ABOUT MICHAEL
Michael Lee Is a husband, father of four, commercial real estate and land use attorney, and State Senator for District 7. Michael also has served at the County and State level on public boards, and is a current and former member of numerous nonprofit boards.
Highlights of Michael Lee's public service and experience, and the track record of successful legislation that Michael has brought back to our community, can be found below.
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BIOGRAPHY
FAMILY & WORK
Married to Heidi Wooten Lee and together they have four wonderful children; Miles, Sydney, Sam, and Sawyer.
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Founded Lee | Kaess, PLLC (formerly Lee Law Firm, PLLC) in 2012, after leaving a large southeastern law firm. Lee | Kaess has expanded to include attorneys in Wilmington, Raleigh and Dallas, Texas, working in commercial real estate, trusts and estates, land use and litigation.
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Selected as 2020 Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" for Commercial Real Estate in Wilmington
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Elected to Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite"for 2020
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Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1997
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A. 1991
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Attended University of North Carolina Wilmington
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Graduate of the Wilmington Leadership Institute
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Admitted to Bar in NC and SC
NC SENATE
Four terms in North Carolina Senate, from 2014 to 2018 and 2020 to 2024
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Adopted balanced, fiscally responsible state budgets that fund core services, strengthen public education, shore up savings reserves and grow North Carolina’s economy.
Tripled film industry incentives during tenure
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Simplified and cut the franchise tax on small businesses
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Co-sponsored the Hurricane Florence Act, and brought in over $100 million in extra relief aid for Hurricane Matthew
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Delivered major additional tax relief, which, when fully implemented will result in 99 percent of tax payers paying less or no personal state income personal taxes
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Passed the Water Safety Act's of 2018, 2021 and 2023 recognized by leading scientists for it’s comprehensive approach to protecting our drinking water
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Find a more extensive list of Michael's NC Senate service highlights below >>>
RECOGNITION
Hunt-Kean Institute ​Education Policy Fellow, 2019
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Exceptional Education for Exceptional Children from Parents for Educational Freedom in NC, 2019
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First in Teaching: Elevating Educators for Student Success from the Education Innovation Lab, 2018
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Leadership Award from the College Board, 2018
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Legislative Champion from NC Public School Options, 2018
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Appointed to Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children, 2018
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Appointed to Education Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference of State Governments, 2017
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Nominated to National Conferences of State Legislators "Legislative Institute on School Choice: The Next Chapter," 2017
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Education All Star Award from Education Freedom Alliance, 2016
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PUBLIC SERVICE
North Carolina Port Authority Board of Directors, Chairman
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North Carolina Department of Transportation, Board Member​
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North Carolina Courts Commission, Member
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B-3 Interagency Counsel Member
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​Hunt Institute, Board Member
(current)
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University of North Carolina Wilmington, Board of Trustees
(current)
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Holshauser Legislative Retreat for the Hunt Institute, Co-Chair (current)
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University of North Carolina Wilmington, Adjunct Professor
City of Wilmington, Board of Adjustment
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Carousel Center for Abused Children, Board of Directors
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NC State Logistics Strategic Planning Subcommittee, Member
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National Assembly of Sportmen's Caucuses
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Named A 2019 Hunt-Kean Institute Education Policy Fellow
Michael was among only 19 national leaders selected to attend the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Program in Austin, TX, this Summer. Co-founded by former NC Governor Jim Hunt, the fellowship is considered the premier bipartisan education policy program in the United States. Michael has fought tirelessly for the education rights of our children.
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Michael has also joined the Board of the Hunt Institute.
Michael and firm recognized by 2020 Best Lawyers® and Business North Carolina®
Michael Lee has been selected as the 2020 Best Lawyers ® Commercial Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year” in Wilmington, NC. Michael has also been elected to Business North Carolina ® magazine's "Legal Elite" for 2020.
Michael's law firm, Lee | Kaess, PLLC, has been named by Best Lawyers® as a 2020 Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” for Commercial Real Estate in Wilmington, as well!
Appointed to University of North Carolina Wilmington Board of Trustees
Michael Lee was appointed to the UNCW Board of Trustees in June 2019. “Mr. Lee and Dr. Sayed will be outstanding additions to our Board of Trustees,” Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli said. “Their roles as dedicated public servants set a terrific example for our students in terms of being actively engaged in the community. I look forward to working with them, and the rest of our stellar board, to achieve our collective goals as outlined in UNCW’s Strategic Plan.”
2018 NC APSE Legislator of the Year - Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
NC APSE (Association for People Supporting Employment First), supports increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Senator Lee was awarded NC APSE's Legislator of the Year Award for establishing and co-Chairing the Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, which focuses on improving employment and educational opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities