Mike is a Pittsburgh-based attorney in the Business Combinations and Capital Transactions Practice Group. He has extensive experience representing companies in corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, purchase and sale agreements, financing transactions, and joint ventures.ย In addition, Mikeโs practice includes counseling clients on day-to-day operations, licensing, supply, procurement, and contract drafting.
Mike has led teams on deals spanning a wide range of industries, with sizes ranging from under $1 million to hundreds of millions of dollars. ย With a broad legal background, he takes a practical approach to solving complex legal matters, searching for the unique solutions to difficult legal problems.ย Heโs a trusted advisor to a host of private companies, counseling them on risk mitigation, strategic initiatives, and streamlining repetitive issues.
Represented seller in the divestiture of Marcellus assets in $250 million asset sale, including advising seller on curative matters and title disputes.
Represented mineral buying company in connection with dispute over application of Marketable Title Act and Dormant Mineral Act.
Served as lead counsel for a private equity group in a $30 million acquisition in Pennsylvania.
Acted as lead counsel in the negotiation, drafting and acquisition of $400 million of oil and gas leases in the Utica shale.
Drafted and negotiated a wide variety of commercial agreements including non-disclosure agreements, master service agreements, independent contractor agreements, and transition services.
Led Ohio due diligence team on multiple due diligence projects, including managing outside vendors, drafting defect notices, and negotiating resolutions to disputes.
Served as local counsel in the drafting of transaction documents for a โDrillcoโ transaction, including securing a $100 million loan and issuing an opinion of borrowerโs counsel.
Counseled major E&P operators on day-to-day issues including operations, leasing, landowner disputes, surface use agreements, rights-of-way, Master Service Agreements, and coal disturbance.
Review loan documents and draft commercial mortgage opinions in connection with acquisition of commercial properties in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Draft $30 million private placement memorandum in connection with oil and gas well development.
University of Akron School of Law, J.D., 2008
University of Akron, M.B.A., 2008
Grove City College, B.S., Business Management, 2005
Ohio, 2008
Pennsylvania, 2011
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Ohio Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
Pittsburgh Leadership Development Initiative Class XXIV
Selected for inclusion in Pennsylvania Rising Starsยฎ, 2013-2018
Whoโs Who in Energy, Pittsburgh Business Times, 2014-2017
Ohio Oil and Gas Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Opinion Committee, former Member
Moderator and Panelist, โWhat Do You Mean We Canโt Do That? โ Antitrust Law Implications for Upstream Joint Development Arrangements,โ Energy & Mineral Law Foundation, 39th Annual Institute, June 19, 2018
Speaker, โUpstream Oil and Gas Asset Acquisitions: From Confidentiality Agreement to Closing,โ Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 10th Annual Oil and Gas Colloquium, 2018
Speaker, AAPL Annual Meeting, presented on Comparative Law of Shale Plays discussing the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays, Nashville, TN, 2015
April 12, 2022
July 24, 2021
February 8, 2021
December 21, 2020
December 10, 2019