Michael P. Davis, shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka, died September 8, 2016. He was 68.
“He was part of our family,” said Seth Price, Chamberlain Hrdlicka construction law practice chair, who worked with Mr. Davis continuously for nearly 30 years.
With expertise in construction law and labor law, Mr. Davis was an integral part of the widely respected construction law practice for the past decade at Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Atlanta, where he represented contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers and owners.
Previously he and Mr. Price were partners at Shapiro Fussell LLP, in Atlanta, and along with Nicholas Papleacos and Gina Vitiello built their practice of construction litigation, employment and labor law. The four came to Chamberlain Hrdlicka in 2006.
Described by colleagues as “a true mensch," Mr. Davis is remembered for his integrity and calming, affable nature in his personal and professional life.
“Even people who were on the other sides of cases could not help but like him because he always did the right thing,” Mr. Price said. “If he told you something you could rely on it.”
He served on the construction industry panel of the American Arbitration Association since 1991 and was sole arbitrator in numerous cases. Along with his colleagues at Chamberlain Hrdlicka, he wrote the book “Georgia Construction Law,” a legal guide for industry leaders with projects in the state.
In addition to being committed to doing well by his clients, he was active in serving his community. He was president of the Midtown Atlanta Rotary Club from 2011-2012 and a board member of Congregation Beth Shalom.
Highly regarded by his professional colleagues and beloved by his work family, he was jubilant and proudest when talking about his wife, Laura Davis, and children Rachel, Joshua, Benjamin and Anna. They were the center of his universe, and he loved them dearly.
Friends say he knew how to put a smile on your face with his stories and unique brand of humor.
“He’d tell the same bad jokes over and over, and you’d tell him they’re not getting any funnier, he’d tell them anyway, and then we’d all have a good laugh” Mr. Price said. “If you were having a tough day, you could always count on Michael to put a smile on your face.”
Raised in Quincy, Mass., Mr. Davis received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and Master of Education in counseling from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He received his J.D. from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta.
Even after his move to the South more than three decades ago, he remained a Boston Celtics and Red Sox fan through and through.
Clad in familiar green shorts and sneakers, he was a fierce competitor in an under-40 basketball league at Atlanta’s Jewish Community Center up until he was about 65. On the court, his physical stature gave him an advantage. His 6-foot-3 frame and sharp elbows meant that if there was a rebound in his vicinity he was going to get it. But after every game, friends say, he was inevitably the first person to shake your hand and say a few nice words.
In addition to his wife and children, survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Christel Davis, Boca Raton, Fla; sister, Jewel Davis, Rollinsford, N.H.; and nephew, Jonathan Davis, Boca Raton, Fla.