International attorney. Negotiator. Troubleshooter.
A legal career shaped by international business, difficult assignments, unfamiliar environments and the belief that the best solution is the one that actually works.
From an Iowa farm to international negotiations
Michael Fjetland grew up on an Iowa farm, where he milked cows before sunrise. Education and aviation opened a much larger world. He became a pilot, moved to Texas, became an attorney and entered international business during a period when American companies were expanding rapidly overseas.
Licensed in Texas since 1975, Fjetland built a career that moved well beyond conventional legal practice. His work and travels have taken him through approximately 50 countries and into matters involving international contracts, corporate negotiations, fraud, political risk, difficult foreign environments and crisis situations.
A practical view of international law
International problems are often shaped as much by business realities and human behavior as by written law. A contract may say one thing while enforcement economics say another. A negotiating tactic that works in Texas may fail overseas. A partner's silence may be a commercial problem, a cultural signal, a financial warning or the beginning of fraud.
That is why Fjetland approaches international matters as a troubleshooter: gather the facts, challenge assumptions, identify leverage, understand the people involved and keep the client's real-world objective in view.
Beyond legal practice
His background also includes television analysis of terrorism and Middle Eastern affairs after September 11, service as a Civil Air Patrol pilot, and entrepreneurial work involving security and resilience. Those experiences reinforce a consistent theme: anticipate risk early and prepare before a difficult problem becomes a crisis.
The Fjetland perspective
International work rewards curiosity, preparation and humility. No American lawyer knows the law or culture of every country. The effective international adviser knows when to bring in qualified local counsel, investigators, technical experts or other specialists—and how to keep the overall strategy coherent.