Mbilike Mwafulirwa Photo

Mbilike M. Mwafulirwa

Trial Attorney
  • Profile
  • Associations
  • Notable Work
  • Classes/Seminars

Mbilike (pronounced “Bee” “Lee” “Kay”) is an attorney with Brewster & DeAngelis. He joined the firm in October of 2016. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, civil rights, self-driving cars, and appeals both in state and federal court. Mbilike recently received a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating. According to Martindale-Hubbell, “[t]his rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.” Mbilike’s peers have also recognized him as a “Rising Star” “Super Lawyer” in civil litigation, and he is the 2017 recipient of the Golden Quill Award—one of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s highest intellectual awards.

While in practice, Mbilike has achieved notable milestones. He was appellate counsel in a number of important Oklahoma constitutional law decisions such Steidley v. Singer; Steidley v. Community Newspapers, Inc. and Anderson v. Wilken.

Mbilike received his LL.B from the University of Wales in 2009 and his Master of Laws and Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2010 and 2012. While at TU College of Law, he was a member of the Constitutional Law National Appellate Moot Team, the Energy Law Journal, and he was also inducted into the Order of Barristers─in recognition of excellence in court-room advocacy.

Areas of Practice:

  • Complex civil litigation
  • Appeals in both state and federal court
  • Constitutional law
  • First Amendment-Defamation
  • Administrative law
  • Self-driving cars law

Notable Cases

  • Steidley v. Singer, 2017 OK 8
  • Steidley v. Community Newspapers, Inc., 2016 OK CIV APP 63
  • Anderson v. Wilken, 2014 OK CIV APP 35
  • Garrett v. Okla. Work. Comp. Ct., No. 112915 (Okla. Sup. Ct. Aug. 8, 2014)
  • Church of Holi. Sci., Inc. v. Bilder, No. 114829 (Okla. Ct. App. Aug. 17, 2017)

Bar Admissions:

  • Oklahoma Supreme Court and all Oklahoma District Courts
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Northern District of Oklahoma
  • Western District of Oklahoma
  • Eastern District of Oklahoma

Awards & Honors

  • Oklahoma Bar Association Golden Quill Award — awarded for publishing the best peer-reviewed scholarly article in the Oklahoma Bar Journal
  • Selected as the author of the best peer-reviewed scholarly article in the May 2017 issue of Oklahoma Bar Journal (Constitutional law) and nominated for theGolden Quill Award
  • Selected as co-author of the best peer-reviewed scholarly article in the September 2017 issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal (Transportation law) and nominated for the Golden Quill Award
  • Selected by peers as an Oklahoma “Rising Star” Super Lawyer in civil litigation
  • Order of the Barristers —University of Tulsa College of Law — in recognition of excellence in courtroom advocacy

  • The Oklahoma Bar Association
    The Oklahoma Bar Association
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
    Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
Publications
  • Smoke and Mirrors: Constitutional Ideals When Facts and Fiction Can’t Be Separated, 91 Okla. B.J. __ Forthcoming 2020
  • The iPhone, the Speaker and Us: Constitutional Expectations in the Smart Age, 90 Okla. B.J. 24 2019
  • Not so Hypothetical After All: Addressing the Remaining Unanswered Questions About Self-driving Cars, 90 Okla. B.J. 36 2019
  • When Elephants Collide: Maintaining Technological Competence v. Complying with Discovery Rules, 90 Okla. B.J. 23 2019
  • Through the Tapestry of Life: In Search of Guiding Legal Principles in End-of-Life Decisions, 90 Okla. B.J. 26 2019
  • Abatement Ab Initio: Old Wine in New Casing or Old Wine With a New Kick? 89 Okla. B. J. 40-46 2018
  • Second Time’s A Charm: Oklahoma Citizens Participation Act’s Applicability in Federal Court, 89 Okla. B.J. 24 2018
  • The Unique Problems of a Tort Within a Tort: Charting a Way Forward for an Uncertain Area of Oklahoma Law, 89 Okla. B.J. 10 2018
  • Suing on Shifting Sands: The Oklahoma Constitution, Retroactive Legislation, and the Scramble for Clarity, 88 Okla. B. J. 935 2017
  • Autonomous Vehicles and the Trolley Problem: An Ethical and Liability Conundrum, 88 Okla. B. J. 1719 2017
  • Legal Ethics and Federalism: A New Blueprint for Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Action, 87 Okla. B. J. 2531 2016
  • Keynote speaker – public lecture at the University of Tulsa College of Law: “A Question of Our Time: A Driverless Future?” – Mbilike M. Mwafulirwa, Richard B. Risk Practicum Lecture (April 26, 2019); 
  • Keynote speaker – TU College of Law Alumni Reunion Lecture: “The iPhone, the Speaker and Us: Constitutional Expectations in the Smart Age” (Oct. 25, 2019);
  • CLE Lecture, Tulsa Area Paralegal Association, “The iPhone, the Speaker and Us: Constitutional Expectations in the Smart Age” (Spring 2019)
    Any client with Mr. Mwafulirwa as their counsel has an advantage over the opposing party.

    “Mr. Mwafulirwa has an ability to communicate both orally and through the written word in a manner that sets him apart from others in the practice. In addition, his analytical capabilities are unmatched.”

    - Attorney
    Mbilike is one of the most well-rounded trial attorneys I have ever come to know.

    “From personal experience as an adversary, I know Mbilike to be a person of the highest character and integrity and an exceptional role model in the civic and legal communities.”

    - Opposing Attorney
    Mr. Fortney is an excellent attorney.

    “He is most ethical; always prepared; very professional; has a complete understanding of the facts and the applicable law in cases, and is very effective and persuasive. He is an outstanding litigator.”

    - Judge
    He is an excellent lawyer.

    “I have opposed Guy on several cases through the years and have always found him to be not only a formidable opponent, but also very ethical, professional, and easy to work with.”

    - Attorney
    Highly Recommend

    “Mr. Lair is a former colleague of mine. He is an excellent lawyer and of the highest moral character.”

    - Attorney

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