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Michael Diz

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 

Michael Diz is Co-Chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group and a member of the Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Private Equity and Corporate Governance Groups. Mr. Diz has a broad-based transactional practice advising multinational companies, special committees and private equity firms in structuring and negotiating mergers and acquisitions and other corporate matters.

He also counsels corporations and their directors on corporate governance and fiduciary duty matters. Mr. Diz is ranked as a leading M&A lawyer by Chambers USA (2018), where clients say “he understands what we are trying to accomplish because he understands our business. He is very effective in helping us achieve our goals.”

He is recommended for M&A, private equity buyouts, and telecoms and broadcast by The Legal 500 US (2018), where clients praise his “strong commercial skills in addition to legal acumen.” Mr. Diz is also ranked as a leading lawyer by IFLR1000 (2019) for M&A and private equity. Law360 recognized him as a telecom “Law360 MVP” in 2015. Mr. Diz was selected as a 2014 “Rising Star” by the New York Law Journal and was named a “Rising Star” in M&A by Law360 (2014), awarded to ten M&A lawyers under the age of 40.

Mr. Diz joined the firm in 2004. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004. He received his B.A., with highest distinction, from the University of Virginia in 1999. He serves on the Legal Advisory Board of the Partnership for New York City’s Innovation Council.

Experience:

