Vitals

J.D. magna cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 2004

B.A. with honors, University of Minnesota, 1992

Law clerk to the Honorable Helen Meyer, Minnesota Supreme Court, 2005-06.

Michael Welch is an attorney focused on Smith Partners’ water resources and public sector practice.

Michael is a frequent presenter on water- and public-law topics.

In 2005-06, he served as law clerk for Associate Justice Helen Meyer of the Minnesota Supreme Court after graduating from William Mitchell College of Law. Prior to his clerkship, Michael ran the Resources for Redevelopment program at the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, supporting dozens of nonprofit property-redevelopment projects and expanded the program’s scope into restoration of green spaces. Before joining MEI, Michael worked in communications for organizations and publications as diverse as the Minnesota North Stars, City Pages, the Carnegie Museum and the United States Golf Association.

Michael served as the Minneapolis representative to the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission from January 2000 to November 2024, and has been a member of the board of Minnesota State Bar Association’s Environment and Natural Resources Law section and the American Constitution Society’s Minnesota chapter.