Mike is the chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Energy Transactional department. He concentrates his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, energy transactions and finance, and general corporate counseling.
Energy Transactions and Finance
Mike serves as lead transactional counsel to utilities, developers and investors (including tax equity) as they navigate the development, purchase and sale of energy projects as well as the structuring, negotiation and implementation of corporate transactions and financings. He has led successful regulated and unregulated transactions involving wind, solar, battery storage, fuel cells, landfill gas and other alternative energy sources in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and along the East Coast.
Corporate
Mike represents purchasers and sellers, both private and public companies, in stock and asset purchases, merger and acquisitions, joint ventures, and leveraged and management-sponsored buy-out transactions. He has experience advising public companies in public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, including initial public offerings. In addition, he advises clients regularly on compliance with 1934 Act reporting requirements and annual meeting and proxy statement matters.
In addition to his M&A and securities work, Mike partners with his clients on general corporate matters, including corporate governance issues, fiduciary duties and other standards of conduct. He also works with clients in each stage of venture capital growth, providing advice on an array of corporate issues facing an emerging and growing company.
Experience
- Representation of a seller of its Pennsylvania natural gas distribution company to an affiliate of an infrastructure fund that owns and manages utilities and other infrastructure assets for approximately $780 million.
- Representation of an energy company in a $256 million stock sale of three peaker generating stations.
- Representation of a public utility in a $150 million asset purchase of wood burning electric generating facility.
- Representation of a renewable energy company that designs, builds and operates distributed landfill gas power generating facilities in a $57 million sale (merger) to private equity fund.
- Representation of a public utility in separate purchase transactions (ranging in size from $35-40 million) of assets related to the development of electric generating facilities.
- Representation of a company in a $38 million stock purchase of a manufacturer of industrial centrifuges and related equipment.
- Representation of a company in a $35 million purchase (merger) of a distributor of paperboard products.
- Representation of a company in a $30 million sale (asset and stock transactions) of multiple subsidiaries that design, manufacture and distribute tactical and logistic shelters and related products for military and commercial applications.
- Representation of a private equity portfolio company in a $10 million add-on transaction in the purchase of assets of manufacturer of corrosion-resistant industrial doors.
Solar Transactions
- Representation of solar developer in a joint venture transaction and subsequent divesture involving in excess of 300 MW of near Notice To Proceed projects and more than 1.5 GWs of projects in development.
- Representation of a global renewable energy asset manager in acquiring 70% ownership rights of a 280 MW and a 285 MW development-stage solar projects in Mohave County, Arizona.
- Representation of unregulated utility affiliate as acquirer in connection with the acquisition and development of six solar PV projects having an aggregate nameplate capacity of 139 MW in Kern, Kings and Fresno County, California.
- Representation of solar developer in sale of six solar projects located in Oregon totaling approximately 65 MW.
- Representation of unregulated utility affiliate as acquirer in connection with the acquisition and development of a 60 MW solar PV project in Currituck County, North Carolina.
- Representation of unregulated utility affiliate as acquirer in connection with the acquisition and development of 50 MW solar PV project in Millard County, Utah.
- Representation of solar developer in sale of a 40 MW solar project located in North Carolina.
- Representation of unregulated utility affiliate as acquirer in connection with the acquisition and development of three solar PV projects with an aggregate nameplate capacity of 30 MW in Indianapolis, Indiana.
- Representation of solar developer in sale of two 20 MW solar projects located in Oregon.
- Representation of solar developer in sale of 20 MW solar project located in Connecticut.
- Representation of solar developer in sale of three solar projects located in North Carolina totaling approximately 20 MW.
- Representation of solar developer in sale of three solar projects (each totaling approximately 15 MW) in North Carolina.
- Representation of unregulated utility affiliate as acquirer in connection with the acquisition and development of an approximately 10 MW solar PV project to be located on the Site in Davisboro, Georgia.
