About Us
Empowering physicians with greater control over their careers
We’re on a mission to change the culture of medicine. And it starts with your contract.
When physicians like you have more power in their contract, they show up for their patients from a place of peace.
This means you’re able to serve your patients even better, which has a positive domino effect — for your family and your patients’ families.
We are on the cusp of changing the balance of power in favor of all physicians from a grassroots level.
Work with us and join our mission.
Anonymous
“Their uniquely tailored yet thorough process ensured there were no red flags and that I understood the details of my responsibilities and exit options if necessary.”
At Michael Johnson Legal, we are:
Personalized
Each contract starts with you. Your financial, career, and lifestyle goals all come into play when we negotiate your contract. Each lawyer helps about five physicians per week, allowing for more personal and tailored legal advice.
Thorough
We make sure you have a full understanding of your contract terms, compensation plan, and termination clauses. You’ll clearly know what your responsibilities are and what options you have.
Seamless
Our expert knowledge of the industry and flat-fee packages means we follow a deliberate process to make sure your contract sets you up for an informed and confident work future.
About Our Team
Jake Silvester
Attorney
Bio:
Jake graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2022 and has been with Michael Johnson Legal ever since. His education afforded him externship capacities to develop skills in reviewing various contracts, posing legal arguments, and further honing his communication and negotiation skills.
Why did you want to join Michael Johnson Legal?
My wife Kelsey is a physician, and throughout her education and training, I noticed just how little information there is for individual physicians to navigate their employment opportunities. In my view, if I can help physicians obtain fulfilling and rewarding employment, then I can contribute to lasting positive changes in the US healthcare system. Thus, working for MJL is an amazing opportunity to provide this service to clients and do my part in making the healthcare landscape better.
Superpower:
I have a unique ability to connect with my clients and empathize with their situations. I’ve been in their shoes in a lot of circumstances! I wish I had the ability to fly too, though…
What legal myth do you love debunking for clients?
The best myth to debunk is that some contracts are “not negotiable.” The right leverage and a well-crafted request can often lead to surprising results when an employer takes a hard-line approach to contract negotiation. It’s amazing to be able to accomplish some wins with my clients in successful negotiations!
Elizabeth Reinowski
Attorney
Bio:
Elizabeth graduated from Marquette University Law School in 2021 with both Sports Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificates. Contracts and negotiation/mediation strategies were core to her studies during law school. She studied extensively on how to build client-lawyer relationships, listen effectively, and use communication and interpersonal skills to drive negotiation and achieve great results.
Elizabeth spent her first few years working in a variety of areas including insurance defense, civil rights law, municipal law, and workers’ compensation. After working for larger firms, Elizabeth was excited to join a smaller, close-knit firm that worked in such a niche area that brings all of her favorite aspects of law to the forefront. Her love for community and helping others drove her to find Michael Johnson Legal, where she is afforded the opportunity to work directly with clients and help them obtain the best opportunity that advances their own personal goals.
Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring new cities and places, trying different restaurants, and running her own online bakery. She is an avid sports fan and loves cheering on all of her favorite hometown teams while playing both tennis and pickleball and running races herself. While she loves cooking all kinds of cuisines, she spends the summers helping her family run an ice cream shop in Northern Wisconsin.
Why did you want to join Michael Johnson Legal?
I wanted to join this practice because it is very client-driven. Most of my legal career has been spent working in a more removed setting from those that I was doing the work for. Here, I get to interact with clients on a daily basis and create a personal connection with each physician I help. It becomes very rewarding to see our hard work be realized through positive outcomes that are affecting these clients futures. Our clients are very appreciative of our work but also come out of the process more educated than they did before. And it is extremely satisfying to know your work had that impact.
Superpower:
I can read minds… All jokes aside, I do a great job of listening to our clients during their initial evaluations to learn a lot about them. When it comes time for our Step 3, I have a pretty good idea of what they’re going to say. So don’t stay silent since I can tell what you’re thinking anyway.
But I can also scoop a mean ice cream cone and decorate cookies like a Food Network star!
What legal myth do you love debunking for clients?
