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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. As a longstanding member of Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association and a former board member of the National Hispanic Cannabis Council, Michael is committed to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the law. He was drawn to Coppersmith Brockelman not only for its top-ranked lawyers, but because it is a leader among Arizona’s premier law firms for hiring and promoting women, people of color, and LGBTQ lawyers. In a former 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 worked as Assistant General Counsel for two established publicly traded multi-state cannabis companies and was a shareholder in the Phoenix office of a prominent international law firm.
Representative Matters
- 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 consortium of lenders on restructuring of secured loan made to cannabis operator
- Represented cannabis social equity license holder on equity sale transaction
- Represented a multistate cannabis operator in connection with the following transactions:
- 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
- Represented private lenders in connection with multiple loan transactions, including real estate-secured loans
- Represented a private equity firm in the acquisition, disposition, and financing of multiple portfolio companies and add-on acquisitions across various industries
- Represented a restaurant group in connection with secured loans used to finance the construction and operations of multiple restaurant concepts
- Represented a public company in the manufacturing of regulated products in connection with a senior secured credit facility and a high yield note offering
- 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
- Represented an employee stock-owned company in connection with the acquisition and financing of the company and post-transaction advice on various compliance and corporate governance matters
Awards & Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America©: Corporate Law (2024)
- Southwest Super Lawyers: Securities & Corporate Finance (2024)
- 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, Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest (2022–present); Secretary (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, 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
