Michael Khalili

Bilingual Attorney

Michael W. Khalili was born in Guymon, Oklahoma and raised in the small town of Del Rio, Texas. He speaks Spanish fluently. He graduated, with honors from the University of California Los Angeles in 2003 and earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law in 2008. He attained the highest grade for overall achievement, and the best performance for Housing Law and Policy – which earned him the prestigious CALI award. He also received the Washington State Hispanic Bar Association Scholarship in 2007 and the Dean’s Diversity Scholarship award in 2005. Michael is licensed to practice law in Iowa, Nebraska, the U.S. District Court of Nebraska (Federal). He is an active member of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys and the Nebraska State Bar Association.

Bar Admissions:

  • Nebraska
  • Iowa
  • U.S. District Court District of Nebraska
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Education:

  • Seattle University School of Law, 2008
    Juris Doctorate, Law
  • University of California, Los Angeles, 2003
    Bachelors, Psychology

Published Works:

Areas of Practice:

En Español:

Michael in the community

Michael Khalili is a dedicated member of the Gretna community, serving as a girls’ basketball coach and assistant baseball coach. His passion for basketball, fueled by his daughter’s involvement in the sport, led him to coaching.Michael Khalili is a dedicated member of the Gretna community, serving as a girls’ basketball coach and assistant baseball coach. His passion for basketball, fueled by his daughter’s involvement in the sport, led him to coaching.

In addition to his coaching duties, he volunteers regularly at the Omaha Food Bank, where he helps organize and distribute food to families in need. Michael finds volunteering to be a rewarding experience, as it allows him to give back to the community that supports him.

Michael’s Personal Approach to Client Care

“I grew up in a small town in Texas and the playing field just wasn’t level for the Spanish population. That perspective has resonated with me throughout my career and has motivated me to fight for the underdog,” said Michael. “I primarily work for injured workers who get bullied by employers and insurance companies, but I also take on personal injury cases. Workers’ Compensation is rife with unfair practices weighted for the employer/insurance companies and in my opinion, is the best arena for me to level that playing field for employees. My clients run the gamut from lower income people working at meatpacking plants, who get intimidated by employers to white collar employees who simply get terminated for filing a rightful claim.  Many clients are undocumented workers who simply don’t know their rights, and they would rather take unfair punishment than stir the pot. They believe they might get deported for filing a claim, so they work injured, and their case eventually lapses. Every worker is protected under Nebraska Workers’ Compensation law, documented or not, and I do my best to make that known with every case.”

“Prior to joining Hauptman O’Brien, I worked on defense and plaintiff cases,” Michael explained. “I disliked tracking billable hours for insurance companies and worrying more about that, then the actual client. It interfered and distracted from the pertinent aspect of my cases. I enjoy the fact that now I am fully focused on plaintiff work. The culture here is excellent as well – you always feel free to talk to any attorney in the office about any case or strategy decision. There’s an open-door policy, and everyone is collaborative. That sense of teamwork for the benefit of each client of the firm really sets Hauptman O’Brien apart. I know my clients are better off with this team approach. If any other attorney has questions about employment law or workers’ comp, they come to my office. It works both ways.”

“We are excited to have Michael as part of the firm, because he brings unique talents and a perspective to the firm that is geographically and culturally diverse,” said Partner Tim O’Brien. “His work is exceptional, and his eagerness to assist an underrepresented segment of our society demonstrates the same community-based values that Hauptman O’Brien has always been built upon. It’s been great having Michael working here, and I look forward to his continued success on behalf of our clients.”

“As an attorney, I would say I’m loyal and I fight fiercely for my clients, because I know that no one else will,” said Michael. “I understand that most clients are not in a hurry to see an attorney and if they are, they are generally at their wits end—I take that to heart. Ultimately, you want to win for your client, but you also need to add a human element to the process and be empathetic to their needs. That’s how you can help them move forward beyond their present problems to a better life.”

Hear from Michael's clients

“Michael Khalili and his team were very helpful throughout my whole case. My on-the-job injury would have been a nightmare without them. It was a complicated process(to me) but every time I called with questions Michael or his legal secretary Kaitlin were very kind and answered everything thoroughly. Thank you!”

– Samantha White

Client Testimonials

4.9 rating of 606 reviews
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David Moss avatar

David Moss

2 days ago

Couldn’t have asked for a better experience after a difficult time. Everyone I came into contact with was extremely professional and always responded promptly when I had questions. I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment in recommending them to anyone in need.

Kaylor Keltner avatar

Kaylor Keltner

3 days ago

Thank you all so much for taking care of my wife and I. At a huge transition period in our life David, Desirae, and Lori took care of everything that I did not have the bandwidth for. Without your expertise I would have definitely missed stuff and come out of pocket for it. Yall made the process easy to understand and navigate and while I hope I dont need your services again I would 100% recommend to a friend. 😂

Jannelle Davey avatar

Jannelle Davey

3 days ago

Working with Jeremy and Nicole was an exceptional experience. They were incredibly professional and warm throughout the process, making me feel genuinely cared for. Their communication was outstanding; they consistently returned my calls promptly, ensuring I was always informed. They worked diligently and tirelessly to secure the highest possible settlement for my claim. I highly recommend and encourage this law firm to handle anyones case.

James Uhlenkamp avatar

James Uhlenkamp

9 days ago

My experience with Hauptman O'Brien and their team of experts was every bit as wonderful as I would have hoped for! They kept my needs at heart all the way! They were super fast and the end result met every expectation! Thank you, team O'Brien, from the heart! Jim U.

