Mike is Vice-Chair of the Firm and co-head of Young Conaway’s Portfolio Company Management Group. Drawing upon almost 30 years of restructuring experience, Mike advises companies in distress to develop strategies that provide both maximum value and deal certainty. Mike’s experience includes the representation of more than 130 companies in distress, including more than 60 matters as lead counsel.

Mike specializes in providing strategic direction to special committees, boards of directors, portfolio companies, and private equity funds regarding governance and management issues in the context of distress and conflicted processes and transactions. Writing and speaking frequently on developments relating to distressed governance, Mike keeps his finger on the pulse of applicable precedent to provide clients with state-of-the-law advice.

An active member of Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (“LCLD” - www.lcld.com), Mike works extensively with leadership teams of LCLD law firms based in Delaware and members of the bench and bar to make meaningful and transformational impacts upon the Delaware legal community by ensuring that opportunities are equitable and available for all.

Pro Bono:

In addition to his “billable” work, Mike is committed to making a difference in the lives of those in need.

• Over the last 20 years, Mike has represented more than 20 children as a guardian ad litem in the Delaware Family Court (https://courts.delaware.gov/childadvocate/).
• Mike currently serves on the board of Wine to Water, an international non-profit committed to supporting dignity for all through the power of clean water (www.wtw.org).
• Mike currently serves on the board of Action for Delaware’s Children, a voice for Delaware’s children, especially those living in poverty (www.actionfordelawareschildren.org).
• Mike is a member of the inaugural Advisory Board of the Wilmington University School of Law, which sat its first class in August 2023 (https://law.wilmu.edu).

Recognitions:

Since 2006, clients and colleagues interviewed by Chambers USA have characterized Mike as a "terrific strategist," a "bright lawyer and an excellent negotiator" possessing “incredible business sense,” “a great negotiator and unflappable in court,” and a “deal oriented” leader with "integrity, good people skills, and a common sense approach.”  In addition, Mike has been consistently recognized as a top restructuring lawyer by The Best Lawyers in America®, The Deal®, Delaware Super Lawyers ®, IFLR1000 ®, Corporate Counsel ®, and Who’s Who Legal (Insolvency & Restructuring).