Full Service Law Firm | Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Specializing in the Intersection of Business &amp; Government

Meet our team of trusted advisors, strategic thinkers, and community builders dedicated to client success.

Learn about our full-service legal and business solutions, designed to address complex challenges for leading organizations across industries.

Access thought leadership, news, and resources to stay informed about the latest trends, legal developments, and industry innovations.

Discover how partnership, bold thinking, and precise execution drive results for clients nationwide.

Explore how our national reach and local expertise support clients across the United States and beyond.

Grow at a firm designed to bring out your best.

core/heading

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Overview</h2>

William serves as outside general counsel to privately held, founder-led and middle-market companies across a broad range of industries, including healthcare, finance, technology, retail, manufacturing, media, hospitality and sports. He advises business owners and management teams on corporate governance, restructurings, debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic growth initiatives and the legal and business issues that arise throughout a company's lifecycle. His transactional experience ranges from advising startups to negotiating $100 million exits. He also regularly represents companies in financing transactions, from nine-figure credit facilities to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for small and family-owned businesses.

contentpilot/introduction

<p class="wp-block-contentpilot-introduction">William serves as outside general counsel to privately held, founder-led and middle-market companies across a broad range of industries, including healthcare, finance, technology, retail, manufacturing, media, hospitality and sports. He advises business owners and management teams on corporate governance, restructurings, debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic growth initiatives and the legal and business issues that arise throughout a company's lifecycle. His transactional experience ranges from advising startups to negotiating $100 million exits. He also regularly represents companies in financing transactions, from nine-figure credit facilities to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for small and family-owned businesses.</p>

William's practice also includes structuring and negotiating complex commercial agreements, including master services agreements, software and technology licenses, manufacturing and supply agreements, managed services contracts and other strategic customer and vendor arrangements. As primary outside counsel to dozens of companies, he provides practical, business-focused advice tailored to each client's objectives.

core/paragraph

<p>William's practice also includes structuring and negotiating complex commercial agreements, including master services agreements, software and technology licenses, manufacturing and supply agreements, managed services contracts and other strategic customer and vendor arrangements. As primary outside counsel to dozens of companies, he provides practical, business-focused advice tailored to each client's objectives.</p>

Prior to joining Michael Best, William founded Bray &amp; Long, PLLC, a Charlotte business law firm that served clients in the region for more than 20 years. He also built a motorsports practice serving teams, drivers and industry organizations across the country, and he helped found The Racing Attorney Conference, an annual national conference dedicated to motorsports law. His background in transactions, finance, commercial contracting and corporate counseling allows him to advise companies at every stage of growth.

<p>Prior to joining Michael Best, William founded Bray &amp; Long, PLLC, a Charlotte business law firm that served clients in the region for more than 20 years. He also built a motorsports practice serving teams, drivers and industry organizations across the country, and he helped found The Racing Attorney Conference, an annual national conference dedicated to motorsports law. His background in transactions, finance, commercial contracting and corporate counseling allows him to advise companies at every stage of growth.</p>

Introduce new sections and organize content to help visitors (and search engines) understand the structure of your content.

Heading

heading

Heading that resizes to fit its container.

stretchy-heading

Stretchy Heading


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Experience</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Solutions in action</h3>


core/block

William has represented clients in the following matters:

<p>William has represented clients in the following matters:</p>

Outside General Counsel and Commercial Transactions


<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Outside General Counsel and Commercial Transactions</h4>


An organized collection of items displayed in a specific order.

core/list

List


<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Regularly negotiates, as outside general counsel, master services agreements, license agreements and other significant commercial arrangements involving software and technology, managed services, manufacturing, consumer products, customers, vendors and strategic business partners.</li>



<li>Represents companies across a range of industries in debt financing transactions, including negotiating credit facilities ranging from $5 million to more than $100 million with major financial institutions.</li>



<li>Counsels founders, investors and middle-market companies on corporate restructurings, reorganizations and ownership transitions designed to support growth, acquisitions, financing, succession planning and other strategic business objectives.</li>



<li>Counsels a self-storage development and investment platform in connection with fund formation, securities offerings, development projects, financings and the disposition of institutional-quality self-storage facilities throughout the southeastern United States.</li>



