William P. Bray

William serves as primary outside counsel for dozens of companies across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, finance, technology, retail, media, manufacturing, motorsports and more. As a trusted advisor, he has played a crucial role for numerous small- to middle-market, privately held companies.

As a seasoned transaction attorney, William additionally specializes in mergers, acquisitions, and private offerings. Throughout his career, he has honed his skills in navigating complex transactions ranging in size from under $1 million to over $75 million.

Prior to his tenure at Michael Best, he served as the founding member of Bray & Long, PLLC, establishing the firm in 2003. Before founding his own firm, William gained valuable experience as an Assistant Prosecutor in York County, South Carolina. Transitioning into private practice, he spent over a year with a mid-sized firm before establishing his first firm in 1997.

Beyond his corporate focus, William's early career involved extensive litigation experience, where he served as lead counsel in over 50 jury trials. He later established a vibrant motorsports practice and served as a founder of The Racing Attorney Conference in 2008, which continues to serve as the country’s only annual motorsports law gathering. His diverse background brings a unique and comprehensive perspective to his current role in corporate law.

Solutions in action

William has represented clients in the following matters:

• Acted as sale-side counsel for a software company in its sale to a medical equipment manufacturer. Represented the software company in a commercial capacity for several years in support of its software licensing platform associated with The Rothman Index.
• Completed a merger with a civil engineering company, expanding its geographic footprint into the southeast.
• Counseled a self-storage facility in private offerings exceeding $130 million.
• Supported the acquisition of a sweeping services provider to commercial customers and property management companies in Columbia, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Counseled buyer in acquisition of a North Carolina furniture manufacturer.
• Represented founders of a litigation finance company in a recapitalization.
• Supported the acquisition of a North Carolina financial services and employee benefits firm by one of the largest insurance agencies in the nation.
• Secured a $25 million growth equity investment for a developer of award-winning software for SQL Server database professionals.
• Represented a media holding company in multiple acquisitions of radio and television stations throughout the southeast.
• Counseled a mobile device service company on its growth strategy. The strategy included the appointment of a new CEO, the relocation of its headquarters, and a major investment from Detroit-based investment group.
• Counseled multiple professional stock car racing teams at all stages of their development, including asset and equity transactions.