Michael L. Newquist

Mike focuses on transactional corporate law, including private equity and growth equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and restructurings. He serves as outside general counsel to several portfolio companies of private equity fund clients. Mike’s clients include private equity firms, family offices, portfolio companies of private equity firms and family offices, and large strategic acquirers. Mike has represented clients across various industries, including manufacturing, business services, and technology.

• Advised the Halifax Group in the sale of its majority stake in Southern Exteriors, a full-service installer of exterior building solutions, to Monomoy Capital Partners.
• Advised IT Solutions Consulting, LLC, a leading managed service provider, in its acquisition of The Network Pro, a West Coast-based IT and security service provider, and its acquisition of Spade Technology, an award-winning provider of IT services for the greater Boston area.
• Advised Hastings Equity Partners, a preferred capital partner to founders of lower-middle-market businesses, in its Fund IV portfolio company’s acquisition of Clear Path Utility Solutions, a leading provider of expert consulting services to gas and electric utilities.
• Represented VC3, Inc., a portfolio company of Nautic Partners, in its acquisition of ThinkGard, LLC, an Alabama-based cybersecurity and disaster recovery service provider to local governments.
• Represented HES Facilities Services, LLC, a portfolio company of Nautic Partners, in its acquisition of WFF Facility Services and Clean-Tech Company.
• Represented IPS Corporation and its private equity sponsor in its $700 million sale to Encapsys LLC, a portfolio company of Sherman Capital.
• Represented Hastings Equity Partners and a co-investor group in its acquisition of Southern Petroleum Laboratories, a Houston-based provider of services necessary for the accurate measurement of volume and composition of hydrocarbon products for the oil and gas production industry. Michael subsequently represented Southern Petroleum Laboratories in its sale to a private equity fund.
• Acted for Gaymar Industries, Inc. (NYSE: SYK), and its stockholders in connection with its approximately $150 million sale to Stryker Corporation. Gaymar specializes in support surface and pressure ulcer management solutions, as well as the temperature management segment of the health care industry.
• Represented Cavalier Telephone Corporation and its stockholders in its $460 million merger with Paetec Holding Corp. (NASDAQ GS: PAET).
• Represented a private equity fund in a complex simultaneous acquisition of two separate manufacturers of industrial vacuum pumps and compressors, one of which was headquartered in the U.S. and the other in Germany. Representation included the formation and funding of an investment vehicle and the combination and reorganization of numerous foreign operations and entities.
• Represented an international manufacturing firm based in the UK in its complex asset purchase of the fabrications operation business of the military aircraft manufacturing division of a major U.S.-based defense contractor. Representation involved the resolution of complex transition, labor, and integration issues.

• Legal 500 United States: M&A/Corporate and Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts: Middle-Market (Up to $500M) (2026)
• Chambers USA, Corporate/Commercial, Rhode Island (2025-2026)
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2025-2026)
• The Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024)