Hi, my name is
Mick
I am an
Entrepreneur’s
Entrepreneurial
Lawyer
![PHoto MM PHoto MM](https://i0.wp.com/alliantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PHoto-MM.jpeg?resize=628%2C372&ssl=1)
I’m a highly experienced corporate lawyer assisting entrepreneurs realize their dream.
Seeing an idea nurtured over time by true visionaries, who devote and risk everything they’ve got over many years, blossom into a successful enterprise never gets old. Truly, it’s a blast to help founders get to a successful closing, whether it is for a round of financing, an acquisition or the IPO. It’s something else to experience second-hand the founders’ pure joy and elation from seeing their vision and hard work finally validated and rewarded. That’s why I do what I do.
What Mick brings to the party
Street Cred
- Former Partner of a 300-attorney law firm in New York
- Nearly 30 years of high-level experience at big law firms
- Worked on deals worth well over $10 billion in the aggregate, helping a countless number of start-ups and founders realize their goals
- Served as Chairman of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group and the Emerging Business Practice Group, as well as Co-Chair of the Legal Opinion Committee
- Acted as “outside” General Counsel to, and served on the Board of Directors of multiple start-up companies
Solution-Driven Advisor
Mick offers:
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a business-minded, pragmatic and consensus-building approach focusing on a risk-benefit analysis (as opposed to the typical “OMG, sky is falling” reaction on every little issue)
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belief that it is your company and it’s ultimately your decision, so long as you are making a fully informed (and lawful) decision
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recognition that risk is inherent in starting, growing and exiting a company, and cannot be eliminated, only mitigated
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a level-playing field, with a caliber of representation that matches what venture capitalists and large acquiring companies bring to the table
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efficiency and speed that only experience and knowledge can generate
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breadth and depth of uniquely diverse practice to cover from A to Z for start-ups
Trusted Advisor
Mick is a lawyer who:
- listens to you carefully and understands your business, goals, personal situation and fears
- happily explains complex concepts to you in plain English
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is very responsive to every communication from you or opposing counsel
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gets along with just about any opposing counsel, which faciliates a collaborative, productive deal environment
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is even-keeled and unflappable, but loves to express (faux) outrage where the situation calls for it
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genuinely cares about you and your company, and will act with uncompromising integrity and ethics (even if it’s against your or his financial interest)
- recognizes that the amount of legal fees matter to you . . . a lot
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offers a risk-free fee arrangement for his clients that demonstrates his belief in your prospects and mission
Education
New York University School of Law, JD 1995
Trinity College, BA 1992
Word on the Street
![Would recommend strongly “Mick is an excellent M&A attorney who is a pleasure to work with. I have worked with Mick on several acquisitions that my company was pursuing and found him to be extremely competent, creative, efficient, and a pleasure to work with. I would recommend Mick strongly.” ~ Eamonn Hobbs, CEO, AngioDynamics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANGO)](https://i0.wp.com/alliantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EamonnHobbs.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
Would recommend strongly
![An integral business advisor “I had the distinct pleasure of working with Mick for several years during my company's start-up phase. He was an integral business advisor, connecting us with sources of capital, community resources, and local thought-leaders. Mick consistently took the time to understand our business, was an effective listener, and brought a distinctly entrepreneurial approach to working with us. I would highly recommend Mick” ~ Patrick Conway, CEO, BioAxxis Development Corporation](https://i0.wp.com/alliantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PatrickConway.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
An integral business advisor
![One of the best "Having worked on M&A transactions with lawyers from some of the top law firms in the country, Mick stands out as one of the best. Mick’s excellent communication skills, legal expertise and sense of humor allowed him to work well with our senior management team to ensure that the transaction was a success!" ~ Katherine Sheehan, General Counsel, Intermagnetic General Corporation (Nasdaq: IMGC); Mayor of Albany, NY (2014-)](https://i0.wp.com/alliantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/KatherineSheehan.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
One of the best
