Michael Diz
Represents strategic and private equity clients in the full range of M&A transactions. Deep experience in industries including tech, media, telecom and industrials.
Michael has a broad-based practice advising public and private companies, private equity firms and special committees on mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, spinoffs and other transactions. He also advises companies and their boards on corporate governance and fiduciary duty matters.
His work has spanned a range of industries, including tech, media and telecom; industrials; and consumer products.
Michael is recognized as a leading M&A lawyer by publications including Chambers, Legal 500 U.S. and IFLR1000. He is “immensely smart,” “creative” and “technically talented,” say sources quoted by Chambers. “He understands deals and what they require.”
Experience
Prior to joining Davis Polk, Michael’s experience includes advising:
Private Equity
- Bain Capital and portfolio companies on various acquisitions and investments
- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and portfolio companies on various acquisitions and sales
- Duquesne Family Office investment in SpaceX
- Elliott on its acquisition of Barnes & Noble
- Kelso & Company and portfolio companies on various acquisitions, investments and sales
- Morgan Stanley Capital Partners and portfolio companies on various transactions
- One Rock Capital Partners on its acquisition of the Engineered Components and Systems segment of Actuant
- Providence Equity Partners and portfolio companies on various acquisitions and investments
- Sequoia Capital as a shareholder of Qualtrics International on Qualtric’s $8 billion sale to SAP
- TPG and its portfolio companies on various transactions
Corporates
- Amazon as strategic partner to Yankee Global Enterprises on the acquisition of the YES Network from Disney
- Dealer Tire in various transactions
- Special committee of the board of directors of Dell on the sale of Dell to an investor group including Michael Dell and Silver Lake
- Discovery on its acquisition from Cox Communications of its interest in Discovery for cash and assets, including the Travel Channel
- Energy Brands, also known as Glacéau, in its $4.1 billion acquisition by Coca-Cola
- GoDaddy on various acquisitions
- International Paper on various acquisitions and divestitures
- Special committee of the board of directors of Liberty Broadband on Liberty Broadband’s acquisition of GCI Liberty
- Oxygen Media in its $925 million acquisition by NBC Universal
- Reynolds Group on its acquisition of Pactiv
- Special committee of the board of directors of SiriusXM on SiriusXM’s separation from Liberty Media
- Time on its sale to Meredith
- Verizon on its acquisition of Frontier and various other acquisitions and divestitures
Recognition
Chambers USA – Corporate/M&A, California and New York
Chambers USA – Media & Entertainment: Corporate, New York
Chambers Global – Corporate/M&A (International & Cross-Border), USA
Legal 500 U.S. – M&A: Large Deals ($1bn+)
Legal 500 U.S. – Telecoms and Broadcast: Transactions
IFLR1000 – M&A, Private Equity, United States, Highly Regarded
Law360 – “Telecom MVP of the Year,” 2015
New York Law Journal – “Rising Star,” 2014
Law360 – “Rising Star: Mergers & Acquisitions,” 2014
Education
- with highest distinction
Prior experience
- Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton, 2012-2025
- Associate, Debevoise & Plimpton, 2004-2012
Qualifications and admissions
- State of California
- State of New York