Mike has extensive experience in a variety of practice areas including commercial transactions, corporate and commercial law, bankruptcy/insolvency, and real estate.

Mike earned his Juris Doctor degree (with honors) from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1983.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in 1980.

Corporate and Commercial Law

Mike advises entrepreneurs, owners, directors and executives in corporate and entity governance, planning issues, and capital transactions. He also has developed a practice niche in the representation of trade associations.

• Mike advised a minority shareholder group in a manufacturing company desiring additional influence in entity governance and operational management matters by assuring the observance of the clients’ legal duties while insisting on similar compliance by the majority owners which, over a period of time, led to a buyout by the minority on favorable economic terms.

Mergers and Acquisitions. 

From the planning and negotiation to the consummation of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and recapitalizations, Mike has extensive experience with multi-tier leveraged buyouts, capital formation and development matters, in addition to acquisitions and divestitures in the manufacturing, agribusiness, construction, retail, and real estate sectors.

• Mike represented an agribusiness development startup in structuring and financing its growth to become one of the largest dairy networks in the Midwest.

Commercial Transactions 

Mike advises clients on domestic and international sales, distribution, licensing, and other commercial arrangements.  He works with banks and other capital sources in arranging and obtaining commercial financing.

• Mike has served as primary loan workout and restructuring counsel in RCO Law’s market for regional and community lending institutions since before the economic downturn in 2007.

Bankruptcy and Insolvency

Mike represents creditor and receiver clients in collection, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and insolvency matters.  He has represented banks and other creditors in all types of distress situations, from large Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan negotiation to and pre-bankruptcy workouts and restructurings.

• Mike represented a lender syndicate in the pre-bankruptcy restructuring of a multi-facility credit relationship with an undercapitalized amusement park entity, aiding in modeling covenant performance and payment structuring in a manner that has succeeded in preserving the facilities’ performing status.