David Morris Photo

David E. Morris*

Partner

*Not admitted in North Carolina

Overview

David advises companies across all stages of the business life cycle – from early-stage ventures to mature enterprises. He represents start-ups, corporations, and investment funds in a range of transactional matters including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings (including convertible notes, SAFEs, and Series Preferred rounds), venture capital and private equity fund formations, commercial transactions, corporate governance, and business succession planning.

Immediately prior to joining Michael Best, David served as a Managing Attorney at the Forrest Firm, a boutique corporate law firm. After graduating from Duke Law School, David joined UBS Investment Bank where he assisted multinational clients in analyzing, structuring, and executing M&A transactions from the firm’s New York and Tokyo offices. He then spent a decade as a managing director and general counsel at a Midwest-based private equity firm focused on investing in companies operating in the manufacturing, commercial services, technology and healthcare sectors. David began his career as a commercial banker at a predecessor firm of JP Morgan Chase, providing market and financial analyses to senior real estate and private equity bankers.

A seasoned legal and business educator, David taught at Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and Tulane University on topics related to mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. He previously served as the Assistant Director and Senior Research Fellow for the Duke Global Capital Markets Center, a joint research center of the Fuqua School of Business and Duke Law School.

Experience

David’s recent representations include the following:

Fund Formation and Related Matters

  • Advised general partners on the formation of alternative investment vehicles (mezzanine, private equity, venture capital, and social impact funds) and their portfolio company investments.
  • Represented limited partners investing in a $2 billion energy and financial services private equity fund, a $870 million healthcare and educational services investment fund, and a $50 million growth capital fund.
  • Advised alternative investments fund manager in its $6.8 million debt financing for the buyout of a former member’s equity stake and to fund working capital needs

Financings

  • $45 million in venture debt financing for broadband internet provider from a private credit fund.
  • Represented developer and private equity sponsor in $11.5 million senior debt and subordinated debt financing of self-storage project.
  • $1.3 million SAFE and Series A Preferred Equity Financing for meditation app developer.
  • Advised university syndicate’s Series A Preferred Equity investment in specialty cosmetics and skincare company.
  • Convertible Note and SAFE offerings for B2B technology firm focused on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestitures

  • Represented senior management in acquisition creating investment advisory firm with assets with $10 billion under management.
  • Sale of nutrition analysis company to publicly traded European laboratory services contractor.
  • Purchase of PA consumer products manufacturing business and related bank financing.
  • Global corporate restructuring of information and technology services company.

Honors & Recognitions

  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • The National Black Lawyers Top 100 – 2020, 2021 and 2022
  • Top 50 Executives under 50, Diversity MBA Magazine
  • 40 Under 40, Crain’s Detroit Business
  • Top 40 under 40 Achievement Award, The Network Journal

Professional Activities

  • Member, North Carolina Bar Association, Business Law Section
  • Member, National Bar Association, Corporate Law Section
  • Member, Association for Corporate Growth 
  • Alumnus, Venture Capital Institute

Education

Bar Admission

Community Involvement

  • Co-Director, Durham Collegiate Institute
  • Southeast Region Social Action Committee, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
  • Substitute Teaching Leader, Bible Study Fellowship
  • Former Board Chair, LIFE Skills Foundation
  • Past Board Member, Triangle Land Conservancy

Insights

Education

Bar Admission

Community Involvement

  • Co-Director, Durham Collegiate Institute
  • Southeast Region Social Action Committee, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
  • Substitute Teaching Leader, Bible Study Fellowship
  • Former Board Chair, LIFE Skills Foundation
  • Past Board Member, Triangle Land Conservancy
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