<li>Represented an emerging cosmetics and personal-care company in licensing patented technology from leading academic and research institutions for commercialization in the beauty and personal-care industry.</li>



<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to a healthcare benefits administrator providing self-funded health plan solutions to midsize and large employers.</li>



<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to the U.S. operations of a global medical-equipment manufacturer, advising on commercial, distribution, contracting, employment and other operational matters.</li>



<li>Counsels a consumer-finance technology company on strategic partnerships and platform integrations with publicly traded financial-technology companies, as well as related commercial agreements and regulatory matters.</li>



<li>Counsels the U.S. subsidiary of a global electric-actuator manufacturer on corporate, commercial, employment and operational matters, including the expansion of its North American presence and U.S. manufacturing capabilities.</li>



<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to a North Carolina-based outdoor and watersports products company, advising on corporate, intellectual property, commercial and growth matters.</li>



<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to an artificial-intelligence and enterprise-technology company, advising on corporate, commercial, technology and growth matters.</li>



<li>Served as outside general counsel to a consumer-facing hospitality business, advising on corporate, commercial and day-to-day business matters.</li>



<li>Served as outside general counsel to a technology services company providing electronic-device protection, repair, disinfection and indoor-air-quality solutions to schools, businesses, institutions and consumers.</li>



<li>Served as outside general counsel to an innovative materials company developing and commercializing proprietary industrial-coating technologies, advising on corporate, commercial and intellectual property matters.</li>



<li>Represented multiple foreign-based companies on their US Market Entry, including companies from the UK, Czech, Taiwan, Ireland and South Africa in managing their corporate structure, IP, immigration and commercial agreements.</li>
</ul>


Regularly negotiates, as outside general counsel, master services agreements, license agreements and other significant commercial arrangements involving software and technology, managed services, manufacturing, consumer products, customers, vendors and strategic business partners.

core/list-item

List Item

<li>Regularly negotiates, as outside general counsel, master services agreements, license agreements and other significant commercial arrangements involving software and technology, managed services, manufacturing, consumer products, customers, vendors and strategic business partners.</li>

Represents companies across a range of industries in debt financing transactions, including negotiating credit facilities ranging from $5 million to more than $100 million with major financial institutions.

<li>Represents companies across a range of industries in debt financing transactions, including negotiating credit facilities ranging from $5 million to more than $100 million with major financial institutions.</li>

Counsels founders, investors and middle-market companies on corporate restructurings, reorganizations and ownership transitions designed to support growth, acquisitions, financing, succession planning and other strategic business objectives.

<li>Counsels founders, investors and middle-market companies on corporate restructurings, reorganizations and ownership transitions designed to support growth, acquisitions, financing, succession planning and other strategic business objectives.</li>

Counsels a self-storage development and investment platform in connection with fund formation, securities offerings, development projects, financings and the disposition of institutional-quality self-storage facilities throughout the southeastern United States.

<li>Counsels a self-storage development and investment platform in connection with fund formation, securities offerings, development projects, financings and the disposition of institutional-quality self-storage facilities throughout the southeastern United States.</li>

Represented an emerging cosmetics and personal-care company in licensing patented technology from leading academic and research institutions for commercialization in the beauty and personal-care industry.

<li>Represented an emerging cosmetics and personal-care company in licensing patented technology from leading academic and research institutions for commercialization in the beauty and personal-care industry.</li>

Serves as outside corporate counsel to a healthcare benefits administrator providing self-funded health plan solutions to midsize and large employers.

<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to a healthcare benefits administrator providing self-funded health plan solutions to midsize and large employers.</li>

Serves as outside corporate counsel to the U.S. operations of a global medical-equipment manufacturer, advising on commercial, distribution, contracting, employment and other operational matters.

<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to the U.S. operations of a global medical-equipment manufacturer, advising on commercial, distribution, contracting, employment and other operational matters.</li>

Counsels a consumer-finance technology company on strategic partnerships and platform integrations with publicly traded financial-technology companies, as well as related commercial agreements and regulatory matters.

<li>Counsels a consumer-finance technology company on strategic partnerships and platform integrations with publicly traded financial-technology companies, as well as related commercial agreements and regulatory matters.</li>

Counsels the U.S. subsidiary of a global electric-actuator manufacturer on corporate, commercial, employment and operational matters, including the expansion of its North American presence and U.S. manufacturing capabilities.

