Bio
Mike practiced law in Delaware from 1982 until 2020, most recently as a partner of Morris James LLP, where he served as the Chair of the firm’s Business Transactions, Strategic Planning and Counseling Practice, a group that routinely handled over $100 billion in financings annually for a wide range of clients.
Mike’s practice focused on the use of limited liability companies, statutory and common law trusts, partnerships, corporations and other entities in complex financing transactions, such as asset backed financings, leveraged leases and like-kind exchanges, and in joint ventures and other business organizations. He regularly acted as counsel to borrowers, lenders, lessees, trustees, and other financing parties, and rendered third-party legal opinions as to matters of Delaware and federal law, including federal bankruptcy law. In addition, Mike frequently served as a court appointed arbitrator of civil suits in the Delaware Superior Court.
Mike is one of the principal drafters of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and was a member of the drafting committee charged with proposing and drafting annual amendments to those Acts and to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. Mike has spoken across the United States and abroad on the subject of Delaware alternative entity law and has written frequently on the topic. In addition, for over 30 years he has maintained an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating awarded by that firm, for his legal abilities and professional ethics and has been honored by being listed in Best Lawyers (2020, 2021) and Delaware Today Top Lawyers (2014, 2019).
Mike was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1982. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Hawaii in 1970 and his law degree, cum laude, from Delaware Law School in 1982. He was a member, 1980-81, and associate editor, 1981, of the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law.
Mike is an avid bird hunter and foxhunter and lives with his wife, Cathie, on their farm in Thomasville, Georgia.
Bio
Mike practiced law in Delaware from 1982 until 2020, most recently as a partner of Morris James LLP, where he served as the Chair of the firm’s Business Transactions, Strategic Planning and Counseling Practice, a group that routinely handled over $100 billion in financings annually for a wide range of clients.
Mike’s practice focused on the use of limited liability companies, statutory and common law trusts, partnerships, corporations and other entities in complex financing transactions, such as asset backed financings, leveraged leases and like-kind exchanges, and in joint ventures and other business organizations. He regularly acted as counsel to borrowers, lenders, lessees, trustees, and other financing parties, and rendered third-party legal opinions as to matters of Delaware and federal law, including federal bankruptcy law. In addition, Mike frequently served as a court appointed arbitrator of civil suits in the Delaware Superior Court.
Mike is one of the principal drafters of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and was a member of the drafting committee charged with proposing and drafting annual amendments to those Acts and to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. Mike has spoken across the United States and abroad on the subject of Delaware alternative entity law and has written frequently on the topic. In addition, for over 30 years he has maintained an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating awarded by that firm, for his legal abilities and professional ethics and has been honored by being listed in Best Lawyers (2020, 2021) and Delaware Today Top Lawyers (2014, 2019).
Mike was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1982. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Hawaii in 1970 and his law degree, cum laude, from Delaware Law School in 1982. He was a member, 1980-81, and associate editor, 1981, of the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law.
Mike is an avid bird hunter and foxhunter and lives with his wife, Cathie, on their farm in Thomasville, Georgia.
ADR Services
General Civil Mediation and Arbitration
Practice Areas
Business Transactions
Strategic Planning and Counseling
Commercial Transactions
Corporate Advice
Corporate Governance Counseling
Corporate Trust Fiduciary Services
Delaware Advantage Trusts
Delaware Alternative Entities: LLC, LP, Partnership and Trust
Legal Opinions
Structured Finance Transactions
Education
University of Hawaii, BA, 1970
Delaware Law School, JD, 1982
Bar Admissions
State Bar of Delaware
Affiliations
Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, Member (1980 – 1981) and Associate Editor (1981)
Publications
- Delaware Proposes Amendments to its Alternative Entity Statutes, June 2, 2021, Corporate Law Alert
- The Use of Delaware Statutory Trusts in Like Kind Exchanges Under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, Corporate Law Alert
- Delaware Statutory Trusts, Corporate Law Alert
Fees
2 Parties: $200 per hour, per party
3 Parties: $175 per hour, per party
4 Parties: $160 per hour, per party
