The cannabis industry presents unprecedented opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs. Yet, entities looking to engage in this emerging industry face daunting levels of legal complexity and uncertainty. Moreover, state and local governments are constantly tasked with regulating an ever-evolving industry. Dykema's Cannabis Law Blog discusses important cannabis-related legal developments, reviews the practical implications of those developments, and provides valuable insight for anyone...
Practice Expertise
- Corporate Finance
- Corporate Governance
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity, Venture Capital & Mezzanine ...
Areas of Practice
- Corporate Finance
- Corporate Governance
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity, Venture Capital & Mezzanine ...
- Business Services
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mergers & Acquisitions Annual Survey
- Private Equity, Venture Capital & ...
- Securities View More
WSG Practice Industries
- Corporate & Business
- Financial Services
- Taxation
- Crossborder Trade & Investment
- Dispute Resolution View More
WSG Leadership
- WSG Board of Directors - Chair Emeritus 2020-2021
- WSG Board of Directors - Chair 2019-2020
- WSG Board of Directors - Chair Elect 2018-2019
- WSG Board of Directors - Director 2014-2017
- WSG Regional Council - Member 2014-2017
- Strategic Planning Committee 2020 - Group Leader
- DealMaker Group - Member
- Automotive Group - Member
- Mergers & Acquisitions Group - Member
- Private Equity Group - Member View More
Profile
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, dental service organizations, 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.
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)
Areas of Practice
- Corporate Finance
- Corporate Governance
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity, Venture Capital & Mezzanine Finance
- Business Services
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mergers & Acquisitions Annual Survey
- Private Equity, Venture Capital & Mezzanine Finance
- Securities
Professional Career
Notre Dame Club of Detroit, Award of the Year, 2003
Recognized in Michigan Super Lawyers for Mergers & Acquisitions, Business/Corporate, Securities & Corporate Finance, 2006-2014
Named a Leading Corporate/M&A Lawyer by Chambers USA, 2005-2014
Named Detroit "Lawyer of the Year" for Mergers & Acquisitions Law by Best Lawyers 2014
Recognized in The Best Lawyers of America, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2007-2015.
Named a Top Lawyer by dbusiness Magazine for Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Law, 2010-2014
Recipient of an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Associations
World Services Group, Board of Directors and past Chair, North American Regional Council
Articles
Federal Reserve Updates and Expands Loan Options of Main Street Lending Program
By J. Michael Bernard |May 2020Federal Reserve Announces New Main Street Lending Programs
By J. Michael Bernard |April 2020CARES Act Offers Liquidity to Eligible Businesses and Mid-Sized Companies (500 - 10,000 employees)
By J. Michael Bernard |April 2020
Blogs
NextGen Financial Services Report
NextGen Financial Services Report is published by the Financial Industry Group at Dykema. The Financial Services Industry has gone through a tremendous amount of regulatory and operational IT change in recent years, and with a new presidential administration more changes and developments are on the way. Fast-paced changes are also being driven by rapid technology developments, big data, mobile banking/payments, privacy and data security, and social media technologies affecting banks and credit...
The Firewall
The Firewall keeps you up to date on the hottest legal topics in the ever-changing world of data security and privacy. As information security becomes a critical facet of all businesses and industries and the target of many regulators, it is important to stay apprised of new legal developments. The Firewall provides insightful legal analysis of the emerging issues in data privacy and cybersecurity law to help businesses stay ahead of the curve.
Meet our Firms and Professionals
WSG’s member firms include legal, investment banking and accounting experts across industries and on a global scale. We invite you to meet our member firms and professionals.