Overview

Mike is a shareholder, co-leader of the firm’s Business Transactions Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Executive Board. Mike’s practice is focused on a broad range of transaction-based services, including mergers and acquisitions, capital raising transactions and other general business legal matters.

Mike represents entrepreneurs, strategic entities, private equity groups and venture capital investors on buy-side and sell-side transactions. Mike routinely advises clients with respect to securities law issues relating to private placements of debt and equity. Mike also represents entrepreneurs, management and various businesses with respect to matters relating to entity formation, tax structure, employment and equity arrangements, employee benefits and service agreements.

Prior to his legal career, Mike was an analyst with a financial firm in Louisville, Kentucky.

Representative Matters

  • Represented one of the largest home furniture retailers in the United States with more than 300 stores in eight states in a $580 million sale of the company, by way of a 100% equity sale, to Franchise Group.
  • Represented a national lessor and seller of large commercial vehicles in a substantial expansion of its operating revolving credit facilities through a syndicated financing.
  • Represented an IT security company in the sale of its business to a financial buyer.
  • Represented a private equity buyer in the acquisition of a truck manufacturer.
  • Represented an IT staffing company in the sale of its business to a public company.
  • Represented a strategic buyer in the acquisition of a waste equipment company.
  • Represented a venture capital investor with respect to its investment in a technology based company.
  • Represented a multi-office medical care practice in the sale of its businesses to a regional health care provider.
  • Represented a strategic buyer with respect to the acquisition of an insurance company.
  • Represented an entrepreneur with respect to the formation, tax structure and eventual sale to a strategic buyer of a compressed natural gas fuel station design and construction company.
  • Represented a real estate development company with respect to a tax-free reorganization, which included a split-up of separate business divisions.
  • Represented various entrepreneurs with respect to the formation and structure of their businesses, including, but not limited to, tax structure, preparation of governing documents, etc.
  • Represented various C level officers in connection with the preparation and negotiation of their employment agreements and equity arrangements.
  • Represented a client with respect to the negotiation and execution of a manufacturing agreement.
  • Represented numerous clients with respect to Regulation D private offerings across various industries, including, but not limited to, restaurant/tavern, hotel, real estate, tech and franchise.
  • Represented a regional center, a national restaurant/tavern concept and a banking institution with respect to separate EB-5 based private offerings.
  • Acted as outside general corporate counsel to various businesses.

Honors and Distinctions

  • Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A and Private Securities, 2022
  • Tampa Magazine’s Top Lawyers List, 2021 – 2022
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Business Organizations – including LLCs and Partnerships; Corporate Law; Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2021 – 2022
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2018 – 2022
    • Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2009 – 2014
  • Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2016 – 2019, 2022

Professional Involvement

  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar
  • American Bar Association, Business Law and Tax Sections
  • Association for Corporate Growth Tampa Bay

Community Involvement

  • Children’s Advocacy Center Foundation, Inc. (a non-profit organization that supports the Hillsborough County Children’s Justice Center)
    • Former Member of the Board of Directors
  • Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (an organization that specializes in the funding and delivery of quality early childhood care and education to the families of Hillsborough County
    • Former Member of the Board of Directors
  • YMCA youth basketball coach
  • Tampa Connection Alumni