Areas of Practice
Industries
Bar Admissions
- Michigan, 1985
Education
University of Cincinnati, J.D.
Law Review, Co-Chair Student Articles Editor
University of Notre Dame, B.B.A. (Accounting)
Mike Bernard is a member of the Corporate Finance Group and his practice focuses primarily on business counseling and planning, with an emphasis on:
- Mergers and acquisitions (representing both buyer and sellers);
- Capital raising transactions (including private placement, private equity and seed and venture financings);
- Corporate formation matters (including shareholder control and buy-sell arrangements);
- Corporate governance (for profit and nonprofit entities); and
- Executive employment agreements and related matters.
Mr. Bernard has experience in a variety of industries, including automotive, manufacturing, services and technology.
Mr. Bernard is a former member of Dykema’s Executive Board and is the former leader of the Firm’s Corporate Finance Practice Group.
Experience
- AGM Automotive
- Sale of control to Trive Capital
- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AXL)
- Sale of aftermarket division of its subsidiary, Cloyes Gear & Products, Inc., to Hidden Harbor Capital Partners
- Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (Nasdaq: AACC)
- Equity recapitalization
- IPO
- Secondary public offering
- Avail Networks, Inc.
- Formation of Avail Networks (including private placement of securities) and purchase of business and assets from Cabletron Systems, Inc.
- Venture financing of Preferred Stock—Series A
- Venture financing of Preferred Stock—Series B
- Barton Malow Company
- Acquisition of L.C. Gaskins Construction Company, Inc. (Jacksonville, FL)
- Belfor USA Group, Inc.
- Purchase of assets and business of S-K General Contracting, Inc.
- Purchase of business and assets of a private company
- Purchase of business and assets of Mark of Excellence, Inc.
- Brembo, S.p.A
- Acquisition of Hayes-Lemmerz International's Automotive Brake Components Division
- Brunswick Corporation
- Purchase of business and assets of Valley Dynamo, LP
- Purchase of business and assets of Marine Innovations Warranty Corp.
- BullsEye Telecom, Inc.
- Venture financing of Preferred Stock
- C.F. Stinson, Inc.
- Significant investment by BV Investment Partners
- Creative Foam Corporation
- Significant investment by Industrial Opportunities Partners
-
Elmos USA, Inc.
- Purchase of business and assets of IC Sensors, Inc.
- Flamebar Investments, LLC
- Private equity investment by Pacific Growth Investors
- General Motors Company
- Acquisition of General Motors Strasbourg S.A.S. (Strasbourg, France)
- Global Fax, LLC
- Sale of business and assets to DealerTrack Digital Services, Inc., a subsidiary of DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRAK)
- HealthPlus of Michigan, Inc.
- Sale of Medicaid and MIChild businesses of HealthPlus of Michigan and its subsidiary, HealthPlus Partners, Inc., to Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Inc.
- Merger of HealthPlus of Michigan into Health Alliance Plan of Michigan
- Ideal Technologies Solutions U.S., Inc.
- Venture financing of Preferred Stock
- Italmatch Chemicals, SpA
- Acquisition of Detrex Corporation (including its subsidiary The Elco Corporation)
- Key Safety Systems, Inc.
- Sale of Hamlin, Inc. subsidiary to Littelfuse, Inc. (Nasdaq: LFUS)
- Koenig Fuel & Supply Co.
- Sale of business and assets to KP1 LLC
- Kurtz Gravel Company
- Sale of stock to U.S. Concrete, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMIX)
- MCE Technologies, Inc.
- Acquisition of Metelics Corporation through triangular merger
- Purchase of stock of Densitron Microwave Limited, Southend-on-Sea, England, from Densitron International
- Commercial line of credit and mezzanine investment of senior subordinated debt and warrants (in connection with acquisition of Densitron Microwave Limited)
- Merger of MCE Technologies, Inc. into Aeroflex Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARXX)
- Orchard Creek Capital, LLC
- Acquisition of Classic Die, Inc.
- Research Data Analysis, Inc.
- Sale of capital stock to Ipsos, S.A
- SequoiaNet.com, Inc.
- Spin out of business from Panurgy Corporation to Analysts International, Inc.
- Soaring Pine Capital Management
- Acquisition by Tikoo Solutions, LLC, a platform company of Soaring Pine Capital Growth Fund I, of Tech Sol, LLC (f/k/a Technology Solutions, Inc.)
- Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI)
- Sale of Pollak after market business to Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE: SAP)
- U.S. Manufacturing Corporation
- Sale of all capital stock (by merger) to Wynnchurch Capital
- Multiple purchases of business and assets of strategic product lines from Tier 1 automotive suppliers
- Wise Solutions, Inc.
