Michael Traube is a deal lawyer with substantive experience on a broad range of corporate matters, including public and private mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, alliances and collaborations, SPACs, PIPEs, spin-offs, commercial transactions and services arrangements (including tech-focused arrangements), venture capital transactions, Section 363 sales, corporate restructurings, reclassifications and corporate finance. Michael has led cutting edge technology and media-focused deals around the world, including Europe, Asia and Latin America, for both local and international clients.
Areas of Concentration
Mergers & Acquisitions
Joint Ventures
Proxy Contests and takeover defenses
Corporate Governance
Private Equity
Media, Technology & Commercial Transactions
Speaking Engagements
Co-lead “Ethics in Negotiating and Documenting Private Transactions,” Acquiring or Selling the Privately Held Company program, Practising Law Institute, New York (since 2019)
Co-lead "Ethical Issues in Drafting Corporate Agreements," Drafting and Negotiating Corporate Agreements program, Practising Law Institute, New York (since 2021)
Recognition
Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for M&A: Large Deals (2022)
Recommended by The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Lawyer: M&A Middle Market (2017 - 2021)
Selected for New York Super Lawyers (2020 - 2022)
Highlighted Matters
Representation of Advance Local in connection with its purchase of Search Optics, one of the nation’s leading providers of digital marketing services and advertising technology solutions for the automotive industry
Representation of CF Acquisition Corp. VIII, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald, in its merger with XBP Europe, Inc., the European business of Exela Technologies Inc.
Representation of certain members of management in their buyout of Cenveo Enterprises
Representation of Cenveo Worldwide Limited, a world leader in the management and distribution of print and related offerings, in the sale of its Custom Labels Group to Brook + Whittle
Representation of Tao Group Hospitality in its acquisition of Hakkasan Group, creating a premium hospitality powerhouse that includes a global portfolio of brands and properties
Representation of the Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC) on its $55 million investment in award-winning restaurant group Jean-Georges Management, which is led by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Representation of Advance Local in connection with its sale of MatchCraft, a search, display, and social media advertising platform, to Vendasta
Representation of CF Finance Acquisition Corp. VI, a SPAC backed by Cantor Fitzgerald, in its $2.1 billion IPO merger with Rumble Inc. that took the Canadian neutral video platform public
Representation of Bershtel Enterprises LLC (dba WePackItAll) in its sale to Akoya Capital Partners, LLC and other investors
Representation of Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. in its sale to parent company and majority shareholder Santander Holdings USA Inc. in a $2.5 billion deal that took the Dallas-based auto lending and consumer finance company private
Representation of financial advisory firm Geller & Co. in connection with the sale of Geller’s outsourced CFO and business services division to Bloomberg LP
Representation of CF Acquisition Corp. V, a SPAC backed by New York investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, in a $850 million IPO merger with Satellogic that took the satellite earth imagery provider public
Representation of SPAC Isos Acquisition Corp., in its $2.6 billion IPO merger with Bowlero Corp. that took the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers public
Representation of Roku, Inc. in its deal to acquire Nielsen's advanced video advertising (AVA) business
Representation of CF Finance Acquisition Corp. III in its merger with AEye Inc. that took the LiDAR company public
Representation of CF Finance Acquisition Corp. II in its $1.6 billion merger with View Inc. that took the smart window company public
Representation of CF Finance Acquisition Corp. in its $2 billion merger with GCM Grosvenor that took the Chicago asset manager public
Representation of U.K. sports and fashion retailer JD Sports Fashion in the acquisition of U.S. athletic footwear, apparel and accessories retailers Shoe Palace and Nice Kicks
Representation of Turnitin, a subsidiary of Advance Publications, in its acquisition of online assessment platform Examsoft
Representation of Wipro in connection with the acquisition of engineering services company Eximius Design
Representation of Coupang, the largest South Korean e-commerce website, in its acquisition of the HOOQ video streaming software out of liquidation
Representation of Grab, Southeast Asia's leading super app, in securing $706 million from MUFG, Japan's largest bank, and $150 million from Tokyo-based TIS Inc., a provider of network solutions and system integration services, for a total of $856 million. Grab and MUFG will also co-develop next-generation financial products and services
Representation of global information technology leader Infosys in its acquisition of Kaleidoscope Innovation, a full-spectrum product design, development and insights firm
Representation of global information technology leader Infosys in its acquisition of Simplus, a leader in Salesforce quote-to-cash implementations
Representation of Bluestar Alliance and affiliates in the purchase of Hurley International from Nike
Representation of Patrick Drahi in his $3.7 billion acquisition of Sotheby's
Representation of Cenveo Corporation in:
the sale of a portion of its print publication (e.g., journals, magazines) businesses to Intellicor Communications;
the carve-out sale of its content services business to CJK Group Inc.;
the carve-out sale of its long-run labels and receipt paper businesses to Iconex (a portfolio company of Atlas Holdings);
the carve-out sale of its office products envelope business to LSC Communications;
its merger with Nashua Corporation;
the purchase of the assets of National Envelope Corporation out of bankruptcy; and
the carve-out sale of its packaging business to WestRock Company
Representation of Advance Publications, Inc. in connection with:
sale of Golf Digest to Discovery
sale of W Magazine to Future Brand Media Group
sale of Brides Magazine to Dotdash
Representation of Cipla in connection with its acquisition of U.S.-based specialty pharmaceutical firm Avenue Therapeutics
Representation of the Independent Directors of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in connection with the public spinoff of Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. and related sponsor $175 million equity financing
Representation of lighting designer Robert Sonneman in the sale of Sonneman - A Way of Light, a designer and manufacturer of high-end architectural lighting, to Dunes Point Capital
Representation of U.K. sporting goods retailer JD Sports Fashion in connection with its acquisition of Finish Line, a NASDAQ-listed retailer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories
Representation of Federal-Mogul Powertrain in its acquisition of British clean-tech development company Controlled Power Technologies
Representation of Greenbriar Equity Group LLC in its sale of transportation management firm Transplace Holdings LLC to TPG Capital
Representation of Benihana Inc. in:
The successful proxy contest and shareholder vote to overturn the company's dual-class stock structure and convert the company's Class A common stock into regular common stock
Subsequent sale to Angelo Gordon & Co.
