Michael Traube
Partner
Locations
Bar Admissions
New York
Education
Columbia University, School of Law, J.D., Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar 2006-2007, Articles Editor, Columbia Science & Technology Law Review Midrash Shmuel Talmudical College, B.T.L.
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, real estate transactions and leases, 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.
"Michael demonstrates an exceptional technical knowledge of the law combined with a creative, practical and business-minded perspective."The Legal 500
Areas of Concentration
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Joint Ventures
- Proxy Contests and takeover defenses
- Corporate Governance
- Private Equity
- Media, Technology & Commercial Transactions
Selected Matters
- Representation of Geller & Company on the sale of its multi-family office business to Corient, one of the fastest-growing national wealth advisors in the U.S.
- Representation of Sphere, a live entertainment and media company, in its acquisition of Advanced Electronic Design, an engineering product development firm
- Representation of AMC Networks in (i) the acquisition of a 49.1% stake in BBC America, and (ii) the subsequent purchase of BBC Studios’ equity in BBC America
- Representation of Sotheby’s in connection with a definitive agreement with Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company ADQ under which ADQ acquired a minority interest in Sotheby’s
- Representation of Hyve Group, an international organizer of exhibitions and conferences, in connection with its acquisition of healthcare event company HLTH
- Sale of Tao Group Hospitality (Operator of Tao, Hakkasan, Stanton Social, Marquee, Lavo, Beauty & Essex, and Avenue restaurants and nightclubs) to Mohari Hospitality
- Representation of MSG Sports in connection with the combination of Counter Logic Gaming, of which MSG Sports previously owned a controlling interest, with NRG, a professional gaming and entertainment company. As a result of the transaction, MSG Sports now owns a noncontrolling equity interest in the larger, combined NRG/CLG company
- 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 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 Japanese-themed restaurant chain 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 private equity firm 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 women's basketball team 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 cofounded by Robert DeNiro); 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)
- 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 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
Recognition
- Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for M&A Middle Market: Tier 1 (2025)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for M&A: Large Deals (2022, 2023)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Lawyer: M&A Middle Market (2017 - 2021)
- Selected for New York Super Lawyers (2019 - 2022)
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)
News & Insights For Michael Traube
View All News & InsightsMichael Traube Discusses Industry Implications After OpenAI’s Sora Shutdown and $1B Disney Strategic Deal Collapse
Michael Traube discussed the entertainment industry implications of OpenAI’s shutdown of Sora, its AI video-generation app, which derailed a blockbuster strategic partnership including a contemplated $1 billion investment by Disney, in an article with Corporate Counsel.
New York’s Beneficial Ownership Reporting Regime to Take Effect Jan. 1, 2026 – What to Know
The New York LLC Transparency Act (NYLLCTA) takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Hughes Hubbard Advising Cantor Equity Partners II on Business Combination Transaction with Tokenization Platform Securitize
Hughes Hubbard is advising Cantor Equity Partners II, Inc., a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald, in connection with its pending business combination with tokenization platform Securitize, Inc. that would take the company public in a transaction valuing Securitize at a $1.25 billion pre-money equity value.
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