Michael Donahey

Practice Areas

• Capital Markets

• Commercial Agreements

• Corporate and Securities

• Data Centers

• Emerging Business

• International

• Mergers and Acquisitions

• Nonprofit Law

• SEC Reporting and Corporate Governance

• Aerospace and Defense (A&D)

• Manufacturing

Career

With over 30 years of experience at Snell & Wilmer, Mike Donahey is a senior corporate and securities partner and a trusted advisor to his clients. Mike serves on the firm’s five-person Executive Committee and three-person Compensation Committee. He is the managing partner of the firm’s Phoenix office, and previously led the firm’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group.

Mike’s practice is concentrated in mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, SEC reporting and compliance, condemnation, corporate governance, and venture capital. He represents clients in a variety of industries including water and wastewater utilities, homebuilding and construction, transportation, defense, high technology products and services, medical and dental products, consumer products, life insurance, education services, software, and food products.

Mike is widely and regularly recognized as a leading attorney by The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business®, and Arizona Finest Lawyers.

In the community, Mike serves on the boards of Greater Phoenix Leadership and St. Mary’s Food Bank.

Professional Memberships

• American Bar Association

• Maricopa County Bar Association

• Lex Mundi

Personal

Community Involvement

• Greater Phoenix Leadership, Board of Directors (2023-Present)

• St. Mary’s Food Bank, Board of Directors (2023-Present)

• Tocqueville Society, Member

• Xavier College Preparatory, Board of Trustees (2013-2019)

• Westmarc, Board of Directors (2011-2014)

• Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, General Counsel (2006-2009)

• Partnership for a Drug-Free Arizona, Board of Directors (2003-2006)

• International Science & Engineering Fair 2005 - Arizona, Advisory Board Member (2001-2005)

• Valley Leadership Class XIX (1997-1998)

• Pioneer Arizona Museum Board of Directors (1993-1998); President (1997-1998)

• COMPAS, Pro Bono Legal Counsel (an organization devoted to enhancing the cultural, artistic, and scientific environment of metropolitan Phoenix) (1996-2003)

• St. Matthew School Advisory Board (1993-1995)

Awards

Education

Work Highlights

• Represented a private equity fund and a pension fund in the nine-figure acquisition of an aerospace company

• Represented Global Water Resources, Inc. with respect to eight-figure condemnation of water utility assets by the City of Buckeye

• Represented a municipality in connection with the condemnation of a private water facility

• Represented large, privately held processed meats company in nine-figure sale to strategic buyer

• Represented publicly traded biotech company in sale to a private pharmaceutical company

• Represented buyer in purchase of two well-known resorts from a REIT for $325 million

• Represented an injection molding company in dispositions of three divisions/subsidiaries totaling over $80 million

• Represented a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) in an acquisition of a Chinese media company

• Represented seller in sale of construction services business for $80 million

• Represented utility holding company in $40 million acquisition of a water and wastewater treatment company

• Represented publicly traded biotech company in $37.5 million sale of nutraceuticals division to another public company

• Represented life insurance company in $35 million acquisition of another life insurance company

• Represented water and wastewater utility company in 2016 IPO and subsequent public offerings of equity securities

• Represented transportation company in its $152 million IPO and several subsequent public offerings of debt and equity securities aggregating over $1.5 billion

• Represented biotech company in $40 million sale of stock, debt, and warrants in PIPE transaction

• Represented auto dealer in $94 million PIPE transaction

• Represented public companies in the adoption and termination of “poison pills” and related anti-takeover measures, stock repurchase programs, and stock splits

• Represented Valley of the Sun Bowl Foundation (the Fiesta Bowl) in acquisition of the Insight Bowl (f/k/a the Copper Bowl)

• Represented Valley of the Sun United Way in merger with another non-profit entity

• Represented multiple public companies in connection with defense of hostile takeover attempts