<li>Counsels the U.S. subsidiary of a global electric-actuator manufacturer on corporate, commercial, employment and operational matters, including the expansion of its North American presence and U.S. manufacturing capabilities.</li>

Serves as outside corporate counsel to a North Carolina-based outdoor and watersports products company, advising on corporate, intellectual property, commercial and growth matters.

<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to a North Carolina-based outdoor and watersports products company, advising on corporate, intellectual property, commercial and growth matters.</li>

Serves as outside corporate counsel to an artificial-intelligence and enterprise-technology company, advising on corporate, commercial, technology and growth matters.

<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to an artificial-intelligence and enterprise-technology company, advising on corporate, commercial, technology and growth matters.</li>

Served as outside general counsel to a consumer-facing hospitality business, advising on corporate, commercial and day-to-day business matters.

<li>Served as outside general counsel to a consumer-facing hospitality business, advising on corporate, commercial and day-to-day business matters.</li>

Served as outside general counsel to a technology services company providing electronic-device protection, repair, disinfection and indoor-air-quality solutions to schools, businesses, institutions and consumers.

<li>Served as outside general counsel to a technology services company providing electronic-device protection, repair, disinfection and indoor-air-quality solutions to schools, businesses, institutions and consumers.</li>

Served as outside general counsel to an innovative materials company developing and commercializing proprietary industrial-coating technologies, advising on corporate, commercial and intellectual property matters.

<li>Served as outside general counsel to an innovative materials company developing and commercializing proprietary industrial-coating technologies, advising on corporate, commercial and intellectual property matters.</li>

Represented multiple foreign-based companies on their US Market Entry, including companies from the UK, Czech, Taiwan, Ireland and South Africa in managing their corporate structure, IP, immigration and commercial agreements.

<li>Represented multiple foreign-based companies on their US Market Entry, including companies from the UK, Czech, Taiwan, Ireland and South Africa in managing their corporate structure, IP, immigration and commercial agreements.</li>

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Regularly negotiates, as outside general counsel, master services agreements, license agreements and other significant commercial arrangements involving software and technology, managed services, manufacturing, consumer products, customers, vendors and strategic business partners.</li><li>Represents companies across a range of industries in debt financing transactions, including negotiating credit facilities ranging from $5 million to more than $100 million with major financial institutions.</li><li>Counsels founders, investors and middle-market companies on corporate restructurings, reorganizations and ownership transitions designed to support growth, acquisitions, financing, succession planning and other strategic business objectives.</li><li>Counsels a self-storage development and investment platform in connection with fund formation, securities offerings, development projects, financings and the disposition of institutional-quality self-storage facilities throughout the southeastern United States.</li><li>Represented an emerging cosmetics and personal-care company in licensing patented technology from leading academic and research institutions for commercialization in the beauty and personal-care industry.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to a healthcare benefits administrator providing self-funded health plan solutions to midsize and large employers.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to the U.S. operations of a global medical-equipment manufacturer, advising on commercial, distribution, contracting, employment and other operational matters.</li><li>Counsels a consumer-finance technology company on strategic partnerships and platform integrations with publicly traded financial-technology companies, as well as related commercial agreements and regulatory matters.</li><li>Counsels the U.S. subsidiary of a global electric-actuator manufacturer on corporate, commercial, employment and operational matters, including the expansion of its North American presence and U.S. manufacturing capabilities.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to a North Carolina-based outdoor and watersports products company, advising on corporate, intellectual property, commercial and growth matters.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to an artificial-intelligence and enterprise-technology company, advising on corporate, commercial, technology and growth matters.</li><li>Served as outside general counsel to a consumer-facing hospitality business, advising on corporate, commercial and day-to-day business matters.</li><li>Served as outside general counsel to a technology services company providing electronic-device protection, repair, disinfection and indoor-air-quality solutions to schools, businesses, institutions and consumers.</li><li>Served as outside general counsel to an innovative materials company developing and commercializing proprietary industrial-coating technologies, advising on corporate, commercial and intellectual property matters.</li><li>Represented multiple foreign-based companies on their US Market Entry, including companies from the UK, Czech, Taiwan, Ireland and South Africa in managing their corporate structure, IP, immigration and commercial agreements.</li></ul>

