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Known for his extensive work in corporate and business law, Michael Aguirre excels at helping organizations of all sizes and maturities address complex legal and business challenges.
Michael has wide-ranging experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and general business transactions, as well as counseling executive teams and boards on corporate governance and various corporate matters. He has also advised clients in complex state, federal, and local regulatory environments, including cannabis companies and financial institutions.
As a third-generation Arizonan, Michael cares deeply about his native state. His experience in handling critical civic issues affecting Arizonans, including being heavily involved in community organizations, makes him an asset in matters of public policy. In another life, Michael was a scholarship athlete on Arizona State University’s football team and continues to devote significant time to issues facing intercollegiate athletics.
Before joining Coppersmith Brockelman, Michael was a shareholder in the Phoenix office of a prominent international law firm and worked as Assistant General Counsel for two publicly traded multi-state cannabis companies.
Representative Financing Transactions
- Represented an individual in connection with the financing of an acquisition of a private company in the automotive parts industry
- Represented a consortium of lenders on restructuring of secured loan made to cannabis operator
- Represented a private equity firm in the acquisition, disposition, and financing of multiple portfolio companies and add-on acquisitions across various industries
- Represented private lenders in connection with multiple loan transactions, including real estate-secured loans
- Represented a restaurant group in connection with secured loans used to finance the construction and operations of multiple restaurant concepts
- Represented a regional financial institution in connection with mortgage warehouse lines of credit and other mortgage service financing
- Represented multiple public and private companies in various secured loan transactions and high yield not offerings
- Helped lead in house legal team in connection with:
- CAD$135 million brokered private placement of senior secured debt
- CAD$46 million bought deal equity financing
- USD$20 million secured real estate financing
- USD$59 million non-brokered private placement of equity
Representative M&A Transactions
- Represented a commercial enterprise arm of a Native American Tribe, in connection with its first ever acquisition and a minority investment in an iconic luxury Arizona resort
- Represented a seller in the health care industry in the divestment of one of its business units
- Represented a publicly traded multi-state cannabis operator in connection with the sale of the company to another publicly traded multi-state cannabis operator (transaction value in excess of USD$2 billion)
- Represented a cannabis social equity license holder on an equity sale transaction
- Represented a private equity firm in the acquisition, disposition, and financing of multiple portfolio companies and add-on acquisitions across various industries
Representative General Corporate Matters
- Represent for-profit and non-profit companies in connection with general corporate matters, including formation, structure, corporate governance, and recordkeeping.
- Represent companies in connection with the preparation, review, negotiation, and analysis of a wide variety of commercial contracts and transactions.
- Represent companies in the preparation of legal opinions, including as Arizona local counsel for multi-state financing transactions.
Awards & Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America©: Corporate Law (2024 – present)
- Southwest Super Lawyers: Securities & Corporate Finance (2024, 2025)
- Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars: Corporate/Securities (2012 – 2013, 2016 – 2017)
Publications & Speeches
- Panelist, “Take My Money Please…Current Issues Affecting Canna Banking & Merchant Services,” CannabisLAB (2020)
- Panelist, Negotiations & ADR in Sports, Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (2019-2021)
- Roundtable Participant, The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics (2015)
- Panelist, ” A Summit on the Collegiate Athlete Experience,” The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics (2006)
- Witness, California State Senate Select Committee on the Entertainment Industry, providing testimony on the topic of the role of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in intercollegiate athletics (2003)
- Witness, United States House of Representatives, Energy & Commerce Committee; Commerce, Consumer Protection and Competitiveness Subcommittee, providing testimony on the topic of challenges facing amateur athletics (2002)
- Comment, “From Locker Rooms to Legislatures: Student-Athletes Turn Outside the Game to Improve the Score,” 36 Ariz. St. L.J. 1441 (2004)
- Honors Thesis, “The Continuing Struggle for Education and Voting Rights for Minorities: Arizona’s Bout with Voter Dilution”
Activities & Memberships
- Member, Board of Directors, Arizona State University Foundation (2023-present)
- Member, Board of Directors, Sun Devil Club (2017–present); Wings of Gold Committee (2018-present)
- Member, Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association (2005–present)
- Member, Board of Directors, Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest (2022–2025)
- Member, ASU Foundation Next Generation Council (2019-2023)
- Member, Board of Directors, National Hispanic Cannabis Council (2022)
- Member, Board of Directors, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona (2012-2018); Chair (2016-2018)
- Member, Selection Committee, César E. Chávez Leadership Institute, Arizona State University (2016-2018)
- Member, Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (1999-2003); Chair (2002-2003)
- Member, Arizona State Football Team (1996-2000)
Education & Bar Admissions
- J.D., Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, 2005; cum laude
- MEd, Higher and Post-Secondary Education, Arizona State University; 2002; summa cum laude
- B.A., History, Arizona State University, 2000; cum laude
- Admitted to practice in Arizona, 2005
