Michael Finley

Competent on environmental law, but communication was inconsistent

I engaged Michael Finley from Gowling WLG's San Francisco office for assistance with a complex permitting issue for a small coastal development project. His background in environmental law was evident; he was knowledgeable about the relevant state and federal regulations, and his firm's recognition in this area provided initial confidence. The legal strategy he outlined was sound and ultimately helped us navigate the administrative hurdles. However, the experience was mixed. While the substantive work was competent, there were noticeable delays in receiving updates, and responses to emails sometimes took several days. For a matter that required timely adjustments, this created some unnecessary stress. He is clearly a capable attorney in his field, but the client service aspect and communication flow fell short of expectations, making the overall experience just satisfactory.