Mergers, Acquisitions and Strategic Transactions


<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Mergers, Acquisitions and Strategic Transactions</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Represented SentryOne (formerly SQL Sentry) in connection with a growth equity investment by Mainsail Partners.</li>



<li>Represented Workhorse Group and WIPHA Holdings in the acquisition of Berwick Offray and related assets through the IG Design Group Americas bankruptcy proceedings, and continues to counsel the resulting Berwick Industries consumer-products platform on the relaunch of the iconic Pennsylvania ribbon-and-bow manufacturing operation, government-supported financing and expansion matters.</li>



<li>Represented Callaway Industrial Services, a North Carolina-based industrial and commercial plant-maintenance services company, in connection with a recapitalization by North Branch Capital.</li>



<li>Represented The Blanchard Institute, a North Carolina-based behavioral health services provider, in its strategic platform investment transaction with healthcare-focused private equity firm RC Capital.</li>



<li>Represented Linder Industrial Machinery Company, a North Carolina-based equipment dealership, in its acquisition of Cumberland Tractor.</li>



<li>Represented Bloc Design, a Charlotte-based planning, landscape architecture and civil engineering firm, in its sale to V3 Companies.</li>



<li>Represented Elite Maintenance Services, a Charlotte-based commercial property-maintenance and sweeping services company, in its sale to Sweeping Corporation of America.</li>



<li>Represented an experienced furniture-industry executive in the acquisitions of regional home furnishings retailers, including Good's Home Furnishings, a North Carolina furniture retailer.</li>



<li>Represented a regional broadcasting company in its acquisition of radio stations serving the Myrtle Beach market.</li>



<li>Represented a U.S.-based telecommunications company in a cross-border transaction involving the divestiture of its Latin American operations.</li>



<li>Represented a regional waste management company in multiple strategic acquisitions as part of its growth and expansion strategy.</li>
</ul>


Represented SentryOne (formerly SQL Sentry) in connection with a growth equity investment by Mainsail Partners.

<li>Represented SentryOne (formerly SQL Sentry) in connection with a growth equity investment by Mainsail Partners.</li>

Represented Workhorse Group and WIPHA Holdings in the acquisition of Berwick Offray and related assets through the IG Design Group Americas bankruptcy proceedings, and continues to counsel the resulting Berwick Industries consumer-products platform on the relaunch of the iconic Pennsylvania ribbon-and-bow manufacturing operation, government-supported financing and expansion matters.

<li>Represented Workhorse Group and WIPHA Holdings in the acquisition of Berwick Offray and related assets through the IG Design Group Americas bankruptcy proceedings, and continues to counsel the resulting Berwick Industries consumer-products platform on the relaunch of the iconic Pennsylvania ribbon-and-bow manufacturing operation, government-supported financing and expansion matters.</li>

Represented Callaway Industrial Services, a North Carolina-based industrial and commercial plant-maintenance services company, in connection with a recapitalization by North Branch Capital.

<li>Represented Callaway Industrial Services, a North Carolina-based industrial and commercial plant-maintenance services company, in connection with a recapitalization by North Branch Capital.</li>

Represented The Blanchard Institute, a North Carolina-based behavioral health services provider, in its strategic platform investment transaction with healthcare-focused private equity firm RC Capital.

<li>Represented The Blanchard Institute, a North Carolina-based behavioral health services provider, in its strategic platform investment transaction with healthcare-focused private equity firm RC Capital.</li>

Represented Linder Industrial Machinery Company, a North Carolina-based equipment dealership, in its acquisition of Cumberland Tractor.

<li>Represented Linder Industrial Machinery Company, a North Carolina-based equipment dealership, in its acquisition of Cumberland Tractor.</li>

Represented Bloc Design, a Charlotte-based planning, landscape architecture and civil engineering firm, in its sale to V3 Companies.

<li>Represented Bloc Design, a Charlotte-based planning, landscape architecture and civil engineering firm, in its sale to V3 Companies.</li>

Represented Elite Maintenance Services, a Charlotte-based commercial property-maintenance and sweeping services company, in its sale to Sweeping Corporation of America.

<li>Represented Elite Maintenance Services, a Charlotte-based commercial property-maintenance and sweeping services company, in its sale to Sweeping Corporation of America.</li>

Represented an experienced furniture-industry executive in the acquisitions of regional home furnishings retailers, including Good's Home Furnishings, a North Carolina furniture retailer.

