Michael E. Williams

Mike Williams serves as Chair of the firm's Business, Acquisitions, and Securities Practice. He devotes his practice primarily to general corporate law, antitrust, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and financial services matters. Mr. Williams has participated in mergers and acquisitions of privately and publicly-held companies, and has represented companies with respect to complex corporate financial issues. He has represented companies and individuals in asset acquisitions, stock purchase transactions, raising equity, teaming arrangements and other forms of joint ventures and collaborations. He has also advised clients with respect to a variety of antitrust matters, including structuring global distribution arrangements, price fixing, collusion and monopoly issues.  He has worked with global companies in supply chain related issues. Mr. Williams has represented various clients before state and federal regulatory bodies, including the bank regulatory agencies for bank mergers and reorganizations, as well as the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission concerning antitrust matters. His industry experience includes aerospace, automotive, advanced manufacturing, construction, financial services, professional services, health care, and technology sectors.

Mr. Williams served as the firm's Managing Partner from 1991 - 2014.

Representative Experience

• Represented the City of Indianapolis for the privatization of the Naval Air Warfare Center, one of the most successful and largest in-place privatizations of former military facilities, resulting in the preservation of thousands of jobs for Indianapolis  
• Represented global manufacturing organization in complete redesign and restructuring of worldwide distribution network
• Represented Rolls-Royce Corporation in negotiating lease and incentives package (approximately $22 Million in incentives) for relocation to Indianapolis Meridian Center
• Represented major manufacturing company in defending substantial antitrust claims resulting in summary judgment in favor of client
• Counseled numerous regional, national, and global companies concerning all areas of antitrust compliance such as monopolistic conduct, price fixing, exclusive dealing and distributorships, tying claims, vertical restraints and collaborations among competitors
• Represented pipeline construction company with growth and acquisition strategies
• Represented numerous organizations in mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures
• Represented widely-held corporation in a going-private transaction and conversion to Subchapter S corporation
• Represented companies in numerous joint ventures involving shared services, product development, distribution and manufacturing responsibilities
• Represented de-novo financial services company in initial public offering of securities  
• Represented global manufacturing organization in successfully avoiding antitrust claims before federal regulatory agencies
• Represented numerous financial services companies in mergers, acquisitions and regulatory matters before state and federal agencies
• Represented widely-held corporation in defeating hostile takeover effort
• Represented SEC reporting companies in merger, acquisition and reporting matters
• Represented software service and development company in structuring distribution network
• Represented widely-held company in restructuring organization to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan company
• Represented widely-held company in tender offer for its shares

Professional Associations

• Board of Directors (Chair), Develop Indy 
• Board of Directors, Indiana Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Indiana Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council 
• Member, Indiana Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee 
• Member, Indiana Chamber of Commerce Mid-Market Steering Committee 
• Advisory Director, Ball State University - Miller College of Business
• Member, Ball State University CEO Organization
• Member - Executive Committee and Past President, Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis 
• Member, Antitrust Section of American Bar Association
• Member, Corporate Advisory Council for the Indiana Pacers 
• Past Executive Committee Member, Indy Motor Sports Initiative
• Past Director, Indianapolis Economic Development Corporation
• Past Director, Corporate Community Council 
• Past Director, Prevent Child Abuse Indiana 
• Past Director, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee
• Various corporate advisory boards and directorships

Awards & Recognitions

• Sagamore of the Wabash, State of Indiana
• Indiana Super Lawyers, 2004, 2006-2022
• Who's Who in Banking in Indiana, Indianapolis Business Journal
• "Forty Under 40," Indianapolis Business Journal
• Who's Who in the Law in Indianapolis, Indianapolis Business Journal

Seminars & Presentations

• "Privatization of Military Bases," American Bar Association
• Frequent speaker at trade associations and corporate training programs on issues of antitrust compliance, pricing and distribution strategies
• Frequent speaker at trade association and corporate training programs on matters of merger and acquisition strategies and corporate transactions and governance

Publications

• Co-Author, "Three Minute Update - Protecting Your Business: Piercing the Corporate Veil," July 28, 2022
• Author, "Anticompetitive Mergers Act of 2022," April 8, 2022

Education

• J.D., Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1982
• summa cum laude, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 1979
  Outstanding Graduate -  Finance

Bar & Court Admissions

• Indiana, 1982

Certifications

• Legal Lean Sigma® White Belt

Practices

• Business Services
• Antitrust and Competition Law
• Privately and Closely-Held Businesses
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Securities
• Corporate Finance
• Corporate Governance
• Public Utilities
• Aerospace

Industries

• Financial Services