OverviewMike is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and serves as the Firm Strategic Recruiting Partner. He is also the former chair of the firm’s Transactional Practice Group. He is an experienced transactional attorney who serves as outside general counsel to many real estate investment and corporate clients, and is seen as a strategic counselor and advisor. Mike leads the firm’s Project Development and Finance Team and the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Team, bringing experience and creative thinking to structuring complex, large-scale and high-profile/politically sensitive development projects throughout the United States.
In addition to his extensive practice in real estate and real estate finance, Mike is an experienced practitioner in corporate law, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, structured finance, and commercial finance, bringing the same strategic, but pragmatic and problem-solving approach, to helping clients achieve their goals. Mike routinely leads project developments, financings, and corporate transactions throughout the United States, including acquisitions, dispositions, and financing in the context of bankruptcy and financial restructuring. Experience
Project development, P3, investment and finance experience includes:
- Outside general counsel to multiple real estate investment and development entities.
- Representation of a private REIT in its corporate formation, and acquisition, financing, leasing, and disposition of agricultural properties throughout the United States.
- Representation of a national water park resort developer in the acquisition, governmental incentive, financing, and development of a $1.0 Billion dollar, 900 room entertainment resort project in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition, financing, leasing and joint venture structuring of a $78,000,000 development and construction of a 10-story mixed-use multifamily and retail complex in Duluth, Minnesota
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition, financing, leasing and joint venture structuring of medical facility and office development project in Southern California.
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition of air rights and development of a $3.9B multi-purpose transit hub and commercial development under a State P3 structure in Chicago, Illinois
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition, financing, leasing and joint venture structuring of medical facility and office developments in multiple locations around the United States.
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition, financing, leasing and joint venture structuring of senior housing developments in multiple locations around the United States
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition, entitlement, financing, development, and sales and leasing of a 55-acre, 510,000-square-foot national retail power center in suburban Chicago, Illinois.
- Representation of a national water park resort developer in the acquisition, governmental incentive, financing, and development of 350-acre water park and entertainment resort in Round Rock, Texas.
- Representation of international manufacturer in its governmental incentive, acquisition and development of its $10B technology facilities development.
- Representation of the lender in the development and New Markets Tax Credits financing of the Nevada Supreme Court office building in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition, entitlement, leasing, financing, and public-private development structuring of a 500,000-square-foot build-to-suit corporate headquarters and mixed-use project in downtown Madison, Wisconsin.
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition out of bankruptcy of a 200-room condominium-hotel in downtown Orlando, Florida.
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition, entitlement, financing, and development of a 205-room luxury full-service hotel and mixed-use project in downtown Madison, Wisconsin.
- Representation of the project developer in the $250 million development, commercial condominium structuring, and of a one million-square-foot sports arena, hotel, office, and public parking multi-use urban infill development in downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania.
- Representation of the lender in the development and New Markets Tax Credits financing of hospital expansion in Reno, Nevada.
- Representation of the lender in the acquisition and development financing of 10-acre mixed use project including two hotels, a parking garage, medical office building, and retail pad sites in downtown Fort Worth, Texas.
- Representation of the lender in the financing and bond purchase of a 210,000-square-foot build-to-suit public company corporate headquarters.
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition, financing and redevelopment of a 275,000-square-foot retail shopping center in Ft. Myers, Florida.
- Representation of the developer in the acquisition from bondholders, financing, and redevelopment of a 300,000-square-foot retail shopping center in Ft. Myers, Florida.
- Representation of a national water park resort developer in the equity placement, financing, and development of 300-room water park resort in Traverse City, Michigan.
- Representation of a national water park resort developer in the disposition of operating resort.
- Representation of the developer in the sale of an energy and infrastructure facility as settlement of litigation.
- Representation of the developer in the litigation defense, financial restructuring, and disposition of 500,000-square-foot retail center with adjacent mixed-use facilities.
- Representation of the project developer and governmental authority in the development and financing of governmental authority-owned sports arena and mixed use project.
Corporate and M&A experience includes:
- Outside general counsel to multiple business entities.
- Representation of a private REIT as corporate and transactional counsel, including its merger with a public pension fund.
- Representation of environmental mitigation venture in its corporate organization, private equity investment, and business platform expansion throughout the United States.
- Representation of a private retail energy provider in its corporate organization, private equity investment, and business platform expansion throughout the United States
- Representation of the General Partner in a $255,000,000 equity and debt recapitalization of senior and assisted living facilities.
- Representation of a national environmental mitigation firm in the acquisition of an environmental mitigation consulting and development firm headquartered in the Southeast United States.
- Representation of a national environmental mitigation firm in the acquisition of multiple existing environmental mitigation projects throughout the United States.
- Representation of a technology development company in its corporate organization, private equity investment, and business platform expansion throughout the United States
- Representation of a healthcare administrative software provider in its business platform expansion throughout the United States
- Representation of a computer parts supplier/distributor in merger with public company investment fund.
- Representation of an infrastructure manufacturer and supplier in the asset sale of a wholly owned subsidiary to competitor.
- Representation of an infrastructure manufacturer and supplier in the purchase of competitor assets out of bankruptcy for strategic growth in Southeastern states.
- Representation of the purchaser in acquisition of debt and eventual asset acquisition of operating retail business assets out of bankruptcy.
- Member of the transaction team representing the seller in $700 million stock sale to public company.
Honors & Recognitions
- Leading Real Estate Lawyer, Chambers USA, 2024
- The Midwest’s Best Lawyers in America©, Real Estate Law and Corporate Law, 2021
- Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame, Midwest Real Estate News, 2018
- Leader in the Law, Wisconsin Law Journal, 2013
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Real Estate Law and Corporate Law, 2011-Present
- Wisconsin Best Lawyers, published by Best Lawyers and selected by peer recognition, 2012-Present
- Executive Register, InBusiness, 2013-Present
- Best Lawyers in Madison, Madison Magazine, 2004
 
Professional Activities
- Member, American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Sports and Entertainment Law Section
- Member, State Bar of Wisconsin, Business Law Section, Real Property Law Section, Sports and Entertainment Law Section
- Member, Illinois Bar Association
- Member, International Council of Shopping Centers
- Past Member, Chicago Title Insurance Company Advisory committee
- Yellow Belt Certified, Legal Lean Sigma
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