<li>Represented an experienced furniture-industry executive in the acquisitions of regional home furnishings retailers, including Good's Home Furnishings, a North Carolina furniture retailer.</li>

Represented a regional broadcasting company in its acquisition of radio stations serving the Myrtle Beach market.

<li>Represented a regional broadcasting company in its acquisition of radio stations serving the Myrtle Beach market.</li>

Represented a U.S.-based telecommunications company in a cross-border transaction involving the divestiture of its Latin American operations.

<li>Represented a U.S.-based telecommunications company in a cross-border transaction involving the divestiture of its Latin American operations.</li>

Represented a regional waste management company in multiple strategic acquisitions as part of its growth and expansion strategy.

<li>Represented a regional waste management company in multiple strategic acquisitions as part of its growth and expansion strategy.</li>

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Represented SentryOne (formerly SQL Sentry) in connection with a growth equity investment by Mainsail Partners.</li><li>Represented Workhorse Group and WIPHA Holdings in the acquisition of Berwick Offray and related assets through the IG Design Group Americas bankruptcy proceedings, and continues to counsel the resulting Berwick Industries consumer-products platform on the relaunch of the iconic Pennsylvania ribbon-and-bow manufacturing operation, government-supported financing and expansion matters.</li><li>Represented Callaway Industrial Services, a North Carolina-based industrial and commercial plant-maintenance services company, in connection with a recapitalization by North Branch Capital.</li><li>Represented The Blanchard Institute, a North Carolina-based behavioral health services provider, in its strategic platform investment transaction with healthcare-focused private equity firm RC Capital.</li><li>Represented Linder Industrial Machinery Company, a North Carolina-based equipment dealership, in its acquisition of Cumberland Tractor.</li><li>Represented Bloc Design, a Charlotte-based planning, landscape architecture and civil engineering firm, in its sale to V3 Companies.</li><li>Represented Elite Maintenance Services, a Charlotte-based commercial property-maintenance and sweeping services company, in its sale to Sweeping Corporation of America.</li><li>Represented an experienced furniture-industry executive in the acquisitions of regional home furnishings retailers, including Good's Home Furnishings, a North Carolina furniture retailer.</li><li>Represented a regional broadcasting company in its acquisition of radio stations serving the Myrtle Beach market.</li><li>Represented a U.S.-based telecommunications company in a cross-border transaction involving the divestiture of its Latin American operations.</li><li>Represented a regional waste management company in multiple strategic acquisitions as part of its growth and expansion strategy.</li></ul>


<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Motorsports and Sports Business</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Counseled an investment group on the formation and structuring of investment funds and related entities established to pursue investments in professional sports, including opportunities involving Formula 1, SailGP and NASCAR.</li>



<li>Represented prominent NASCAR drivers, including Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and William Byron, in connection with contractual and intellectual property matters.</li>



<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to Vermont SportsCar, the motorsports technical partner of Subaru Motorsports USA, advising on sponsorships, commercial agreements, corporate matters and other aspects of its motorsports operations.</li>



<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to the American Rally Association, advising on sponsorship, commercial and other matters relating to the national rally championship series.</li>



<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to Charlotte Independence Soccer Club, advising on corporate governance, strategic transactions, sponsorships, commercial agreements and other matters relating to its soccer operations.</li>



<li>Represented RunCharlotte in the sale of the rights to the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon to the Charlotte Sports Foundation.</li>



<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to motorsports organizations, teams and other industry participants, advising on sponsorship, licensing, commercial agreements, intellectual property, general corporate matters and other day-to-day business needs.</li>
</ul>


Counseled an investment group on the formation and structuring of investment funds and related entities established to pursue investments in professional sports, including opportunities involving Formula 1, SailGP and NASCAR.

<li>Counseled an investment group on the formation and structuring of investment funds and related entities established to pursue investments in professional sports, including opportunities involving Formula 1, SailGP and NASCAR.</li>

Represented prominent NASCAR drivers, including Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and William Byron, in connection with contractual and intellectual property matters.

<li>Represented prominent NASCAR drivers, including Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and William Byron, in connection with contractual and intellectual property matters.</li>

Serves as outside corporate counsel to Vermont SportsCar, the motorsports technical partner of Subaru Motorsports USA, advising on sponsorships, commercial agreements, corporate matters and other aspects of its motorsports operations.

