Bio

Michael Conza has 30 years of practice in representing privately held and publicly traded companies, investment banks, and private equity and venture capital firms. His practice primarily targets the representation of emerging growth companies, with strong emphasis on software and other technology-based companies including cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Mike works with companies throughout their entire lifecycle including formation, financing, growth, and exit. He is the former co-leader of the firm’s emerging companies and venture capital practice. In addition, Mike concentrates in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, joint ventures, and general corporate representation, which includes business counseling, licensing transactions, contract negotiations, corporate governance. and regulatory matters. With respect to his acquisitions practice, Mike structures and negotiates mergers, tender offers, asset transactions, and other acquisitions, and assists clients in the design and implementation of defenses against unsolicited takeovers. His practice embraces both public and private companies and the representation of independent committees of directors. He regularly represents buyers and sellers in transactions ranging from tens of millions of dollars to billions of dollars. Mike has served as the co-chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee of the Boston Bar Association. Mike’s corporate finance practice includes leading clients through both private and public securities offerings. He is a nationally recognized counselor in the area of venture capital financings, and has served as chairman of the Charter Committee for the National Venture Capital Association forms project and on the advisory board of the VentureOne Deal Terms Reports. Mike is a frequent public speaker on matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, venture capital transactions, public offerings, and other topics relevant to private and public technology companies. Before joining Morgan Lewis, Mike was a partner at another international law firm, where he was the co-leader of their corporate practice group.