Michael Schaffert

Lawyer: For 16 years I provided legal advice to most departments of the City of Phoenix, as well as the Mayor and City Council. I assisted the Housing Department with subsidized housing projects utilizing multi-source financing including a variety of HUD program funds. Advising the Phoenix Convention Center was akin to being in-house corporate counsel. Most of the work was transactional so that I learned to understand and consider the business issues involved. I was responsible for telecommunications regulation, which included updating license forms to comply with evolving regulations and negotiating licenses with all wireline companies that operate in Phoenix. That specialty included wireless telecommunications contracts, an explosive growth area. I drafted and negotiated license agreements with all major wireless communications carriers. I advised the Street Transportation Department that procures most of Phoenixs public construction work, introducing me to construction law under A.R.S. Title 34. Before transferring to the Law Department Civil Division, I prosecuted criminal cases in Phoenix Municipal Court for 7 years. Prior to moving to the City of Phoenix Law Department, I worked for the Attorney Generals Office where I worked in real estate and insurance regulation for 5 years. Accountant: Before going to law school, I worked as a CPA for 5 years. Through working on audits of Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and non-profit organizations, I learned both the inner workings and the business issues of each, as well as their similarities and their differences. With this experience, I was able to speak the language of both the private businesses working with the City and City employees in my subsequent career as an attorney.