<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to Vermont SportsCar, the motorsports technical partner of Subaru Motorsports USA, advising on sponsorships, commercial agreements, corporate matters and other aspects of its motorsports operations.</li>

Serves as outside corporate counsel to the American Rally Association, advising on sponsorship, commercial and other matters relating to the national rally championship series.

<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to the American Rally Association, advising on sponsorship, commercial and other matters relating to the national rally championship series.</li>

Serves as outside corporate counsel to Charlotte Independence Soccer Club, advising on corporate governance, strategic transactions, sponsorships, commercial agreements and other matters relating to its soccer operations.

<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to Charlotte Independence Soccer Club, advising on corporate governance, strategic transactions, sponsorships, commercial agreements and other matters relating to its soccer operations.</li>

Represented RunCharlotte in the sale of the rights to the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon to the Charlotte Sports Foundation.

<li>Represented RunCharlotte in the sale of the rights to the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon to the Charlotte Sports Foundation.</li>

Serves as outside corporate counsel to motorsports organizations, teams and other industry participants, advising on sponsorship, licensing, commercial agreements, intellectual property, general corporate matters and other day-to-day business needs.

<li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to motorsports organizations, teams and other industry participants, advising on sponsorship, licensing, commercial agreements, intellectual property, general corporate matters and other day-to-day business needs.</li>

<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Counseled an investment group on the formation and structuring of investment funds and related entities established to pursue investments in professional sports, including opportunities involving Formula 1, SailGP and NASCAR.</li><li>Represented prominent NASCAR drivers, including Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and William Byron, in connection with contractual and intellectual property matters.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to Vermont SportsCar, the motorsports technical partner of Subaru Motorsports USA, advising on sponsorships, commercial agreements, corporate matters and other aspects of its motorsports operations.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to the American Rally Association, advising on sponsorship, commercial and other matters relating to the national rally championship series.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to Charlotte Independence Soccer Club, advising on corporate governance, strategic transactions, sponsorships, commercial agreements and other matters relating to its soccer operations.</li><li>Represented RunCharlotte in the sale of the rights to the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon to the Charlotte Sports Foundation.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to motorsports organizations, teams and other industry participants, advising on sponsorship, licensing, commercial agreements, intellectual property, general corporate matters and other day-to-day business needs.</li></ul>

