After 15 years with the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Jon Michael founded Thompson Burton's Land Use and Development Practice in 2021. Since then, he built Thompson Burton's Land Use and Development Practice into the largest group of dedicated land use attorneys in the state of Tennessee.

As Nashville's Zoning Administrator, Jon oversaw the issuance of all building permits and all interpretations of the Metro Zoning Code. In this role, he also administered Nashville's first laws regulating short term rentals. Over his career, Jon estimates that he has reviewed, administered, and argued over 2,500 Board of Zoning Appeals cases.

Prior to his role as Zoning Administrator, Jon served as Metro Legal Department counsel for several municipal agencies, departments, and commissions. That work established key relationships with the Metro Council, Planning Department, Codes Department, Metro Water, and Nashville DOT. Jon's work advising the Metro Board of Zoning Appeals, the Metro Planning Commission, and the Metro Council provides valuable insight for his cases and projects appearing before those bodies.

Before beginning his legal career, Jon's professional experiences shaped much of his approach to the practice of law. Jon worked in the internet industry in Los Angeles during the Dot Com boom of the late 90s, where he developed a heart for the innovators who seek creative solutions to the problems of fast-changing business landscapes. Jon also worked as a campaign staffer for Senator Lamar Alexander, where he learned daily that all politics is local. Jon also completed an Honors Internship Program with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington D.C. There, he learned how to respect the strictest of confidentiality requirements.

Jon was born in Nashville and loves living there with his wife, their two daughters, and the family's beloved golf cart, Dolly Cart'n.

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