Michael L. Laussade
Practice Areas
Experience
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Biotech, MedTech, & Life Sciences
- Blockchain & Digital Assets
- Capital Markets
- Corporate Governance
- Investment Funds
- Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures
- Private Equity
- Venture Capital & Emerging Companies
Biography
Mike Laussade heads up Jackson Walker’s Blockchain and Digital Assets practice group. Mike has been involved with blockchain and cryptocurrency matters since 2017, when he became involved in drafting amendments to Texas’s corporate statutes to permit the use of blockchain-based securities.
Mike services a broad range of clients involved in blockchain and cryptocurrency matters, including digital asset funds, cryptocurrency mining services, cryptocurrency developers, and NFT platforms, and is frequently called upon to advise clients across multiple industries regarding the impact and treatment of digital assets in traditional finance, real estate and M&A transactions.
In addition, Mike is an experienced fund formation lawyer, representing sponsors of investment vehicles ranging from single-asset real estate SPVs to large private equity and venture funds in all aspects of fund formation, governance, and investment activity.
Education
B.A., University of Texas at Austin
- Managing Editor, Texas Travesty
- Friar Society
J.D., with honors, University of Texas School of Law
- Editor in Chief, Texas Law Review
Bar Admissions
Texas
Corporate and Securities Matters
- Capital raising transactions of all sizes, ranging from SAFE and convertible note financing to priced equity rounds and underwritten public offerings.
- Formation of private investment funds, including hedge funds, private equity funds, venture funds, real estate funds, and oil and gas funds.
- Structure and compliance issues affecting private fund managers under the Investment Advisers Act and Investment Company Act.
- M&A transactions on behalf of both buyers and sellers across a number of industries, including financial services, technology, manufacturing, aviation and energy.
- Corporate governance matters, including stockholder and LLC agreements, partnership disputes, fiduciary duty issues, and books and records requests.
Recent Engagements
- Represented sponsor in formation of $150M mineral royalty fund.
- Represented Consensus NLP, Inc. in connection with $3 million Series Seed financing.
- Represented Forum Brands, Inc. in connection with $27 million Series A financing.
- Represented Abodu, Inc. in connection with $20 million Series A financing.
- Represented a public mobile advertising solutions provider in its transformative acquisitions of three international mobile advertising companies valued in excess of $1 billion.
- Represented Bridger Logistics in sale of saltwater disposal, crude oil truck transportation, and logistics businesses to Pilot Flying J.
- Represented IOG Capital in connection with regulatory compliance, fund formation, and co- investment negotiation, including $330 million oil and gas investment partnership with funds and accounts managed by Fortress Investment Group.
- Representation of Prophet Equity in connection with the formation, fundraising, and regulatory compliance for its $345 million second fund, Prophet Equity II LP.
- Represented Kalon Biotherapeutics LLC—a joint venture of the State of Texas, acting by and through the Office of the Governor, and The Texas A&M University—in its sale of control to FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies USA Inc.
- Represented Air Methods Corporation (NASDAQ:AIRM) in acquisition of San Antonio AirLIFE, a medical transport service owned by Baptist Health System of San Antonio/Tenet Corporation, and Bexar County Hospital District, doing business as University Health System.
- Represented PLx Pharma Inc. in negotiation of merger agreement with Dipexium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:DPRX).
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Corporate Law, 2019-2023, 2025
- “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List, D Magazine, 2016, 2018, 2022-2024
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2010, 2016-2019
- Community First Award, Parkland Foundation, 2018
- Co-Author, “SEC Adopts Sweeping New Private Fund Adviser Rules,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Author, “Texas Taking the Lead in State Cryptocurrency Enforcement,” Jackson Walker Insights (January 2018)
Meat Fight, Inc.
- Board of Directors
- General Counsel
Jackson Walker Advises Consensus in $11.5M Series A Funding Round
November 4, 2024
Batbox Secures Series A Funding to Expand US Operations
September 19, 2024
Jackson Walker Represents Kalon Biotherapeutics in Sale to Fujifilm
December 24, 2014
August 23, 2024
Newsletters
JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter – August 2024
View Jackson Walker’s August 2024 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
April 19, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 23 Attorneys Named Among 2024 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List
Jackson Walker congratulates the 23 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2024. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.
September 1, 2023
Insights
SEC Adopts Sweeping New Private Fund Adviser Rules
By Michael L. Laussade and Graham McCall
On August 23, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), by a party-line vote of 3-2, adopted new rules applicable to investment advisers to private funds (“Private Fund Advisers”) that address transparency, conflicts of interest and governance mechanisms (“PFA Rules”).
April 25, 2023
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 24 Attorneys Named Among 2023 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List
Jackson Walker congratulates the 24 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2023. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.
August 18, 2022
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
April 25, 2022
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 21 Attorneys Named Among 2022 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List
Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2022. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.
Practice Experience
Corporate and Securities Matters
- Capital raising transactions of all sizes, ranging from SAFE and convertible note financing to priced equity rounds and underwritten public offerings.
- Formation of private investment funds, including hedge funds, private equity funds, venture funds, real estate funds, and oil and gas funds.
- Structure and compliance issues affecting private fund managers under the Investment Advisers Act and Investment Company Act.
- M&A transactions on behalf of both buyers and sellers across a number of industries, including financial services, technology, manufacturing, aviation and energy.
- Corporate governance matters, including stockholder and LLC agreements, partnership disputes, fiduciary duty issues, and books and records requests.
Recent Engagements
- Represented sponsor in formation of $150M mineral royalty fund.
- Represented Consensus NLP, Inc. in connection with $3 million Series Seed financing.
- Represented Forum Brands, Inc. in connection with $27 million Series A financing.
- Represented Abodu, Inc. in connection with $20 million Series A financing.
- Represented a public mobile advertising solutions provider in its transformative acquisitions of three international mobile advertising companies valued in excess of $1 billion.
- Represented Bridger Logistics in sale of saltwater disposal, crude oil truck transportation, and logistics businesses to Pilot Flying J.
- Represented IOG Capital in connection with regulatory compliance, fund formation, and co- investment negotiation, including $330 million oil and gas investment partnership with funds and accounts managed by Fortress Investment Group.
- Representation of Prophet Equity in connection with the formation, fundraising, and regulatory compliance for its $345 million second fund, Prophet Equity II LP.
- Represented Kalon Biotherapeutics LLC—a joint venture of the State of Texas, acting by and through the Office of the Governor, and The Texas A&M University—in its sale of control to FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies USA Inc.
- Represented Air Methods Corporation (NASDAQ:AIRM) in acquisition of San Antonio AirLIFE, a medical transport service owned by Baptist Health System of San Antonio/Tenet Corporation, and Bexar County Hospital District, doing business as University Health System.
- Represented PLx Pharma Inc. in negotiation of merger agreement with Dipexium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:DPRX).
Recognition & Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Corporate Law, 2019-2023, 2025
- “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List, D Magazine, 2016, 2018, 2022-2024
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2010, 2016-2019
- Community First Award, Parkland Foundation, 2018
Publications & Speeches
- Co-Author, “SEC Adopts Sweeping New Private Fund Adviser Rules,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Author, “Texas Taking the Lead in State Cryptocurrency Enforcement,” Jackson Walker Insights (January 2018)
Community Involvement
Meat Fight, Inc.
- Board of Directors
- General Counsel