contentpilot/expand-more

<section class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more"><div class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more__excerpt is-visible" data-selector="expand-more"><p></p></div><div class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more__full-content" data-selector="expand-more"><h4 class="wp-block-heading">Outside General Counsel and Commercial Transactions</h4><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Regularly negotiates, as outside general counsel, master services agreements, license agreements and other significant commercial arrangements involving software and technology, managed services, manufacturing, consumer products, customers, vendors and strategic business partners.</li><li>Represents companies across a range of industries in debt financing transactions, including negotiating credit facilities ranging from $5 million to more than $100 million with major financial institutions.</li><li>Counsels founders, investors and middle-market companies on corporate restructurings, reorganizations and ownership transitions designed to support growth, acquisitions, financing, succession planning and other strategic business objectives.</li><li>Counsels a self-storage development and investment platform in connection with fund formation, securities offerings, development projects, financings and the disposition of institutional-quality self-storage facilities throughout the southeastern United States.</li><li>Represented an emerging cosmetics and personal-care company in licensing patented technology from leading academic and research institutions for commercialization in the beauty and personal-care industry.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to a healthcare benefits administrator providing self-funded health plan solutions to midsize and large employers.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to the U.S. operations of a global medical-equipment manufacturer, advising on commercial, distribution, contracting, employment and other operational matters.</li><li>Counsels a consumer-finance technology company on strategic partnerships and platform integrations with publicly traded financial-technology companies, as well as related commercial agreements and regulatory matters.</li><li>Counsels the U.S. subsidiary of a global electric-actuator manufacturer on corporate, commercial, employment and operational matters, including the expansion of its North American presence and U.S. manufacturing capabilities.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to a North Carolina-based outdoor and watersports products company, advising on corporate, intellectual property, commercial and growth matters.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to an artificial-intelligence and enterprise-technology company, advising on corporate, commercial, technology and growth matters.</li><li>Served as outside general counsel to a consumer-facing hospitality business, advising on corporate, commercial and day-to-day business matters.</li><li>Served as outside general counsel to a technology services company providing electronic-device protection, repair, disinfection and indoor-air-quality solutions to schools, businesses, institutions and consumers.</li><li>Served as outside general counsel to an innovative materials company developing and commercializing proprietary industrial-coating technologies, advising on corporate, commercial and intellectual property matters.</li><li>Represented multiple foreign-based companies on their US Market Entry, including companies from the UK, Czech, Taiwan, Ireland and South Africa in managing their corporate structure, IP, immigration and commercial agreements.</li></ul><h4 class="wp-block-heading">Mergers, Acquisitions and Strategic Transactions</h4><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Represented SentryOne (formerly SQL Sentry) in connection with a growth equity investment by Mainsail Partners.</li><li>Represented Workhorse Group and WIPHA Holdings in the acquisition of Berwick Offray and related assets through the IG Design Group Americas bankruptcy proceedings, and continues to counsel the resulting Berwick Industries consumer-products platform on the relaunch of the iconic Pennsylvania ribbon-and-bow manufacturing operation, government-supported financing and expansion matters.</li><li>Represented Callaway Industrial Services, a North Carolina-based industrial and commercial plant-maintenance services company, in connection with a recapitalization by North Branch Capital.</li><li>Represented The Blanchard Institute, a North Carolina-based behavioral health services provider, in its strategic platform investment transaction with healthcare-focused private equity firm RC Capital.</li><li>Represented Linder Industrial Machinery Company, a North Carolina-based equipment dealership, in its acquisition of Cumberland Tractor.</li><li>Represented Bloc Design, a Charlotte-based planning, landscape architecture and civil engineering firm, in its sale to V3 Companies.</li><li>Represented Elite Maintenance Services, a Charlotte-based commercial property-maintenance and sweeping services company, in its sale to Sweeping Corporation of America.</li><li>Represented an experienced furniture-industry executive in the acquisitions of regional home furnishings retailers, including Good's Home Furnishings, a North Carolina furniture retailer.</li><li>Represented a regional broadcasting company in its acquisition of radio stations serving the Myrtle Beach market.</li><li>Represented a U.S.-based telecommunications company in a cross-border transaction involving the divestiture of its Latin American operations.</li><li>Represented a regional waste management company in multiple strategic acquisitions as part of its growth and expansion strategy.</li></ul><h4 class="wp-block-heading">Motorsports and Sports Business</h4><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Counseled an investment group on the formation and structuring of investment funds and related entities established to pursue investments in professional sports, including opportunities involving Formula 1, SailGP and NASCAR.</li><li>Represented prominent NASCAR drivers, including Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and William Byron, in connection with contractual and intellectual property matters.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to Vermont SportsCar, the motorsports technical partner of Subaru Motorsports USA, advising on sponsorships, commercial agreements, corporate matters and other aspects of its motorsports operations.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to the American Rally Association, advising on sponsorship, commercial and other matters relating to the national rally championship series.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to Charlotte Independence Soccer Club, advising on corporate governance, strategic transactions, sponsorships, commercial agreements and other matters relating to its soccer operations.</li><li>Represented RunCharlotte in the sale of the rights to the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon to the Charlotte Sports Foundation.</li><li>Serves as outside corporate counsel to motorsports organizations, teams and other industry participants, advising on sponsorship, licensing, commercial agreements, intellectual property, general corporate matters and other day-to-day business needs.</li></ul></div><button class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more__more-button is-visible" data-selector="expand-more">more</button><button class="wp-block-contentpilot-expand-more__less-button" data-selector="expand-more">less</button></section>

William P. Bray

Overview

Experience

Solutions in action

Credentials

Engagement

Insights

Michael Best Announces Election of Eight to Equity Partnership

Michael Best Firm Strengthens Charlotte Presence with Key Additions, William Bray and Team

Overview

Experience

Solutions in action

Credentials

Practices

Industries

Education

Admissions

Honors & Recognition

Engagement

Professional

Community

Insights

Michael Best Announces Election of Eight to Equity Partnership

Michael Best Firm Strengthens Charlotte Presence with Key Additions, William Bray and Team

Slide Menu

Slide Search