Compensation is the most important! … Yes, physicians have worked hard to finally obtain their first contract with a real paycheck. But compensation can blind a physician from other provisions, like termination clauses and the noncompete, which can sometimes be important because they can drive your ability to leave and develop your career down the road.
Ed Theobald
Attorney
Bio:
Ed found Michael Johnson Legal after reviewing an internal moonlighting contract for his soon-to-be-wife, Elys, as she was completing her General Surgery residency.
After years of working as an Assistant Attorney General for Missouri and in-house counsel at a major transportation company, Ed was excited to support Michael Johnson Legal’s goals of helping physicians navigate a transition in employment.
Ed brings insight into how larger corporations work and how to navigate bureaucracies while negotiating. Because of his experience and connection to physicians, he prioritizes getting to know his clients on a personal level and learning their personal and professional goals.
Why did you want to join Michael Johnson Legal?
When I connected with Michael, I saw how he built the firm based around how he would want his wife, a physician, to be represented. The firm takes a personalized approach to representing clients. It is not a high-volume practice where you only get a little face time with your attorney. I enjoy getting to know my clients and their unique circumstances, motivations, and needs.
Superpower:
Finding creative solutions for my client’s needs!
What legal myth do you love debunking for clients?
That physician contracts are not negotiable!! Every person’s circumstances are unique.
Katie Burke
COO
Bio:
Katie joined the team at Michael Johnson Legal as COO after having a front-row seat to the inception of the firm when Michael was helping his wife Ally with her first physician contract.
As a result, she has strongly supported the firm’s goal of helping physicians since Day 1! Katie’s focus is managing operations to support the client experience and creating efficiencies within the firm, so that the lawyers can spend the majority of their time helping clients. After graduating from Tulane Business School in 2017, she worked as an accountant for a handful of companies where she gained diverse experiences beyond her role in finance, marketing, and operations. Each experience has helped her tackle the myriad of tasks needed to manage a small business.
Why did you want to join Michael Johnson Legal?
Physicians train too hard for too long just to be thrown out into their first jobs with little to no understanding of the business side of being a physician. I think this firm could have a huge impact on physician empowerment, and I love that. I’m just happy to be a part of that.
Superpower:
Shape-shifting. I love having a variety of tasks or hats to wear, and I can multitask and change between roles easily. I’m flexible and can embrace new challenges.
Michael Johnson
Founder, Attorney, and CEO
Bio:
Michael Johnson graduated from Tulane Law School in 2014 and founded MJL in 2019 after practicing in business, insurance, and construction litigation. He graduated with a B.S. from Auburn Montgomery in 2010 and served as captain of the tennis team. He also competed in the entry levels of professional tennis, junior Wimbledon, and for Team USA’s Junior Davis Cup squad. In his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis, platform tennis, golf, and spending time with his wife and kids.
Why did you want to found Michael Johnson Legal?
Passion for physicians! They are underrepresented and untrained on the legal and business side of medicine, and it’s a worthy career pursuit to change this balance of power.
Superpower:
Simplifying complexity into actionable advice.
What legal myth do you love debunking for clients?
All physicians need to work a full throttle 1.0 FTE to succeed in their careers. For some, this may be the ideal; however, for others, working something less than a 1.0 FTE may, in fact, protect the physician from moral injury and burnout, leading the physician to take better care of themself and prolong their career in medicine, ultimately benefiting more patients in the long run.
Free Resources
Learn the legal and business side of being a physician
Educating physicians on their contract options isn’t just our job; it’s our passion. When you’re empowered with the right knowledge, you can confidently make career decisions that benefit you now and in the future.
Podcasts
Turn your commute or lunch break into a mini master class on the most relevant legal content specific to physicians.
Speaking
Offer your Medical School, Residency, Fellowship, or Physician Group a fresh approach to physician contract education.
Book A Consultation
Take control of your medical career with a clear, fair contract that secures your financial future and fits your lifestyle. At Michael Johnson Legal, an experienced physician contract lawyer helps you navigate complex agreements so you can move forward with confidence and peace of mind.
Contact Us
For the fastest scheduling, please click BOOK HERE to use our online scheduling links. If you have questions or would like to reach our team first, please submit the form below.