“Anyone who has served in the military knows that core values are at the heart of success. I bring my core values of service, integrity, and excellence to every client, every case, every time.” – Mike Lyons
Biography
Michael E. Lyons
Managing Attorney | Air Force Veteran (JAG) | Military Pension & Disability Benefits Consultant | Federal Employment & Security Clearance Attorney | Advisor to Veteran-Owned Businesses and Government Contractors
Michael E. Lyons is the Managing Attorney and co-founder of Patriots Law Group, a veteran-owned law firm serving businesses, executives, service members, veterans, and federal employees throughout Maryland, Virginia, and nationwide.
A decorated Air Force officer, accomplished trial attorney, entrepreneur, and business owner, Mr. Lyons brings a rare combination of legal experience, military leadership, and real-world business insight to every client engagement. Having served as both legal counsel and business owner, he understands the practical realities clients face when navigating litigation, employment disputes, government compliance issues, military obligations, and organizational growth.
Today, Mr. Lyons focuses his practice on federal employment law, security clearance matters, military law, military administrative proceedings, USERRA compliance, SCRA protections, veteran-owned business representation, government contractor issues, military pension and disability benefits, and complex civil litigation.
Attorneys throughout Maryland and Virginia regularly retain Mr. Lyons to consult on complex military pension, disability, and military benefits issues arising in divorce and post-judgment proceedings.
Proven Leadership in Law, Business, and Public Service
Mr. Lyons graduated Magna Cum Laude from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics (2003) before earning his Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law (2007), where he concentrated his studies in Litigation and Business Law.
Following law school, he trained under highly-respected Maryland trial attorney Ralph W. Powers, Jr., handling complex litigation involving construction disputes, commercial litigation, contract claims, business conflicts, and high-value civil matters. On September 11, 2010, Mr. Lyons was commissioned into the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
As an Air Force JAG officer, he served at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and deployed to Herat, Afghanistan in support of military operations. While deployed, he worked on rule-of-law initiatives and evidence-based operations, conducting numerous outside-the-wire missions and key leader engagements with U.S. and foreign military and civilian officials. For his service and leadership during deployment, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Mr. Lyons continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, where he advises military leaders on personnel actions, military discipline, investigations, ethics, contracts, employment issues, and organizational leadership.
Business Owner Representing Business Owners
In addition to his legal career, Mr. Lyons is a successful entrepreneur and investor.
He founded a solo practice in 2014 that grew into Patriots Law Group and has grown the firm into a respected regional practice serving clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. He has also founded, acquired, and managed multiple businesses and commercial real estate investments.
Because he has personally navigated the challenges of hiring employees, managing payroll, obtaining financing, leasing commercial property, mitigating risk, and growing organizations, he offers clients practical advice grounded in real-world business experience—not simply legal theory.
This perspective has made him a trusted advisor to business owners, executives, veteran entrepreneurs, and government contractors facing complex legal and operational challenges.
Veteran-Owned Businesses and Government Contractors
Mr. Lyons has assisted veteran-owned businesses and government contractors with legal and compliance issues unique to military-affiliated organizations.
His work includes advising companies regarding:
- USERRA compliance and military leave obligations
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) matters
- National Guard and Reserve employment issues
- Veteran employment policies
- Internal investigations and workplace disputes
- Government contractor workforce issues
- SDVOSB and veteran-owned business compliance
- Veteran business succession planning
- Government contracting risk management
His military background and ongoing service provide unique insight into the challenges faced by employers, reservists, veterans, and military-connected workforces.
Leading Military Pension and Disability Benefits Consultant in Maryland and Virginia
In addition to representing clients directly, Mr. Lyons is regularly retained by attorneys and clients throughout Maryland and Virginia to consult on complex military pension, disability compensation, and military benefits issues arising in divorce, estate planning, and post-judgment proceedings.
Drawing upon nearly two decades of military service and extensive experience with military administrative and family law matters, he advises attorneys, mediators, and litigants on some of the most technically challenging military benefits issues encountered in domestic relations cases.
His consulting work frequently involves:
- Division of military retired pay under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act (USFSPA)
- Application of the Frozen Benefit Rule
- Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) elections and deemed election requirements
- Military disability compensation and its impact on divorce settlements
- Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC)
- Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP)
- Reserve Component retirement systems
- Military pension valuation and settlement design
- Drafting Military Pension Division Orders (MPDOs)
- Post-divorce implementation and enforcement of military benefit provisions
Mr. Lyons is regarded as one of the leading specialists in Maryland on military retirement and disability benefits. Family law attorneys throughout the region regularly consult with him to structure settlements, avoid costly drafting errors, and navigate the complex interaction between military retirement benefits, disability compensation, survivor benefits, and federal law.
He is frequently engaged as consulting counsel in high-net-worth divorces involving military officers, senior enlisted personnel, reservists, federal employees, law enforcement professionals, and blended military-civilian retirement portfolios.
Professional Leadership
Mr. Lyons currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association and serves as Chair of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Veterans Affairs and Military Law Section.
He is also an active member of the Anne Arundel County Bar Association and numerous professional organizations supporting service members, veterans, business owners, and military families.
In recognition of his leadership, professional accomplishments, and commitment to public service, Mr. Lyons was inducted as a Fellow of the Maryland State Bar Foundation in 2026—an honor reserved for attorneys who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the legal profession and the administration of justice.