A Chicago native and the son of a longtime registered nurse and Vietnam veteran, Michael Chandler brings a unique combination of military leadership, legal experience, and a personal connection to healthcare to Whitaker Bell.
Michael proudly served nine years in the United States Navy. Aboard the USS Decatur (DDG-73), he completed two overseas deployments and earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his service. Following his sea tour, he served as a Corrections Supervisor at the Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, South Carolina, where he received a second Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in recognition of his leadership and performance. While stationed in Charleston, Michael earned his bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Maryland Global Campus before completing a Paralegal Certificate at the University of South Carolina Aiken.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 2022, Michael and his family relocated to Houston, where he worked as a legal assistant before beginning law school. He started his legal education at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, earning Dean’s List honors, before transferring to South Texas College of Law Houston. There, he again earned Dean’s List recognition, joined South Texas Law Review, and ultimately served as an Associate Editor. During his final year, Michael participated in both the Veterans Clinic, where he assisted veterans seeking financial relief.
At Whitaker Bell, Michael combines the discipline and attention to detail developed through military service with a practical understanding of litigation and client advocacy. His experience working alongside attorneys, his academic accomplishments, and his commitment to serving others enable him to approach every matter with professionalism, preparation, and empathy. Inspired by his mother’s lifelong career in nursing, Michael considers it both a privilege and an honor to represent healthcare professionals whose work strengthens their communities every day.
Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, Hilary, and daughter, Evelyn Mae. He is an avid reader and film enthusiast.
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The best thing about us are the clients that we are privileged to serve. Learn more about our work and the results secured in our primary areas of practice.Learn More
Whether representing premier health care institutions in the Texas Medical Center, leading health science universities, or providers who serve rural communities, we are passionate about healthcare and the providers who deliver it. Each matter is staffed with an in-house nurse legal consultant and prompt reviews from leading experts in the relevant fields are secured.
Such matters have included: successful litigation for a Fortune 500 company in a mixed breach of contract and products liability dispute related to oil country tubular goods (OCTG); securing injunctive relief and proceeding with subsequent litigation and appeals that saved a midstream gas pipeline in a breach of contract dispute; and successful verdict for a Fortune 500 company in commercial lease dispute that threatened the viability of its hospital.
Such matters include issues related to consent, guardianships, emergency detention orders, pandemic visitation guidance and enforcement, trespass warnings and threat prevention, law enforcement intervention, non-party subpoenas, and obtaining court orders for the provision of emergency medical treatment.
The revenue cycle assistance we provide ranges from enforcement actions against payors, coordination with state regulatory departments having jurisdiction over health insurers, and pursuing mediation and arbitration under managed care agreements or surprise billing legislation. Not only have our lawyers secured the recovery of millions of dollars, they have also been instrumental in several facilities staying in business so that they can continue serving their communities. New agreements have also been reached between payors and providers as a result of the work of our attorneys.
Such claims involve general premises liability litigation, including personal injury premises claims, malfunctioning equipment, alleged toxic exposures, negligent activity, and criminal activity on a premises.
Whether pursuing mandamus proceedings, interlocutory appeals, or petitions for review before the Texas Supreme Court, our attorneys have a track record of success at all appellate levels that has been built on excellent written submissions and oral advocacy.