Carson OConnor avatar

Carson OConnor

11 days ago

Had a great experience with Hauptman O’Brien! David O'Neill and his team made the process smooth and seamless, took care of all the paperwork related to medical expenses resulting from my claim, and were very helpful and responsive throughout the whole process. They secured a very fair settlement for me, and I’m grateful for all the work they did on my case. Thank you to David, Desirea, and Lori for all the help!

Ron Beberniss avatar

Ron Beberniss

16 days ago

David was extremely detail oriented and responsive. We always knew where the case stood and were pleased with the outcome.

Julie avatar

Julie

18 days ago

Everyone worked hard to resolve my case. My team was professional, courteous, and so kind to me. They kept me well informed throughout the process, and they were always very timely with their responses to any questions I had. I would highly recommend these fine folks. It was a pleasure to work with them.

Bryan Mattox avatar

Bryan Mattox

22 days ago

Tim O'Brien was prompt when I initially reached out to this firm. There was never any nonsense or unnecessary communication. When my case settled I was contacted and got in right away to finish our business. It was a pleasure working with Tim O'Brien & his staff!

Brandon Cruz avatar

Brandon Cruz

23 days ago

Jeremy Elliot, Nicole Kays, and their team were very helpful, thorough, and understanding in helping me reach a settlement after I was injured in a car accident. I valued their communication and advice throughout the process, and I recommend them highly to anyone.

Derek Simonson avatar

Derek Simonson

24 days ago

I suffered severe injuries in an auto accident in May of 2025. I chose Mr. Cripe to represent me and pursue liability compensation against the at-fault driver and their insurance carrier. After a very tedious but thorough process we were able to secure substantial damages which is more than normally expected. I have nothing but kind words to say about Mr. Cripe. Throughout this ordeal he was very supportive, informative and always asked for my opinion on the given situation. I would choose Mr. Cripe without a doubt if the situation should ever arise again where I need legal counsel.

Marisa Cohn avatar

Marisa Cohn

1 month ago

I would like to send a huge THANK YOU to David O'Neal and everyone at Hauptman O'brien. They were so wonderful to work with. They went above and beyond with helping me through my accident and navigating medical. I highly recommend hiring David for your personal injury needs. You cannot go wrong.

Reginald B York IV avatar

Reginald B York IV

1 month ago

As a college educated working professional, I never wanted or thought I or my family would need the services of a personal injury attorney. When someone in our immediate family was involved in an accident, my wife and I thought we could navigate the insurance process on our own, (after all we weren’t looking to profit from it). We quickly realized the process has become complicated and can turn into a full time job, costing our family in ways we never even dreamed. While I pray we never find ourselves in a situation to need their services again. David will be my first call. Everyone from top to bottom was patient and understanding. They walked us through the process and advised us along the way, filling in the gaps that hospitals, insurance companies and representatives failed to provide. Thanks to David and his wonderful team our family was able to focus on the emotional and physical healing while they found resolution and we were able to move on.

Chris M avatar

Chris M

1 month ago

David and his team were great and made the whole process seamless. Would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a personal injury lawyer.

Della Farris avatar

Della Farris

1 month ago

Choosing Hauptman ,O'Brien , Wolf & Lathrop for my personal injury lawsuit, was one of my better decisions . They were always available & considerate to us . We were kept updated & informed all the way through . Jeremy & Nicole were awesome.. I would highly recommend.

Paulette Henderson avatar

Paulette Henderson

1 month ago

David O’Neill, Jody Bowman & Desiree at the Bellevue Nebraska location were amazing! They explained things thoroughly, It was easy to communicate with them. They outlined exactly the documentation that was needed. They helped us through every step of the process and kept us informed of the progress. It was a pleasure working with them, and we are extremely satisfied with the outcome. I highly recommend them, they are professional, knowledgeable and handle every aspect with efficiency.

Linda C avatar

Linda C

1 month ago

A little over 2 yrs ago I walked through the doors @ Hauptman O’Brian Wolf & Lathrop, a little nervous and a little scared. I was in a car accident on the interstate, my car was totaled and I’m thankful to be here. With their help and reassurance that everything will be fine. And it is. Jeremiah Elliott and his fantastic staff kept me well informed through out the process. It took patients on my part and time to heal too. They were always there to answer my question and so kind. I would recommend their legal service’s for any type of situation you might be in. It will only take a little time to tell your story or situation and listen to what they say. They are there to help you through the legal process and protect you. I will say I’m grateful for their compassion and knowledge of the legal process. I couldn’t do it without them. Thanks to them my case was successful.

Dan Aitken avatar

Dan Aitken

2 months ago

Fortunately I haven’t required their legal services, but I have made use of their “Safe Ride Home” program. I feel safer knowing that this service is available for everyone, not just clients, during the holidays.

Connor Villen avatar

Connor Villen

2 months ago

First time getting into a motor vehicle accident and the team was really helpful during this process. The piece that made me feel better to work with the Hauptman Bellevue office was that they were always asking how I was doing. The office really ensured my health and recovery was the priority. They made me comfortable throughout the whole process, and would recommend anyone in a motor vehicle accident to reach out to this office. Thank you all!

Hannah Miller avatar

Hannah Miller

2 months ago

Fantastic job!! I am so grateful they kept me updated through every step of the process. Thank you so much!

Tiera Robinette avatar

Tiera Robinette

2 months ago

Was a pleasure working with the team. They really fought for us

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