Expert Witness & Litigation Support

Michael J.
DeVere

Licensed Architect · NCARB Certified · 20 States
NCARB #57487
SCI-Arc, B.Arch.
Licensed 1991
40+ Years Practice

A licensed architect with multi-decade experience across residential, commercial, institutional, and national restaurant chain construction is uniquely positioned to provide authoritative expert witness testimony. I have been the designer, the contractor, the permit applicant, the person on-site when something went wrong, and the consultant called in years later to assess what should have been built versus what actually was. I held a California General Contractor license before I became an architect — I have sat at every seat at the table. That perspective is rare — and it is precisely what makes expert witness work a natural extension of this practice.

I am available to both plaintiff and defense counsel. My approach is straightforward: I provide an honest, independent professional opinion based on the evidence, applicable codes, and accepted standards of practice — and I communicate those findings clearly, whether in a written report, deposition, or courtroom testimony.

Licensed as an Architect in 20 states with NCARB Certification #57487, I am able to serve as an expert witness across a broad geographic range without the complications of out-of-state licensing issues.

“The standard of care is not a technicality. It is the foundation of every professional obligation in the built environment.”

Expert Witness Services

Forty years of practice across building types, project roles, and jurisdictions produces a depth of technical authority that is difficult to replicate. The following areas represent the core of this expert witness practice.

01
Construction Defects & Professional Liability
Assessment of alleged defects in design documents, construction detailing, material specifications, and field execution. Evaluation of whether the architect, contractor, or owner met the applicable standard of care. Experience spanning custom residences, multi-unit residential, commercial renovation, and national restaurant chain construction across multiple states and jurisdictions.
02
ADA & Building Code Compliance
Detailed review of existing conditions against applicable ADA requirements, IBC provisions, and local amendments. Identification of specific violations, assessment of whether they constitute undue hardship, and evaluation of the design and permitting record. Over 20 years of ADA compliance work on 360+ restaurant renovation projects across 10+ states provides a depth of practical field experience rarely found in a single practice.
03
Restaurant & Commercial Renovation
Expert assessment of renovation scope, brand standards compliance, contractor performance, and construction administration adequacy on commercial restaurant and retail projects. Specific experience with Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse renovation programs — including the full design, permitting, and construction administration cycle across standalone and tenant improvement project types.
04
Property Condition Assessment
Independent evaluation of existing building conditions for acquisition due diligence, pre-sale assessment, insurance purposes, or dispute resolution. Assessment covers structural and architectural conditions, code compliance observations, deferred maintenance, and professional opinion of remediation scope. Available for commercial, retail, restaurant, institutional, and residential property types.
05
Zoning & Permitting Disputes
Professional opinion on zoning compliance, permit application adequacy, plan review processes, and the standard of care applicable to permit coordination and AHJ relationships. Over 335 cellular communication site permits across California and Nevada — maintaining a 98% regulatory approval rate — provides direct experience navigating contested permitting environments and evaluating where the process broke down.
06
Telecommunications Infrastructure
Assessment of cell site design, stealth installation compliance, lease obligations, and structural integration standards. Extensive experience with FCC-regulated installations, easements, RF exposure compliance documentation, and jurisdictional approval processes across California and Nevada. This specialty is uncommon in architectural expert witness practice and represents a distinct area of authority.

Credentials & Background

Licensure
NCARB Certificate #57487
California (Primary) · C-22291 · Licensed 1991
California Licensed General Contractor · 1983
Licensed in 20 states
AZ · CA · FL · GA · KY · LA · MD · MN · NC · NH · NV · OH · PA · RI · SC · TN · TX · VA · WV · WI
Education & Awards
Bachelor of Architecture · SCI-ARC, Santa Monica, CA
Wood Engineering Design Award — Wood Products Council, 2011
Most Creative Stealth Installation — Tower Industry Summit, 1999
Practice Depth
40+ years of continuous licensed practice
335+ telecommunications projects · $75M+ combined value
360+ restaurant renovations across 10+ states
First non-residential CLT structure in the USA
General Contractor & Residential Designer licensure (CA)

I have been the designer, the contractor, the permit applicant, the person on-site when something went wrong, and the person who had to rebuild when things fell apart. I held a California General Contractor license before I became an architect — I have sat at every seat at the table. That is not a résumé line — it is a way of seeing problems that most architects simply have not had the chance to develop.

Fee Schedule

File Review, Research & Written Reports
$275/hr
Document review, site inspection, research, and preparation of written expert reports and affidavits.
Deposition & Trial Testimony
$375/hr
Deposition preparation and attendance, trial testimony, and travel time billed at the same rate portal to portal.
Retainer Required
$2,500
A non-refundable retainer of $2,500 is required to initiate engagement. Applied against billed fees.
Rates are effective as of 2025 and subject to change. All fees are billed monthly with payment due within 30 days. Cancellation of scheduled deposition or trial testimony within 48 hours is billed at the full reserved time. Inquiries regarding flat-fee arrangements for defined scope engagements are welcome.

Let's Discuss Your Matter

Initial consultations are available to determine whether the matter falls within the scope of this practice. I will review a brief summary of the case, identify the relevant areas of expertise, and give you a direct assessment of whether I am the right expert for the engagement.

I am available to both plaintiff and defense counsel and maintain my independence on every engagement. I do not offer pre-screened opinions. What you will receive is an honest, well-documented professional opinion grounded in 40+ years of licensed practice.

Send an Inquiry
Location111 Overhill Drive · Tryon, NC 28782
NCARBCertificate #57487
Licensed In20 States — CA · NC · SC · GA · FL · TN · VA · TX + 12 more

“The standard of care is not a technicality. It is the foundation of every professional obligation in the built environment.”