Biography
Michael Wirvin is a member of the firm's Business Transactions Group and a member of its Managing Committee. His practice includes the representation of domestic and international clients in transactions involving mergers, asset and stock acquisitions, private placements, public offerings, commercial secured financings, joint ventures, and other financial transactions.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Michael has represented clients in domestic and cross-border merger, acquisition, and disposition transactions for over two decades. He regularly assists buyers and sellers in the negotiation of complex acquisition and financing transactions and transaction structure. Michael acts as a trusted advisor to his clients, providing guidance not only on the legal aspects of a deal, but also on the practical steps to getting it done. He counsels clients in various industries, including food and beverage, software and technology, electrical distribution, shipping and warehouse logistics, manufacturing, consumer goods, and automotive.
International
Michael frequently represents clients in Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries in connection with cross-border transactions with U.S. companies and with the establishment of U.S. operations. His clients include large multinationals, public companies, major banks, closely-held Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) companies, and provincial corporations. Michael regularly speaks and presents to foreign clients and professional groups on matters relating to doing business in the U.S., seeking and obtaining U.S. venture and private equity investment, accessing U.S. financial markets, and negotiating with U.S. buyers or sellers on cross-border M&A transactions. Before joining Robinson+Cole, he practiced corporate law in Canada.
Venture Capital and Equity Finance
Michael has significant experience working with start-up and emerging companies at all stages and in a variety of industry sectors, and he regularly advises private equity and venture capital clients at both the fund and portfolio company levels. He provides assistance with growth equity and convertible debt financings, investment purchase agreements, convertible note and warrant transactions, structured capital transactions, and equity/debt recapitalizations. He also counsels fund clients and sponsors on a wide range of ordinary-course as well as extraordinary corporate matters, including succession planning, key person transitions, co-investment arrangements and corporate governance matters.
Commercial and Corporate Finance
Michael assists clients with secured and unsecured bank, mezzanine, and other senior and subordinate lending. He represents borrowers, banks, funds, and other lenders, and counsels clients on how to structure, negotiate, and document both ordinary course loans as well as more complex financing transactions. He has significant experience representing Canadian banks with respect to international loan transactions involving security in multiple international jurisdictions. He also regularly represents lenders in structuring loan facilities secured by alternative collateral such as capital call rights, management and advisory fees, guarantee trusts and aircraft.
Michael has been listed in Massachusetts Super Lawyers® in the area of Mergers & Acquisitions Law since 2010 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.).