Michael D. Murray J.D.

Michael D. Murray joins Willis Law's Estate Planning practice as an Of-Counsel attorney, bringing more than 30 years of experience spanning law, business, higher education, charitable planning, military leadership, and nonprofit service.

Michael began his legal career practicing with a large law firm before moving into a sales executive role with a major corporation. In 2011, he joined Hillsdale College, where he spent 15 years across two roles: leading Career Services for six years, then serving nine years in leadership positions within the Office of Gift & Estate Planning. In that capacity, he advised individuals and families on charitable and legacy planning and led a team responsible for securing significant planned gifts to the College.

Michael's legal career runs alongside more than 30 years of service in the United States Marine Corps, from which he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. On active duty, he served as a Judge Advocate and as a Marine Officer Instructor with the Naval ROTC Unit at the University of Michigan. He went on to serve more than two decades in the Marine Corps Reserve in a variety of leadership roles, including a 2006 activation and deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and a 2010 activation with the Office of Military Commissions – Prosecution, serving in the National Capital Region and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Michael's connection to Willis Law runs deep. He first met Michael and Shaun Willis through his Marine Corps service, and following the 2003 death of their brother, Corporal Christopher K. Willis, he served as the bereavement officer assigned to the Willis family. He has remained involved with the foundation formed in Christopher's honor ever since.

At Willis Law, Michael will focus primarily on estate planning, estate administration, nonprofit formation, and business law.

Michael and his wife, Terri, co-founded Family With A Cause. Their Thanksgiving Day 5K, benefiting the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, is now in its 24th year and regularly draws more than 1,500 participants. Michael was also a founding board member of the Get To® Foundation and helped launch its Get To Inspire Speaker Series, which brings nationally recognized speakers to Michigan high schools to empower students through messages of hope, purpose, and the "Get To" mindset.

Michael earned his J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and his B.A. in Political Science and Public Service from Albion College. He and Terri have been married for more than 30 years, have three grown children, and are new grandparents.