MICHAEL J. DIBIASE serves as the Managing Partner of the Firm as well as the head of the Firm’s corporate and transactional practice, with an emphasis on representation of privately held businesses.  With more than 30 years of experience, Mr. DiBiase is familiar with the full range of legal issues that can arise in the course of owning and operating a business.

Mr. DiBiase has extensive experience in forming and capitalizing business entities such as corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships and general partnerships.  His services include advice as to the selection of the appropriate entity for the client’s proposed business and filing the appropriate forms with the applicable state and federal agencies.  For businesses seeking outside investment capital, Mr. DiBiase has expertise in the drafting of business plans and private offering memoranda, compliance with the various applicable federal and state securities laws, and negotiating investment terms and documentation with financing sources such as private equity groups, venture capitalists and institutional lenders.

Mr. DiBiase has drafted and negotiated commercial contracts for a broad range of business transactions.  These include software, technology and other intellectual property licenses, manufacturing agreements, distribution agreements, reseller agreements, shareholder agreements, confidentiality agreements, employment agreements and independent contractor agreements, among others.

Mr. DiBiase is well versed in California corporate, partnership and limited liability company law issues, and has experience advising boards of directors and management on various types of business transactions, mediating board and shareholder disputes, and providing analysis and advice regarding fiduciary duty issues.  As many privately held businesses are family owned, Mr. DiBiase, in conjunction with the Firm’s estate attorneys, offers advice and counseling in succession planning so that businesses can be passed from generation to generation in a tax efficient manner.

Mr. DiBiase has acted as counsel, for both purchasing companies and selling companies, in numerous acquisition transactions.  These include acquisitions by merger, consolidation, stock sale, asset sale, recapitalization, leveraged buyout and other types of acquisitions and dispositions involving privately held businesses.  He is extremely familiar with the myriad of business and regulatory issues that can arise in the purchase and sale of a privately held business, and in finding creative solutions so that the transaction can be consummated.

Mr. DiBiase attended the University of California at Los Angeles and graduated magna cum laude in 1975 with a degree in History.  He attended law school at the University of California at Los Angeles Law School and graduated in 1979 (class ranking 9/302, Order of the Coif).  He is a member of the California bar.