  • Technology, Media & Telecommunications
    • GoDaddy in its acquisition of Sellbrite, a management platform that enables brands & retailers to list and sell products effortlessly across multiple online sales channels and gain centralized control over inventory and orders.
    • Time Inc. in its $2.8 billion sale to Meredith.
    • Verizon Communications in its $3.1 billion acquisition of Straight Path Communications, a leading wireless spectrum holder.
    • Evercore as financial advisor to CSRA in its $9.6 billion sale to General Dynamics.
    • Morgan Stanley as financial advisor to Consolidated Communications Holdings in its $1.5 billion acquisition of FairPoint Communications, a business and broadband communications provider.
    • Verizon Communications in its acquisition of Telogis, a provider of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology and services, specifically in the connected vehicle and mobile enterprise management sectors.
    • Providence Equity Partners in its acquisition from General Motors and Ford of a majority stake in OEConnection, the established market leader in cloud-based technology solutions that facilitate the efficient location, sale, distribution and dynamic pricing of automotive parts.
    • Sequoia Capital as a shareholder of Qualtrics International in Qualtric’s $8 billion sale to SAP.
    • Verizon Communications in its $1.8 billion acquisition of XO Communications’ fiber-optic network business.
    • The Dolan family, controlling stockholders of Cablevision Systems Corporation, in Cablevision’s $17.7 billion sale to Altice.
    • Evercore Group as financial advisor to Rovi Corporation in its $1.1 billion acquisition of TiVo.
    • J.P. Morgan Securities as financial advisor to AMD in its $436 million joint venture with Nantong Fujitsu Microelectronics.
    • Providence Equity Partners and SRA in the merger of SRA with the government services unit of CSC, creating the largest pure-play IT services provider serving the U.S. government sector.
    • J.P. Morgan Securities as financial advisor to OmniVision Technologies in its $1.9 billion sale to a consortium composed of Hua Capital Management, CITIC Capital, and GoldStone Investment.
    • Verizon Communications in the $10.54 billion sale of its local wireline operations in California, Florida and Texas to Frontier Communications.
    • The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Dell in the $24.9 billion sale of Dell to an investor group including Michael Dell and Silver Lake.
    • Beijing Galloping Horse Film and Galloping Horse America in their acquisition of the visual effects and other assets of Digital Domain Productions in a Section 363 sale under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
    • Verizon Wireless in its $3.6 billion acquisition of Advanced Wireless Services spectrum licenses.
    • Verizon Wireless in its $2.67 billion acquisition of Rural Cellular.
    • Verizon Wireless in its acquisition of Alltel Corporation, a transaction valued at $28.1 billion.
    • Verizon Wireless in its $2.35 billion sale of wireless assets to AT&T and $240 million acquisition of wireless assets from AT&T.
    • Oxygen Media in its $925 million acquisition by NBC Universal.
    • General Electric in the repurchase of Vivendi’s stock of NBC Universal for $5.8 billion along with advice to NBC Universal on certain corporate matters related to the formation of the NBC Universal – Comcast joint venture valued at $37.5 billion.
    • Discovery Communications in its $1.9 billion acquisition from Cox Communications of a 25% interest in Discovery for cash and certain assets, including the Travel Channel.
    • The Dolan family in its $22 billion effort to take Cablevision private.
    • Verizon Communications in the $2.72 billion spin-off and merger of Verizon’s local exchange business in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont with Fairpoint Communications.
  • Industrials:
    • Dealer Tire in a significant investment by Bain Capital Private Equity.
    • Dealer Tire in its significant investment in SimpleTire.
    • Solenis, a Clayton, Dubilier & Rice portfolio company, in its combination with BASF’s paper and water chemicals business.
    • International Paper in the $1.8 billion combination of its North America Consumer Packaging business with Graphic Packaging.
    • Dealer Tire in its sale of the assets of Dealer Tire Canada to Groupe Touchette.
    • Dover Corporation in its $780 million acquisition of Wayne Fueling Systems from Riverstone Holdings.
    • International Paper in its $2.2 billion acquisition of Weyerhaeuser’s pulp business.
    • Truck-Lite, a Kelso & Company portfolio company, in its sale to Koch Equity Development and BDT Capital Partners.
    • Roofing Supply Group, a Clayton, Dubilier & Rice portfolio company, in its $1.1 billion sale to Beacon Roofing Supply.
    • Kelso & Company in its acquisition of US LBM Holdings, a building products distributor, from BlackEagle Partners.
    • Solenis, a Clayton, Dubilier & Rice portfolio company, in its acquisition of Clearwater Specialties, a specialty chemical company.
    • Dealer Tire in its receipt of a significant investment by Lindsay Goldberg and redemption of TA Associates’ ownership interests.
    • Chemtura in the $1 billion sale of its agrochemicals business, Chemtura AgroSolutions.
    • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in its $1.8 billion acquisition of Ashland Water Technologies.
    • International Paper in the combination of its xpedx distribution solutions business with Unisource in a “Reverse Morris Trust” transaction.
    • Reynolds Group in its $6 billion acquisition of Pactiv, a NYSE-listed global manufacturer and supplier of consumer food and beverage packaging and storage products.
    • International Paper in its $470 million sale of three containerboard mills.
    • International Paper in its $4.3 billion acquisition of Temple-Inland.
    • BWAY Holding Company in its $915 million sale to Madison Dearborn Partners.
    • Ripplewood and Oak Hill Capital in the financings for the $3.4 billion acquisition of RSC Equipment Rental.
  • Consumer
    • Hojeij Branded Foods in its $330 million sale to Lagardère Travel Retail.
    • Morgan Stanley Investment Management in its acquisition of Manna Pro, a leading producer of nutritional supplements and other animal products, from The Carlyle Group.
    • Eagle Foods, a Kelso & Company portfolio company, in its acquisition of Popcorn, Indiana, a maker of ready-to-eat popcorn products.
    • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in its $415 million acquisition of High Ridge Brands, the largest North American consolidation platform focused on acquiring orphaned personal care brands, from Brynwood Partners.
    • Kelso & Company in its acquisition of the J.M. Smucker Company’s U.S. canned milk brands and operations.
    • Kelso & Company in its acquisition of Augusta Sportswear, a manufacturer of sports team uniforms.
    • DLI Holding Corp, the parent of Del Laboratories, a Kelso & Company portfolio company, in its acquisition by Coty, a leading global beauty and fragrance company.
    • Energy Brands, also known as Glacéau, the maker of VitaminWater, in its $4.1 billion acquisition by The Coca-Cola Company.
    • Energy Brands, also known as Glacéau, the maker of VitaminWater, in its $680 million sale of a 30% stake in the company to Tata Tea, the world’s second-largest branded tea company.
    • Morgan Stanley as financial advisor to World Kitchen, a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of houseware products, in its $566 million sale to GP Investments Acquisition Corp.
  • Business Services
    • CoAdvantage, a portfolio company of Morgan Stanley Private Equity, in its acquisition of Progressive Employer Management Company.
    • Kelso & Company in its investment in Oasis Outsourcing, the nation’s largest privately held professional employer organization.
    • Altegrity and Providence Equity Partners in their $1.13 billion acquisition of Kroll from Marsh & McLennan.
  • Healthcare
    • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in the acquisition of Carestream Dental, the digital dental business of Carestream Health.
    • Noven Pharmaceuticals in the sale of its Brisdelle and Pexeva product lines to Sebela International.
    • Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical, a leading transdermal patch manufacturer listed on the Tokyo stock exchange, in its $428 million acquisition of Nasdaq-listed Noven Pharmaceuticals via an all-cash tender offer.

Education:

  • University of Virginia School of Law, 2004, J.D.
  • University of Virginia, 1999, B.A.

Bar Admissions:

  • New York

Cost

Rate : $$$

What types of cases Attorney Michael Diz & Debevoise & Plimpton LLP  can handle?
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP  can handle cases related to laws concerning Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Telecommunications. We manually verify each attorney’s practice areas before approving their profiles and reviews on our website.
Where is Debevoise & Plimpton LLP  located?
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP  is located at 919 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022, USA. You can reach out to Debevoise & Plimpton LLP  using their phone line 212 909 6926. You can also check their website debevoise.com or email them at madiz@debevoise.com.
How much would it cost to hire Debevoise & Plimpton LLP ?
Michael Diz lawyer charges are specific to each case. However, they work with contingency fees and its ranges from $$ to $$$. They also provide free consultation [and no obligation quotes] if you are interested to hire.
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