Michael E. Kohagen
Bio
Michael is a member of the firm’s M&A practice group. His practice is focused on transactional work, including mergers, stock and asset acquisitions, and corporate restructurings. He also assists clients—from emerging growth businesses to public companies and investment firms—with general corporate matters and commercial contract negotiation.
Michael has experience representing parties in a range of industries, including education, software and technology, biotech, transportation, construction, waste management, packaging, and financial companies.
Michael earned his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his undergraduate degree in Germanic Studies from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
- Listed among Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”: Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law (2024, 2025)
- Listed among North Carolina Super Lawyers: Mergers & Acquisitions – Rising Stars (2022-2025)
- American Bar Association, Business Law Section
- North Carolina Bar Association
- North Carolina State Bar
- Durham County Bar Association
- Represented publicly traded biotech company in a de-SPAC transaction, related to spinout of its subsidiary.
- Represented drug testing and background search provider in sale to a leading international compliance testing and background-search services firm.
- Represented wireless chip certification compliance firm in sale to a leading international compliance testing firm.
- Represented industrial coatings company in sale to a private equity-backed industrial coatings firm.
- Represented dermatology practice in sale to a private equity-backed healthcare practices conglomerate.
- Represented clinical research company in sale to a private equity-backed clinical research firm.
- Represented private equity-backed regional fast food chain in sale to a nationwide food services company.