Practice Description
Michael Wimberley is an associate in the Firm’s municipal law practice group. He serves as deputy city attorney and deputy general counsel to the firm’s clients, representing cities, special districts, and other public agencies in transactional and advisory matters on a wide array of municipal issues.
Mr. Wimberley provides advice and representation on the Brown Act, conflicts of interest, solid waste, public contracting, conditional use permits, and zoning laws, regularly drafting agreements, legal opinions, ordinances, and resolutions. He routinely advises on Constitutional issues and helps public agencies navigate complex legal doctrines surrounding the First and Fourth Amendments.
Mr. Wimberley has extensive experience guiding clients in all areas of the Public Records Act, advising on the processing and management of requests, drafting policies, helping agencies resolve disputes, and providing training for agency staff on the PRA. He has also represented cities in court prosecuting municipal and Vehicle Code violations. In addition, he regularly tracks new legislation and provides updates to public agencies on pending bills related to all aspects of local governance.
Prior to joining Woodruff & Smart, Mr. Wimberley practiced civil litigation and business law, providing general counsel services for corporations, partnerships, and non-profit organizations. He was also a Legal Extern at the Orange City Attorney’s Office.
Mr. Wimberley graduated magna cum laude from Chapman University with a B.A. in Strategic and Corporate Communication and earned his Juris Doctor from Chapman University’s Dale E. Fowler School of Law with an emphasis in Environmental, Land Use, and Real Estate Law. While in law school, he was selected as an academic fellow, teaching a supplemental class and tutoring upper-class students in “Criminal Procedure: Police Practices,” and he contributed to two amicus curiae briefs submitted to the United States Supreme Court while a student with the Constitutional Jurisprudence Clinic. He has also been an adjunct faculty member at the Fowler School of Law teaching legal analysis to third year law students.
Professional Activities
Mr. Wimberley is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County, and the Italian American Lawyers of Orange County (Lex Romana). He is also the President of the Chapman University Alumni Association. He is admitted to practice in California and in the Federal District Court, Central District of California.
Education
- Chapman University, Dale E. Fowler School of Law (J.D., 2020)
- Emphasis Certificate in Environmental, Land Use & Real Estate Law
- Chapman University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2016)