Current Employment Position(s)

; Business Law

Lawyer Overview

Mike is a shareholder based in our Minneapolis office. He is a member of the board of directors of the firm, and has previously served as treasurer of the firm and as a member of the firm's executive committee. He practices principally in the areas of:

• Mergers and acquisitions
• Corporate strategy and structure
• General corporate and commercial law and complex transactions
• Venture capital and emerging (startup) enterprises
• Licensing law (all forms)
• Executive employment and termination

Mike provides legal counsel to a wide variety of domestic and international business clients. His principal practice areas involve several interdisciplinary areas of the law, including finance, securities, contracts, taxation, employment relations, commercial litigation analysis and corporate strategy and governance issues, including restructuring.

Mike has been listed in Minnesota Super Lawyers and Chambers USA. He has also been named by Minnesota Law & Politics as one of the top 20 mergers and acquisitions attorneys in Minnesota. Mike has received a preeminent rating by a leading directory of the legal profession. The rating reflects the lawyer's expertise, nature of practice and other professional qualifications, as well as adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities.

Mike has represented public and privately held companies in a wide variety of domestic and international transactions, including stock and asset acquisitions, divestitures, restructuring, licensing, and joint ventures. In recent years, he has represented entities engaged in or purchasing power plant and transmission operations; energy management; mass merchandising by catalogue; high technology micro‑chip design; nationwide veterinary, dental and rehabilitation supply and distribution; medical device ventures; information research and management; auto reseller marketing and distribution; Internet portal/e-commerce contracting; manufacture of marine industry products; waste management and disposal (industrial and other landfills); compost processing and manufacturing sites; environmental consulting; product promotion and marketing; debt consolidation and collections; professional sports franchises (including new ballpark contracting and negotiation); local and cellular telephone services and exchanges; business conference calling; medical specialty consolidations; equipment manufacturing; financial services and finance; and over-the-road transportation.

Mike also represents both entities and executive management in structuring and negotiation of executive compensation and severance arrangements.

Mike also practiced for several years with an international public accounting firm before commencing his legal career, with a practice emphasis in leisure-time industries, mass retail, manufacturing and government contract reimbursement.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mike received his B.S. cum laude in accounting and finance from Florida State University as a Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Graduate. He received his law degree cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law and in his senior year of law school was awarded the Coopers & Lybrand (PricewaterhouseCoopers) taxation scholarship award. Mike joined Briggs in 1987 after three years of practice with another large Minneapolis law firm.

Mike is a member of the board of directors of the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis and the Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance Foundation. Mike also serves as pro bono legal counsel to the Minnesota Twins Community Fund. Mike's community activities also have included serving the Minneapolis Aquatennial Association as president-elect, president, chairman, executive committee and board of directors member, and pro bono general counsel.

Mike is a member of the Hennepin County, Minnesota State and American Bar associations.

Areas of Practice

• Corporate and Business Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Securities
• Closely Held Companies
• Tax Services
• Corporate Governance
• Health Care
• Employment Law Counseling
• Construction Law

West Practice Categories

Antitrust & Trade Regulation, Banking & Finance Law, Business & Commercial Law, Business Organizations, Closely Held Businesses, Construction Contracts, Construction Law, Corporate Governance, Corporate Taxation, Disability, Elder Law, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Excise Taxes, Food & Drug Administration, Formation & Business Planning, Franchising, Health & Health Care Law, Hospital Law, Income Taxation, International Transactions, Joint Ventures, Joint Ventures, Lending & Secured Transactions, Limited Liability Companies, Litigation & Appeals, Medicare & Medicaid, Mental Health, Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures, Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures, Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures, Nursing Home, Partnerships, Payroll Taxes, Property (Ad Valorem) Taxes, Real Estate Law, Reorganizations, Sales & Use Taxes, Secured Transactions, Sexual Harassment -- Employee, Sexual Harassment -- Employer, Shareholders' Rights, Social Security -- Disability, Taxation Law, Trade Associations, Transactions, Venture Capital

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1984

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Minnesota Twins Community Fund
• Pro Bono Legal Counsel
• Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis
• Board Member
• Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance Foundation
• Board Member
• American Bar Association
• Member
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Member
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Member
• Minneapolis Aquatennial Association
• General Counsel (1994-2000); Chairman (1999); Member, Executive Committee (1997-1999); Member, Board of Directors (1997-1999); President (1998); President-Elect (1997)

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, 1984
  J.D.
  Honors: Cum Laude
• Florida State University, 1975
  B.S.
  Honors: Cum Laude Beta Gamma Sigma Honors
  Major: Accounting and Finance

Published Works

• ALERT - Jan. 31 Reporting Requirement Deadline Regarding ISOs and ESPPs, 2009
• SEC Amends Form 8-K to Expand Disclosure and Accelerate Filing Deadlines, 2004
• Rulemaking Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 2003

Address

2200 IDS Center
80 South 8th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Phones

612.977.8492 (Business Phone)

Faxes

612.977.8650 (Business Fax)

Emails

Contact Us (Business Email)

Websites

http://www.briggs.com/