Mike has worked as a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control specialist in the TRACON (approach control) and Tower environments (at several different high density facilities) for over 26 years. Mike also worked as a Quality Assurance Specialist for the FAA, where he gained intimate knowledge regarding the FAA’s enforcement action program and accident protocol. While working as a controller he was detailed to the FAA legal division for a period of time to assist FAA attorneys. He is a graduate of many FAA classes and courses including the Department of Transportation aviation accident investigation program where he gained valuable practical and technical insight into aviation accidents. Mike is a reviewer for the Journal of Air Transportation World Wide and wrote a monthly column for a national aviation magazine. He is currently finishing an aviation law textbook “Aviation Law” , due to be published in 2011-12, for a major academic publisher. Michael often appears on the NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS and Fox networks as an expert on aviation issues.

Michael completed his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, at the University of Houston and also holds MBA and Juris Doctorate degrees, with high honors, from Arizona State University. While attending law school, Mr. Pearson was nominated as a Pedrick Scholar due to academic excellence, and awarded honors in legal writing and research. He graduated near the top of his class despite working full time for the FAA while attending law school.

Mike has taught aviation law, aviation regulations, as well as other legal subjects, at Arizona State University since 1993 and is currently an Associate Professor. Prior to accepting his academic appointment at Arizona State University, Mike taught aviation law at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mr. Pearson often speaks at academic and professional conferences regarding aviation topics. Most recently, Pearson spoke on the subject of human factors in air traffic control at the International Symposium on Aviation Psychology conference at Wright Patterson Air Force base at the invitation of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Mr. Pearson has extensive civil litigation experience focusing his practice on trial law. Mike handles FAA enforcement action cases, aircraft and helicopter accident cases, and civil trials. He is currently a member at Curry, Pearson & Wooten, PLC. Martindale Hubbell, which contains profiles for over one million lawyers and firms in the United States, Canada and 160 other countries, rates Mike, and the firm, “AV” which is the highest rating possible. In addition, Michael Pearson is listed in the Bar Register as a Preeminent Lawyer. Avvo, the world's largest legal directory, rates Mr. Pearson as "superb." Mr. Pearson serves as a panel attorney for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) legal services plan and is a member of the National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association.

Michael’s aviation clients are varied including airman accused by the FAA of violating the Federal Aviation Regulations, family members who have lost loved ones in airplane and helicopter accidents, and those injured on domestic and international flights. He has handled litigation cases for international airlines such as Air France and Zest Airways. Michael is selective in the cases he accepts in order to provide unparalleled time, dedication, and focus to his clients and is often referred cases by other attorneys due to his extensive background in aviation matters.