Michael has coached hundreds of highly performing professionals to help advance their leadership and client development skills. He has also developed comprehensive training programs, including The Elevate Curriculum – an award-winning eLearning program designed to help law firm associates and junior partners accelerate their marketing and business development skills. 

Over the past 20 years, Michael has developed deep expertise in litigation-related business development and marketing strategies. Prior to launching Coston Consulting, he served as the Chief Marketing Officer of McKool Smith, one of the nation’s most elite trial firms, for a decade. He previously developed litigation business development and marketing initiatives at both Dechert LLP and Chadbourne & Parke LLP, two AmLaw 100 international law firms. He also served as the Director of Marketing at a New York-based law firm and head of public relations for the Tweezerman International brand. 

Michael is the co-creator of Behind the Trial, an award-winning podcast that features in-depth discussions with the nation's most iconic trial lawyers. The podcast was recognized as a  “Go-To Thought Leader” by The National Law Journal. He was also awarded Gold Hermes Awards for his articles “Walking the Walk—How Law Firms Can Fight Racial Injustice,” published in Bloomberg Law and “More than Words— Key Considerations for Navigating DEI Communications,” published in Reuters and WestLaw Today. He also received a "Black Leadership Award” from Profiles in Leadership Journal. 

Michael holds a master’s degree in interpersonal and intercultural communication and bachelor’s degrees in both African American studies and English from the University at Albany, along with a certification in Fostering Inclusion & Diversity from the Yale School of Management.