Michael J. Meaney

Practice Focus

• Business Counseling
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Search Funds
• Transactions

Professional Experience

Education

• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude (1977)
• Georgetown University, A.B., cum laude (1974)

State Admissions

• Florida
• Ohio

Professional Associations

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association, Securities Law Section (former Council Member)
• American Bar Association, Business Law Section
• National Association of Professional Employment Organizations 

Cases / Matters

• Representation of a private equity fund in its acquisition of a St. Paul, Minnesota based dominant regional provider of recycling services and end-of-life solutions for computers and electronic equipment. 
• Representation of a private equity fund in its acquisition of a Kansas City based medical products company. 
• Representation of a private equity fund in its acquisition of a Pennsylvania based company in the business of issuing service contracts on pre-owned vehicles. 
• Representation of a private equity fund in the purchase of an Oklahoma-based professional employer organization. 
• Representation of a private equity fund in four separate transactions involving the sale of portfolio companies, in each case for a purchase price of over $50 million. 
• Representation of an investment management firm in the sale of its stock to a bank holding company. 
• Representation of a private equity fund in its acquisition of a specialty pipe threading business serving the oil industry in the rocky mountain states.
• Representation of a publicly held diversified manufacturer with respect to (i) several merger and acquisition transactions (one of which involved a purchase price of over $100 million) and (ii) numerous commercial agreements. 
• Representation of an investment fund with respect to the acquisition of an industrial company in the Midwest for a purchase price in excess of $100 million. 
• Representation of an investor group in the sale of an industrial products distribution business to a New York Stock Exchange listed company. 
• Representation of a bearings manufacturer in a $55 million sale to a New York Stock Exchange listed company. 
• Representation of the owner of a local wireless personal communication service (PCS) for a major metropolitan area in the sale of the business to a private equity firm. 
• Representation of an investor group in the sale of an industrial products distribution business to a private equity fund.
• Representation of an entrepreneur in the sale of his manufacturing business to a portfolio company of a private equity firm for over $35 million, including a significant ongoing stake in the combined company. 
• Representation of the purchaser in a $16 million acquisition of an industrial products distribution business with eleven facilities located in six states. 
• Representation of an entrepreneur in the sale of his distribution business to a private equity firm for over $10 million, including a significant ongoing stake in the company. 
• Representation of an Ohio-based logistics services provider in its merger with a California-based strategic acquirer for consideration of over $10 million.

Publications

• “Legal Aspects of the Sale of a PEO,” PEO Insider Magazine, December 2008/ January 2009 and February 2009 issues.
• “Before You Sell,” Smart Business Cleveland, September 2008.
• “Contract Issues in Asset and Stock Acquisition Agreements: Warranties, Indemnities, Baskets, Caps, Materiality and Knowledge,” Corporate Counsel’s Guide to Acquisitions and Divestitures, October 2001.

Presentations

• “Search Funds,” The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, March 2009 & April 2010.
• “Search Fund Forum,” Harvard Business School, March 2009 & April 2010.
• “Search Funds,” Stanford University Graduate School of Business, February 2008 Entrepreneurship Conference.
• “Developments in Corporate Governance,” 12th Annual Bowne SEC Updates Seminar, November 2008.
• “Contract Issues and Asset and Stock Acquisition Agreements,” Cleveland Bar Association Seminar “Corporation Transactions – 2001,” May 2001.

Awards and Honors

• AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Community Activities

• President of 50-member homeowners’ association
• Officer on two local Assessment Equalization Boards