- Merger of Wise Solutions, Inc. into Alteris, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRS)
Seminars & Speeches
- May 13, 2020
- November 17, 2016
News
- November 12, 2020
- November 5, 2018
- October 3, 2016
- September 23, 2016
- November 20, 2013
- Multi-Discipline Team Will Assist Energy Clients with Issues Associated with Extraction of Oil and Gas from ShaleSeptember 26, 2013
- Only One Lawyer in Practice Area, Designated Metropolitan Area Earns HonorSeptember 12, 2013
- Twenty-Three Other Dykema Lawyers Identified as Rising StarsSeptember 5, 2013
- Industry Leaders “Cautiously Optimistic” About Dealmaking Environment in 2013December 6, 2012
- November 7, 2012
- June 13, 2012
Alerts
- May 6, 2020
- April 13, 2020
- April 3, 2020
- January 29, 2018
- January 31, 2017
- August 24, 2016
- August 10, 2016
- The SEC Warns of Problematic Uses of Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresJune 9, 2016
- January 28, 2016
- Has true equity crowdfunding finally arrived?December 22, 2015
- clawback (n.) /ˈklô,bak/: to get back by strenuous or forceful meansJuly 27, 2015
- The SEC Expands Its Registration Exemption for Smaller CompaniesApril 16, 2015
- January 29, 2015
- September 24, 2014
- September 17, 2014
- April 9, 2014
- January 27, 2014
- April 17, 2013
- April 10, 2013
- January 29, 2013
- January 17, 2013
- September 18, 2012
- The SEC Proposes to Permit Both to Sell Securities PrivatelySeptember 5, 2012
- Stock exchanges and NASDAQ must adopt listing standards to implement changes.June 29, 2012
- April 6, 2012
- February 16, 2012
- January 2012
- September 14, 2011
- February 2011
- November 9, 2010
- July 16, 2010
Press Releases
- 18 Attorneys Earn “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 20, 2020
- Firm Ranked as One of the Top 10 in the Nation for Consumer Class ActionsApril 23, 2020
- September 18, 2019
- 18 Attorneys Earn “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 15, 2019
- April 25, 2019
- September 7, 2018
- 13 Attorneys Earn “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 15, 2018
- May 3, 2018
- September 5, 2017
- 10 Attorneys Receive “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 15, 2017
- May 26, 2017
- November 14, 2016
- September 1, 2016
- 14 Attorneys Receive “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 15, 2016
- May 27, 2016
- November 16, 2015
- September 8, 2015
- 12 Attorneys Receive “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 18, 2015
- May 28, 2015
- November 20, 2014
- September 23, 2014
- September 2, 2014
- Firm Receives 10 “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 18, 2014
- Nearly One in Four Dykema Practitioners Earn Distinction; Seven Merit “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 16, 2013
- June 6, 2013
- More Than One in Four Dykema Practitioners Earn DistinctionAugust 23, 2012
- Rankings Put Firm’s Attorneys on Top of the Pack in 25 PracticesOctober 27, 2011
- June 20, 2011
- September 9, 2010
- June 29, 2010
- June 25, 2009
Memberships & Involvement
World Services Group, Chairman, Board of Directors and Executive Committee; past Chair, North American Regional Council
Community/Civic Activities
- Detroit Regional Chamber, Executive Committee, Board of Directors and General Counsel; Detroit Regional Chamber PAC, Board of Directors
- Detroit Athletic Club, Board of Directors and Chair of Community Outreach Committee
- Downtown Detroit Partnership, Stakeholder Committee
- Loyola High School Detroit, Board of Directors (Vice Chair) and Executive Finance and Facilities Committees
- Elmwood Cemetery, Trustee and President
- International Samaritan, Board of Directors
- City of Grosse Pointe Employees' Retirement System, Board of Trustees, Chairman
- Neighborhood Club (Grosse Pointe), Board of Trustees, Executive and Finance Committees
- Leadership Detroit XXII, Graduate, June 2001
- Notre Dame Club of Detroit, Past President
Awards & Recognition
Named a Leading Corporate/M&A Lawyer by Chambers USA, 2005-2020
Named "Lawyer of the Year," Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Detroit, Michigan by The Best Lawyers in America®, 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2020
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2007-Present. Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC
Recognized in Michigan Super Lawyers® for Mergers & Acquisitions, Business/Corporate, Securities & Corporate Finance, 2006-2018
Named a Top Lawyer by dbusiness Magazine for Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Law, 2010-2018
Named a Michigan Leading Lawyer in the areas of Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions and Publicly Held Corporations Law by the Leading Lawyers Network, 2014-2017. Law Bulletin Publishing Company
Recipient of an AV® Preeminent™ Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
Notre Dame Club of Detroit, Award of the Year, 2003