News
18 Jun 2007
Williams joins DLA Piper’s Washington, D.C. Office
Arrival Adds Depth to Corporate and Finance and Real Estate Practices; Advances DLA Piper’s Strategy To Expand Leading Transactional Capabilities
Press Release
(Washington, D.C. and New York) – DLA Piper US LLP today announced that Michele E. Williams, a leading corporate and real estate lawyer, has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office. She will spend a substantial portion of her time working out of DLA Piper’s New York office. She comes to the firm from Arent Fox LLP.
Williams focuses her practice in the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and real estate finance transactions. She has extensive experience in executing highly structured corporate financings involving public and private debt and equity offerings, minority equity investments, private equity investments, partnerships and joint ventures for U.S. corporations and private equity funds. Williams also represents non-U.S. corporations in connection with their U.S. investment and acquisition activities. Additionally, she represents U.S. real estate investors in a variety of acquisition, financing and sale-leaseback transactions.
“Michele’s experience in handling sophisticated transactional work for a variety of corporate and private equity clients is a tremendous asset to both our Corporate and Finance and Real Estate practices,” said Roger Meltzer, Global Chair of DLA Piper’s Corporate and Finance practice. “Her skill set will add considerable depth to our growing transactional capabilities on both a regional and national scale.”
Added Jay A. Epstien, Chair of DLA Piper’s U.S. Real Estate practice: “Michele’s representation of private equity funds in complex sale-lease-back transactions is a perfect fit with our real estate practice. Her knowledge and understanding of sale-lease-back investments and financing will enhance our already world-class capabilities.”
Leading Corporate and Finance, Real Estate Capabilities
DLA Piper’s Corporate and Finance practice includes more than 800 attorneys worldwide. Recognized as one of the world’s leading emerging growth, venture capital and technology law firms, DLA Piper lawyers advise clients on public and private equity and debt securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions and reorganizations, in addition to corporate governance, IT, tax, compensation and technology issues. Lawyers in the firm’s Finance practice counsel clients on syndicated loans, asset-based and cash flow loans, mezzanine and private equity investments, transportation finance and leveraged lease transactions, as well as specialty areas such as projects and infrastructure and real estate structured finance products.
Consistently ranked as the world’s top real estate practice by leading industry research firms, DLA Piper continues to diversify its real estate practice by expanding its global capabilities through the addition of leading practitioners throughout the world. With more than 250 real estate lawyers in offices throughout the United States, and more than 550 throughout the world, DLA Piper provides a full range of transactional and advisory services to real estate-related firms, such as developers, investors, lenders and asset managers. The firm also provides advice relating to acquisitions, dispositions, financing, leasing, entitlements, economic incentives, corporate facilities and related legal services to its clients.
“We are pleased to welcome Michele to our Washington office,” added Ann K. Ford, Managing Partner of DLA Piper’s Washington D.C. office. “She will be a great addition to our Corporate and Real Estate practices, particularly given her significant contacts throughout the industry.”
About Michele Williams
Before entering the legal profession, Williams served as vice president of the Southeast Corporate Group of Bank of America, as well as assistant vice president of the commercial banking group of Riggs National Bank.
She received a J.D., cum laude, and a B.S.F.S, magna cum laude, from Georgetown University. Williams is a member of the American College of Investment Counsel.
About DLA Piper
DLA Piper has 3,400 lawyers in 24 countries and 63 offices throughout the U.S., U.K., Continental Europe, Middle East and Asia. It has leading practices in corporate, finance, human resources, litigation, real estate, regulatory and legislative, tax, and technology, media and communications. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.