Mike advises on U.S. and international mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions, including “going private” and other related-party transactions. He has advised companies, boards, and special committees, as well as investment banks, in both negotiated and contested transactions. He works with clients across a variety of industries, including in the technology, software, telecommunications, agtech, consumer, and healthcare/life sciences sectors.
Mike has been ranked in numerous publications including Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and Best Lawyers in America. Clients in The Legal 500 describe Mike as “a very seasoned M&A lawyer with a depth of technical expertise.” He has been recognized for M&A by Best Lawyers in America every year since 2013, and in 2021 the publication named him a “Lawyer of the Year” for M&A. He has also been recognized in Who’s Who Legal – The International Who’s Who of Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyers.
Experience
Represented VMware in its US$26 per share cash tender offer for cybersecurity company Carbon Black, Inc., representing an equity value of US$2.3 billion for Carbon Black.
Advised Xpansiv Data Systems, Inc. in its merger with Commodity Bourses Limited (CBL), an Australian company operating as CBL Markets.
Represented MTY Food Group, a leading franchisor in the North American restaurant industry, in its acquisition of Papa Murphy’s Holdings, Inc., a franchisor and operator of the largest Take ‘n’ Bake pizza brand and the fifth largest pizza chain in the United States.
Represented Spark Networks, a leading global dating company with a portfolio of premium brands, in its merger with Affinitas GmbH and acquisition of Zoosk.
Represented VMware in its structuring and negotiations with Dell, the world’s largest private technology company, in connection with Dell’s recap transaction involving the exchange of Dell’s VMware tracking stock for Dell’s Class C common stock and cash. The majority of the funding for the cash portion of the exchange transaction consisted of proceeds from VMware’s US$11 billion pro rata special dividend to all holders of VMware common stock.
Represented Takara Bio, Inc. in the company’s acquisition of publicly–held genomics technology company WaferGen Bio–systems.
Represented Tsinghua Unigroup, in its $1.8 billion acquisition of Shanghai–based fabless IC developer Spreadtrum, one of China’s leading semiconductor companies.
Represented Altera Corporation, in its $141 million acquisition of power conversion systems‑on‑chip (PowerSoCs) provider Enpirion, Inc.
Represented the Special Committee of 99 Cents Only Stores, in a $1.6 billion “going private” transaction.
Represented Sonic Solutions, in its $720 million acquisition by Rovi Corporation.