![A client centric attorney “Mick is a client centric attorney. Steep with SEC experience, he helped Sensis Corporation in the structuring of several deals in anticipation of a public offering. Mick deftly applies sound legal opinions to knotty business problems” ~ Larry Harris, Senior VP and Chief Financial Officer, Sensis Corp.](https://i0.wp.com/alliantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/LarryHarris.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
A client centric attorney
![A sensible, risk-appropriate approach "Mick is awesome! He's a real person, with an endearing sense of humour and a human approach to law. What I truly value most is his ability to explain things in plain English, offering reasoned advice about my options. While other lawyers made molehills into mountains, he has a sensible, risk-appropriate approach, underpinned by extensive experience and expertise." ~ Robin Donaldson, Founder and CTO, Ecree and Entrepreneur](https://i0.wp.com/alliantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Robin.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
A sensible, risk-appropriate approach
![Embodiment of a personal service “How often it happens that you like your attorney? Well, work with Mick and you will. Personality, competence, effectiveness, creativity - Mick has all these to a remarkable degree. He is an embodiment of a PERSONAL service. Very highly recommended.” ~ Marek Podgorny, CEO, CollabWorx, Inc.](https://i0.wp.com/alliantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MarekPodgorny.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
Embodiment of a personal service
![Talent to bring clarity and confidence “Where many attorneys seek to impress you with their grasp of legal matters, leaving the client more confused than anything, Mick has a talent for bringing clarity to the situation and providing confidence to his clients. Not to mention he's funny as hell too!!” ~ David Oddy, President, Odyssey Software, LLC](https://i0.wp.com/alliantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/DavidOddy.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
Talent to bring clarity and confidence
![Responsive and genuine concern for us "Mick has been instrumental in the structural development of our company. In addition to general legal advice, he has been able to provide the specialized expertise that is essential to our arena of business. We are impressed with his responsiveness and genuine concern for our best interest.” - M. Stevenson, CEO, Strategy Aero Group, Inc.](https://i0.wp.com/alliantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MStevenson.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1)
Responsive and genuine concern for us
Makes complex issues understandable
Sees around corners
Mad Skills
The Process
1. Getting Started
Interested in getting this process started? Please download, fill out and submit the Intake Form. Mick gets asked this a lot, but all attorneys are bound by a strict requirement for confidentiality under the professional code of ethics (yes, there is such a thing for lawyers, believe or not), whether you ultimately engage us or not. Anything you disclose during our initial consultation is protected. As a result, lawyers typically do not sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before the initial consultation (or any time thereafter). However, if you really feel paranoid, Mick will make an exception for you.
2. Wait (a little)
Usually, we can get back to you in one to two weeks, often with a follow up request for information. We have to evaluate whether your company has a good prospect, as well as whether you and your team are the type of people we would enjoy working with. Because of a fee arrangement that is extremely risky to us, as well as our other time commitments, we cannot take on most of the opportunities presented to me.
3. Meet and Greet
4. Decision day
If we mutually decide that Mick’s representation of your company makes sense, you will need to sign an engagement letter with Mick and drop a small retainer, if that’s what you decide.
5. Let’s get this party started
If all go well, we sing kumbaya and start kicking butt together.
The Fees
The Basic Fee arrangement usually consists of the following:
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a modest cash retainer to demonstrate your seriousness and commitment to us (this can be waived at our discretion)
- legal fees accrued at a substantial discount off the regular hourly billable rate (which is already a fraction of what large law firms charge for an attorney of comparable experience and skill level)
- All fees are deferred until the next successful round of fund raising of any kind. The entire outstanding amount will be paid out of the closing proceeds. All accrued but unpaid fees will be subject to interest charge from the date of invoice. If your company fails, the founders will have no personal liability for the fees
- In consideration of the fee discount, deferred payment and financial risk, you will grant a resaonable equity award under an equity incentive plan, the amount to be determined by mutual agreement
- upon a successful round, exit by an acquisition or the IPO, in addition to our regular fees, we may receive a reasonable success fee and/or premium to be negotiated and mutually acceptable ahead of time
- the specific deal between us will be set forth in the engagement letter in great detail, and all arrangement must comply with all applicable ethical rules. No exceptions.