Mike is a Partner in the Corporate Department and leads our securities practice team. He has a general corporate practice, representing publicly traded and emerging growth companies, as well as the institutions and individuals that finance them.
Having spent the first dozen years of his career practicing in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street, Mike has extensive deal experience in a broad range of highly complex transactions. On the corporate finance side, Mike has advised both companies and investors on more than 150 private equity transactions, including venture capital investments, majority and minority recapitalizations, debt financings and hybrid transactions. He also regularly advises issuers and underwriters in a variety of capital markets transactions, both public and private, including initial public offerings, secondary public offerings, PIPE transactions and Rule 144A offerings. On the mergers and acquisitions side, Mike has deep experience advising boards of directors and executive management on all aspects of the acquisition/sale process, whether involving publicly traded companies in multi-billion-dollar deals or privately held companies in smaller transactions.
In addition to his transactional practice, Mike regularly serves as the outside general counsel for his clients, regularly advising public and private companies on questions of corporate governance, fiduciary duties, public disclosure requirements, domestic and cross border joint ventures, general contract issues and other matters.
Prior to joining Dinsmore, Mike was a co-founding partner for the Silicon Valley office of one of the world's largest law firms. In addition, from 2003 to 2006, he was the Founder/CEO and General Counsel of a San Francisco-based Internet company using the SaaS model provide turnkey personal training solutions to the health and fitness industry. His experience running a company provides clients with a unique perspective when dealing with complex legal issues and how those issues ultimately impact their business.
Mike also devotes a significant portion of his time each year to pro bono counseling of non-profit organizations, low-income entrepreneurs and other small businesses, as a way of giving back to the community.
Mike is also the Managing Editor of "What's the BIG deal," a firm-sponsored blog that is a running commentary on issues that corporate dealmakers on both sides of the negotiating table face on a regular basis. Tips for executives, entrepreneurs and investors; legal updates for in-house counsel; and general conversation about deal trends or just about anything else that comes to mind.
Distinctions
· Honored with the Wiley H. Manual Award given by the State Bar of California for Pro Bono Legal Services (2007)
· Commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Steve Beshear (2008)
Experience
Venture Capital Transaction
Jaman.com
Angel financing and formation of subsidiary
Venture Capital Transaction
oDesk Corporation
Series B Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
RedRock Ventures
Series C Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Iconix
Series C Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Cassatt Corporation
Class E Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Anagran
Series C Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Norwest Venture Partners
Series C Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Blue Casa Communications
Series C Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Chad Hurley
Represented investor in US Formula One team
Venture Capital Transaction
Blekko
Series C Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Radar Partners
Note financing
Venture Capital Transaction
WorkSmart Labs, Inc.
Angel round of financing and subsequent licensing of technology company
Venture Capital Transaction
Big Tent Design
Series B Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Sherpalo
Series A Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Norwest Venture Partners
Series C Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Storm Ventures
Series A Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
First Advantage
Acquisition of Series S-2 Preferred Stock
Venture Capital Transaction
Vaxart
Series B Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Longitude Venture Partners
Series C Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Longitude Venture Partners
Series A-1 Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
TalkPlus, Inc.
Convertible note financing
Venture Capital Transaction
SynchSource
Series A Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Bay Microsystems
Series E Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
OptoElectronix
Series A Preferred Stock financing
Venture Capital Transaction
Menlo Ventures
Series C-1 Preferred Stock financing
Capital Markets Transaction
Threshold Pharmaceuticals
$17 million PIPE transaction and subsequent registration of securities on Form S-3
Capital Markets Transaction
Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corp.
$950 million initial public offering
Capital Markets Transaction
Sonics
Proposed initial public offering
Capital Markets Transaction
Merrill Lynch
$117 million initial public offering
Capital Markets Transaction
Textainer Holdings
$150 million initial public offering on Form F-1 as a foreign private issuer under the laws of Bermuda