Representing Daimler AG in its:
Investment in, and strategic cooperation with, Tesla Motors Inc., the Silicon Valley-based designer and distributor of zero-emission vehicles
Sale of an interest in the entity holding the Tesla stake to Aabar Investments
Participation in a subsequent Tesla capital-raising round
Role as a significant stockholder of Tesla in Tesla's Nasdaq initial public offering
Acquisition of Tesla common stock through a private placement effected in conjunction with a public secondary offering of common stock by Tesla
Representing Cablevision Systems Corp. in its acquisition of Newsday from the Tribune Co.
Representation of Cablevision affiliate PVI Virtual Media Services in its sale of assets to ESPN Technology Services and Sportvision
Representation of Mark Cuban Companies in:
The AXS TV (formerly HDNet) joint venture among Mark Cuban Companies, Anschutz Entertainment Group, Creative Artists Agency and Ryan Seacrest Media
The addition of CBS Corp. to the AXS TV joint venture
Representation of the trustee for the liquidation of Lehman Brothers Inc. in:
The proposed multibillion-dollar settlement of claims with Lehman Brothers International (Europe)
The unwind of numerous derivative and other contracts with counterparty claimants
Representation of Innovative Power Solutions, a US manufacturer of electrical power generators and converters used primarily in military aircraft, in its sale to Zodiac Aerospace, a world leader in aeronautical equipment and systems headquartered in France
Representation of the U.S. Department of the Treasury in connection with its investments in financial institutions under the TARP Capital Purchase Program
Representation of Continental Airlines, Republic Airways and Azul Linhas in several aircraft purchases and financings
Representation of the Trustee for the liquidation of MF Global Inc. in the sale process and transfer of customer securities accounts to another broker dealer, and other transactional matters
Representation of MediaNews Group in several debt financing transactions and related restructuring
Representation of Wafra Capital Partners in several investments and joint ventures, including a $1,000,000,000 investment in TriplePoint Capital
Representation of Galaxy Brands (owner of the AND1 brand and other brands) in:
The sale of a majority stake in Galaxy to Carlyle Group
Its purchase of the Avia and Nevados brands from Brown Shoe Co.
Its purchase of the Linens 'n Things brand from a team including Hilco Global and Gordon Brothers
Representation of the Madison Square Garden Company in its sale of the New York Liberty to Joe Tsai (49% owner of the Brooklyn Nets)
Representation of The Madison Square Garden Company in its investments in:
Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas LLC;
Tribeca Enterprises (Operator of the Tribeca Film Festival); and
SACO Technologies Inc., a global provider of high-performance LED video lighting and media solutions
Representation of The Madison Square Garden Company in its purchase of a controlling stake in:
Obscura Digital (live entertainment technology and production company)
Boston Calling Events (Operator of the Boston Calling Music Festival)
Tao Group (Operator of the Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, The Stanton Social, Beauty & Essex, and Avenue restaurants and nightclubs)
Counter Logic Gaming (owner of several competitive esports teams)
Representation of Bancar Technologies Ltd. in connection with financing for the Argentine financial technologies startup
Representation of Starboard Value in its settlement with Forest City Realty Trust
Representation of Fundamental Partners in several investments
Representation of AMC Networks in connection with its acquisition of a 49.9% stake in BBC America
Representation of Brambles Limited in:
the sale of its North American recycled pallets business to private equity firm Grey Mountain Partners
the sale of its Transport Management System (TMS) business, LeanLogistics, to UK-based Kewill Inc., a global provider of supply-chain software
its 50/50 joint venture with First Reserve relating to their container solutions businesses Hoover Container Solutions, Ferguson Group and CHEP Catalyst & Chemical Containers