Michael Diz is Co-Chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group, co-managing partner of the San Francisco office, and a leader in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Private Equity and Corporate Governance Groups. Mr. Diz has a broad-based transactional practice advising public and private companies, private equity firms and special committees on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and fiduciary duty matters.

Mr. Diz is ranked as a leading M&A lawyer by Chambers Global (2024) and Chambers USA (2023), where clients note that he has “a great balance of subject matter expertise, client service and commercial practicality.” Sources highlight his “strong ability to think creatively to come up with solutions” and say that he is “smart, commercial and sensitive to client needs” and he has “unmatched experience and knowledge in the M&A world.” He is said to be “very creative,” “hard-working,” “interested in getting to the right conclusions” and “balanced and even-tempered in the face of intense situations.” They have also said that he “has a really solid grasp on the latest legal matters” and “understands what we are trying to accomplish because he understands our business. He is very effective in helping us achieve our goals.” Mr. Diz has been shortlisted as a 2020 Dealmaker of the Year by The Deal for technology, media & telecoms. He is recognized as a leading lawyer for M&A and telecoms and broadcast and is also recommended for media and entertainment by The Legal 500 US (2023), where clients have praised his “strong commercial skills in addition to legal acumen.” He is also ranked as a leading lawyer by IFLR1000 (2022) for M&A and private equity. Law360 recognized him as a telecom “Law360 MVP” in 2015. Mr. Diz was selected as a Rising Star by the New York Law Journal (2014) and was named a Rising Star in M&A by Law360 (2014), awarded to ten M&A lawyers under the age of 40.

Mr. Diz joined the firm in 2004. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004. He received his B.A., with highest distinction, from the University of Virginia in 1999. He serves on the Legal Advisory Board of the Partnership for New York City’s Innovation Council.