Michael C. Phillips
Partner
Michael helps clients succeed and achieve their business and personal goals and dreams. He invests the time and energy to understand their businesses and objectives, and he works with them to find a path forward. In doing so, Michael aims to be a value-add to their business rather than a cost-center. As outside counsel to public and private companies, from startups and emerging to middle-market, he works with clients to fashion a strategy that allows the client to succeed with all attendant risks understood.
Michael's clients are private companies that succeed in part through his advice and service in forming the entity, acquiring technology through acquisitions and licenses, raising funds from investors, advising them on governance and general business issues, and leading them through the mergers-and-acquisitions process. Michael has represented investors in emerging biotech and other technology companies.
Practice Highlights
Mergers and acquisitions
Equity financing
Formation, technology, licensing, and general counsel work
Issuer Financings
2017 issuer financings
- CloudEngage, Inc. – Series A-1 financing
- Garden Bar, LLC – convertible note financing
- IOTAS, Inc. – Series A financing
- Outdoor Project, Inc. – Series A financing
- ObstetRx, Inc. – convertible note financing
- PetCure Oncology. LLC – convertible note financings
- SkinCure Oncology, LLC – convertible note financings
- RevMedx, Inc. – preferred stock financing
- Rigado, Inc. – Series Seed financing
2016 issuer financings
- Handful, Inc. – convertible note financing
- Portland Product Werks, LLC – preferred units financing
- Urology Diagnostics, Inc. – convertible note financing
- Outdoor Project, LLC – preferred units financing
Investor Financings
Rifton Capital LLC – debt and equity financings
Kaiser Permanente Ventures, LLC/The Permanente Federation, LLC
Mergers & Acquisitions
Ajinomoto North America Inc.
Alpha-Tec Systems Inc.
PBS Engineering & Environmental
SkinCure Oncology, LLC
Ilwaco Holdings, LLC
Joint Ventures
Credo Investments, LLC
Portland Product Werks, LLC
Admitted to Practice
- Oregon, 1982
- Washington, 2005
Education
- J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School, 1982
- B.A., Economics, Political Science, University of Michigan, 1978, cum laude
Memberships & Affiliations
- Director, Soul River Inc., 2017-present
- Board Member, Portland Business Alliance, 2013-present
- General Counsel, 1% for the Planet, 2013-present
- Director, Social Venture Partners, 2013-2016
- General Counsel, The Conservation Alliance, 2011-present
- Member, Outdoor Industry Association, 2011-present
- General Counsel, Oregon Bioscience Association, 2010-present
- Mergers & Acquisitions Committee; Securities Regulation Committee – American Bar Association, 2008-present
- General Counsel, 1995-present; Director, 2008-2014 – Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Oregon & Southwest Washington Affiliate
- Director, 2003-2011; Chairman of the Board, 2008-2009 – Software Association of Oregon
- Director and Past President, Portland'5 Centers for the Arts Foundation, 2005-2016
Professional Recognition
- Named one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Corporate/M&A (Oregon), 2008-2024
- Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Securities Law by Best Lawyers, 2010-present; in Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2016-present
- Selected to "Oregon Super Lawyers," Thomson Reuters, 2006-2008, 2010-2018