Wind Transactions
- Representation of an independent renewable energy company focused on utility-scale generation facilities in its $2.25 million sale of a 250 MW wind farm in Texas.
- Representation of a wind generation developer in connection with a $98 million sale to a large international oil company.
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Selected for inclusion as a “Leading Lawyer,” M&A: Middle Market, Virginia, Legal 500 US, 2019-2024
Selected for inclusion in “Legal 500 United States,” Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power; M&A: Middle-Market, 2021-2024
Selected for inclusion in America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Projects: Power & Renewables: Transactional, Nationwide, Chambers USA, 2021-2024
Selected for inclusion in America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Corporate/M&A, Virginia, Chambers USA, 2022
Named an Energy and Environmental “Trailblazer,” Renewable Energy Deals, The National Law Journal, 2017
Selected for inclusion as a “Leading Lawyer,” Energy Renewable/Alternative, Virginia, Legal 500 US, 2017-2018
Selected for inclusion as a “Leading Lawyer,” Energy Transactions: Conventional Power, Virginia, Legal 500 US, 2016
Named to “Virginia Legal Elite,” Mergers and Acquisitions, Virginia Business Magazine, 2010
Named to “Virginia Rising Stars,” Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities and Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2009-2011
- Author, Congress Reinvigorates Nuclear Energy Industry With Passage of ADVANCE Act, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 2, 2024
- Author, Final Sale Notice Announced for Wind Lease Areas Off Delaware/Maryland and Virginia, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 1, 2024
- Author, Legislation on Small Modular Reactor Development Advances Virginia’s Shift to Clean Energy, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 25, 2024
- Author, Biden Administration Finalizes Three Wind Energy Areas off Mid-Atlantic Coast, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 1, 2023
- Author, Opening Soon — Application for Section 48C Advanced Energy Project Investment Tax Credit, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 9, 2023
- Author, Inflation Reduction Act Extends and Modifies Tax Credits for Solar Projects, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 6, 2023
- Author, Inflation Reduction Act Creates New Tax Credit Opportunities for Energy Storage Projects, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 27, 2022
- Author, Commerce Department Releases Preliminary Findings on Chinese Solar Manufacturers’ Alleged Circumvention, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 5, 2022
- Author, IRS Issues Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Guidance — Starts 60-Day Clock, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 30, 2022
- Author, Department of Commerce Issues Final Rule Imposing Tariff Moratorium for Solar Panels, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, September 16, 2022
- Author, Inflation Reduction Act Extends and Modifies Tax Credits for Wind Projects, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 24, 2022
- Author, U.S. Senate Introduces the Inflation Reduction Act, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 2, 2022
- Author, White House Launches Federal-State Offshore Wind Partnership to Supercharge Production by 2030, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 29, 2022
- Author, President Biden Orders Tariff Exemption for Solar Panels, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 7, 2022
- Author, U.S. Department of Commerce Investigation of Solar Panel Imports Puts Solar Projects at Risk, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 15, 2022
- Author, Biden’s Path to Clean Energy: May 11 North Carolina Offshore Wind Lease Auction, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 29, 2022
- Co-author, "Increasing Storage Capacity and to Match Increased Energy Creation," Corporate Counsel Business Journal, May-June 2021
- Author, Utility-Scale Solar Expected to Weather COVID-19 Impacts, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 9, 2020
- Author, Due to COVID-19, Most Pennsylvania Businesses Ordered to Cease Operations, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 20, 2020
- Co-author, "Joint Ventures," U.S. Chapter of Lexology: Getting the Deal Through, December 2019
