Mike Brown is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group. Mike is also a member of the firm’s Environmental, Natural Resources, Energy, and Real Estate Litigation teams. His emphasis in all of these practice areas is on real property matters.
Mike has been with Bradley since 1989. His work has led him to focus his practice on the substantive areas of real estate, including zoning and land use planning, acquisition and sales of real estate, real estate development, lease negotiations, real estate litigation, and environmental matters.
Mike has drafted and negotiated commercial leases on behalf of landlords and tenants. These leases have ranged from industrial space to retail settings. His practice benefits from the fact that he has litigated numerous lease disputes over the years of his practice. As a result, he has seen the types of issues that lead to litigation and is attuned to negotiating solutions for those issues that benefit his clients.
For the past several years, Mike has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, where he taught both Land Use Planning and Real Estate Finance & Development. Mike has spoken to a variety of groups on issues involving real estate, land use and environmental issues.
American Bar Foundation, Fellow Listed in Chambers USA, Real Estate: Zoning/ Land Use, 2023-2024 Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers "Top 50," Alabama, 2014-2017 Land Use/Zoning, 2009-2024 Listed in Alabama Super Lawyers "Top 50," Land Use/Zoning, 2015 Land Use/Zoning, 2009-2015 Top 50 Lawyers in Alabama, 2014, 2015 Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® Environmental Law, 2017-2025 Land Use and Zoning Law, 2013-2025 Litigation – Environmental, 2012-2025 Litigation – Land Use & Zoning, 2017-2025 Litigation – Real Estate, 2016-2025 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, 2011-2025 Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2015-2025 Mass Tort Litigation, 2010, 2014 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs, 2011-2014 "Lawyer of the Year," Birmingham, Litigation – Real Estate, 2020 "Lawyer of the Year," Birmingham, Land Use and Zoning Law, 2016, 2021, 2023 "Lawyer of the Year," Birmingham, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, 2016, 2022 "Lawyer of the Year," Birmingham. Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, 2024 Listed in B-Metro, "Top Lawyers," 2019-2020 Bayer v. Saks Dispute over covenant in real estate transaction. Davie v. Jefferson County Condemnation case De Nora Tech, Inc. v. BRAL Holdings, LLC, et. al. , CV-08-672 (N.D. Ala. April 15, 2008). Real estate seller brought specific performance action against purchaser for failure to perform certain obligations under the contract, including compliance with state environmental regulations. Obtained rescission of the contract and a $1,000,000.00 judgment against the company and the individual owners following summary judgment. ISK Tecknologies, Inc. v. EnersysDelaware, Inc., et al. Successful negotiations and settlement of a claim involving lead and acid damage to a manufacturing plant and real property in Alabama. Lender refinancing of resort properties Represented the lender in refinancing to consolidate multiple loans and lines of credit into one indebtedness, with cross collateralization and cross default of the existing collateral for the loans. Condemnation Action Obtained several hundred percent increase in original offer in condemnation action by utility. Construction of Quarries Represent several clients in relation to construction of quarries. Fair Housing Issues Work with municipalities on Fair Housing Issues and issues raised by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Advised Daniel Realty Company in the formation and capitalization of a joint venture with Evson, Inc. to build the Lane Parke development in Mountain Brook, Alabama Lease Agreement Negotiated terms of restaurant lease. Lease Dispute Won partial summary judgment enabling tenant in an industrial building to win a favorable settlement. Partition Actions Represented two entities in Partition actions. Real Estate Dispute Assist local companies in convincing City of Birmingham not to condemn their properties for a Stadium. Stadium will go elsewhere saving the client’s property AND increasing the value of the property going forward. Real Estate Purchase Contracts Assist company on claims relating to failure to build in real estate purchase contracts. Settlement Recover favorable settlement from title insurer on behalf of landowner after title insurer failed to defend landowner in underlying case. Spirit Financial Represent Nationwide Owner of Commercial Real Estate in several landlord/tenant disputes in Alabama, and Mississippi. Theft Claim Represent client in theft of timber claim. Vestavia Annexation Petition Worked for local professional services firm to oppose annexation. Notasulga Quarry Re-Zoning Work to establish new zoning Subdividing Property and Re-permitting Assist Mueller Water Products in subdividing property and re-permitting several sites in Bessemer and North Birmingham, Alabama. Including, but not limited to, RCRA Post Closure Permitting.
