Mike guides business transactions for closely held family businesses, middle-market companies, and early-stage emerging enterprises in several key areas. He assists in forming businesses and selecting the appropriate business structure. Additionally, he helps raise capital through debt and equity transactions, as well as private equity. Mike also supports operations with various agreements, including buy-sell, employment, manufacturing, private-label, and distribution consulting. For companies looking to expand, he facilitates acquisitions, strategic alliances, and joint ventures. Furthermore, he provides guidance on operational succession through sales, redemptions, management transitions, and family or intergenerational transfers. Lastly, Mike aids in securing and retaining top management personnel by implementing various incentive compensation plans and programs.
His clients’ industry sectors include manufacturing, merchandising, heavy equipment construction and demolition, energy transmission and distribution, telecommunications, transportation, real estate development, medical device billing and collections, and commodities brokerage and futures operations. Mike’s experience in the area of professional services includes the legal, accounting, advertising, medical, dental, and veterinary fields.
Early in his career, Mike found himself at the center of successful deal negotiations that would eventually reshape the pleasure boating industry. His firsthand experience in completing even the most challenging and time-constrained tasks needed to successfully accomplish transactional finality fueled his desire to support and successfully guide clients in their ever-evolving business and personal transactions and strategies.
He is frequently called upon as a trusted business adviser, strategist, and confidant, often in the capacity of de facto in-house counsel. Invaluable experience gained from prior industry practice — including two international public accounting firms, a Fortune 100 corporation, and a multistate franchising company — enables Mike to provide big-picture strategies with a practical, problem-solving approach.
Mike joined Cozen O'Connor in 2026 along with his colleagues from Minneapolis' oldest law firm, Moss & Barnett, where he was a member of the board. He earned his B.S., cum laude, from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and his J.D., also cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law.