W. Michael Baisley

Attorney

Contact Information

1111 N. Northshore Drive, Suite S-700
Knoxville, Tennessee 37919

Phone: 865-584-4040 x205
Fax: 865-584-6084

[email protected]

Mike Baisley focuses his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, LLCs and partnerships, real estate transactions, private securities offerings, and a variety of other business transactions. He also has extensive experience in complex business litigation and arbitration.

Mike enjoys working with business clients on an ongoing basis, where he essentially functions as “outside” general counsel and advises clients on a variety of business and transactional issues. Other client engagements typically include:

  • Representing entrepreneurs and startup companies in connection with formation of new LLCs, corporations and partnerships
  • Representing buyers and sellers in connection with stock sales, asset sales, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other business combinations
  • Representing buyers, sellers, lenders, landlords and tenants in commercial real estate transactions and leases
  • Reviewing, negotiating and drafting various types of business contracts including intellectual property licenses, consulting agreements, employment agreements, physician employment agreements, non-compete agreements, employee severance agreements, vendor and customer contracts, as well as warehousing, distribution and fulfillment agreements
  • Representing borrowers and lenders in connection with commercial loans and refinancing transactions

Mike’s clients frequently comment that they value his common sense approach to business and legal matters. Clients also appreciate that he goes the extra mile to understand their business operations and business objectives.

Mike grew up in Rockwood, Tennessee and attended the Webb School of Knoxville. He and his wife, Ashley, have three children. They are active members of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, where they co-teach a Sunday school class of over 25 married couples. When he has free time, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and children, working outdoors, and playing golf.

Representative Client Matters

  • Represented management employees of steel fabrication company in purchasing corporate stock owned by Trustee of deceased founder’s trust
  • Represented local healthcare software company in $10 million merger with publicly-traded competitor
  • Represented family-owned corporation in connection with $130 million stock sale, including Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger notification resulting in approval by Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice
  • Represented physicians’ group in connection with dissolution, windup and liquidation of practice
  • Represented durable medical equipment supplier in sale of LLC membership interests in exchange for buyer’s assumption of debt obligations and payables
  • Represented national tire distributor in connection with $2 million acquisition of competitor’s assets
  • Represented international distributor of automotive parts in establishing U.S. subsidiary
  • Represented regional coal mining company in $18 million stock sale to competing coal processor
  • Represented oil and gas company in connection with $50 million sale of stock and real estate to private equity fund
  • Represented regional shopping-center developer in series of asset divestitures and refinancing transactions, including successful workout of defaulted $10 million credit facility
  • Represented regional commercial bank in a series of commercial real estate loans totaling $15 million
  • Represented owner of Cessna Citation X business jet in $7 million sale transaction
  • Represented professional engineering firm in connection with strategic divestiture of majority shareholder and subsequent purchase of stock by employees
  • Represented investors and developers in connection with various tourist attractions in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg (Sevier County, TN)
  • Represented founding member of regional software firm in connection with exit strategy, culminating in $3 million cross-sale of LLC interest to remaining owners
  • Represented 50 year-old manufacturing company in connection with corporate dissolution, windup and liquidation of assets, including sale of $2.5 million real estate asset
  • Represented contractors, subcontractors and developers in connection with various facets of construction projects, ranging from residential to multi-million dollar automobile manufacturing facilities
  • Represented developers of distressed real estate projects in connection with foreclosures, loan workouts and insolvency issues

Industries Served

  • Venture Capital & Angel Investing
  • Physicians’ Groups
  • Manufacturing
  • Commercial Real Estate
  • Oil & Gas / Coal
  • Medical Technology / Medical Devices
  • Software & Web Development
  • Convenience Stores
  • Banking
  • Private Aviation
  • Construction
  • Building Materials & Products
  • Equipment Finance & Leasing
  • Automobile Dealers
  • Scrap Metal Recycling
  • Trucking / Transportation
  • Warehousing / Distribution / Logistics
  • Tourist Attractions
  • Agriculture / Commercial Farming
  • Golf Courses
  • Investment Advisors & Financial Planners

Education

B.A., Furman University, 2002
(Political Science & Philosophy)

  • Dean’s Academic Advisory Committee
  • Kappa Alpha Order
  • Furman University Student Activities Board (FUSAB)

J.D., University of Tennessee College of Law, 2005

  • Editor, Tennessee Law Review
  • Staff & Editor, Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law
  • President – Business & Tax Law Association
  • Law School Ambassador
  • Dean’s Citation for Extraordinary Service

Admissions

Tennessee, 2005

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Tennessee

Memberships

Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church

Tennessee Bar Association

Knoxville Bar Association

American Bar Association – Business Law Section

The Federalist Society