- Author, President Imposes Tariffs on Imported Solar Panels, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, January 24, 2018
- Author, ITC Makes Recommendations in Solar Trade Case, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 7, 2017
- Author, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper Approves Major Renewable Energy Reform Bill, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 27, 2017
- Author, Suniva’s Solar Panel Trade Action and Its Impact on the Industry, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 20, 2017
- Author, North Carolina Legislature Approves Major Renewable Energy Reform Bill, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 6, 2017
- Co-author, "Decommissioning: Better Now Than Later," Energy & Infrastructure, Fall 2014
- Author, Eligibility Under DOE’s Draft Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects Solicitation, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 2, 2014
- Author, Dominion Virginia Power Wins Offshore Lease Auction, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, September 5, 2013
- Author, Governor Creates Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 7, 2010
- Author, Governor Kaine Announces “Green Jobs” Initiative for Virginia, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, January 16, 2009
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Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason UniversityJD
cum laude, Associate Editor, George Mason Law Review
1999 - University of VirginiaBA1994
Member, Virginia State Bar
Member, District of Columbia Bar
- Moderator, "State of the Solar Industry & the Road Ahead," Solar + Wind Finance & Investment Summit, March 17, 2025
- Summit Chair, Southeast Renewable Energy Summit, October 28 - 30, 2024
- Summit Chair, Southeast Renewable Energy Summit, December 5-7, 2023
- Moderator, "State of the Solar Industry & the Road Ahead," Solar + Wind Finance & Investment Summit, March 13, 2023
- Summit Chair, Southeast Renewable Energy Summit, November 30 – December 2, 2022
- Speaker, Offshore Wind Market Update and Supply-Chain Investment Opportunities, July 14, 2022
- Moderator, "State of the Solar Industry & the Road Ahead," Solar + Wind Power Finance & Investment Summit, March 13, 2023
- Summit Chair, Southeast Renewable Energy Summit, November 16-18, 2021
- Moderator, "Opportunities & Challenges for Renewable Development in PJM," Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Summit, December 9, 2020
- Summit Chair, Southeast Renewable Energy Summit, November 17-19, 2020
- Summit Chair, Southeast Renewable Energy Summit, October 28-30, 2019
- Moderator, Update on Virginia’s Renewable Energy Market, Webinar, September 12, 2019
- Moderator and Speaker, "What's New?," Southeast Renewable Energy Summit, November 7-9, 2018
- Speaker, Duke Energy’s Regulated Renewable Energy, August 28, 2018
- Interviewer, "Fireside Chat," Solar Power Finance Investment Summit, San Diego, CA, March 20-22, 2018
- Summit Chair, Southeast-Renewable-Energy-Summit, November 2 and 3, 2017
- Interviewer, "Fireside Chat," Solar Power Finance & Investment Summit, March 21-23, 2017
- Summit Chair, Southeast Renewable Energy Summit, November 3 and 4, 2016
- Moderator, "Timing & Macro Factors Impacting the Landscape," 7th Annual Utility Scale Solar Summit, September 9, 2014
- Panel Moderator, "Reducing the Cost of Offshore Grid, Transmission and Interconnection," 5th North American Offshore Wind Development and Finance Summit, January 25, 2012
- Panel Moderator, "The Carolinas and the South," Executive Forum: Regional Plans, Programs & Support for Offshore Wind, January 23, 2012
- Speaker, "Welcoming Remarks" and "What does ‘Smart from the Start' Mean for Virginia," Virginia Offshore Wind Conference, June 22, 2011
- Panel Moderator, "Hedge Fund, Clean Fund, Private Equity and Institutional Investor Perspectives on Financing North American Offshore Wind Projects," 4th North American Offshore Wind Development & Finance Summit, April 14, 2011
- Panel Moderator, "Establishing an Effective Supply and Logistics System for Offshore Wind Developments," 4th North American Offshore Wind Development & Finance Summit, April 13, 2011
- Speaker, "Doing Business in the UK and U.S.," 3rd Industrial Convention for Growth and Progress, June 9, 2010
- Speaker, "Trends and Strategies for Life Science Firms in a Bear Market," Virginia Bioscience Development Center, April 2, 2009
- Speaker, "What Happens in the Boardroom…Stays in the Boardroom," McGuireWoods SEC Practice Series, October 10, 2007