta Phi
Sigma Nu
HONORS & AWARDS
Selected to Mountain States Super Lawyers List: 2016-2017
BV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
EDUCATION
University of Idaho College of Law, Moscow, Idaho
Juris Doctor, 1997
University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
Bachelor of Science, 1989
Major: Biology
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
Idaho State Bar
Washington State Bar Association
First District Bar Association
Kootenai County Bar Association, Past President
Idaho Law Review
