Michael J. Dayton
Recognized since 2018
Des Moines, Iowa
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Corporate Law
Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Michael Dayton is the chairman of the Business, Finance, and Real Estate Department and a member of the Iowa State Bar Association’s Business Law Section Council. During his career, Michael has led and assisted on hundreds of merger and acquisition transactions from public to public mergers to the sales of small privately-held companies.
Michael also routinely assists clients with general contracting matters, including contract management processes and data and cybersecurity matters relating thereto; corporate formation and governance issues; commercial lending and secured transactions; regulatory matters; local counsel opinions; and other commercial transactions.
Michael Dayton has assisted professionals and companies in a variety of industries, including: health care (hospitals, clinics, physicians, psychiatrists, insurance companies); agribusiness; veterinary services; family farms; construction, supply, distribution and advanced manufacturing; creative services, branding, printing and merchandising; wind energy, biodiesel and other renewable energy; trucking, warehousing and logistics; chemical manufacturing and distribution; animal and human health ingredient production; vegetation management; swine genetics; agricultural equipment finance; software development; casino and gaming; and banking.
Michael is passionate about leadership, teaching, coaching, and serving his community, especially in the areas of child education and welfare.
PRACTICE AREAS
Business, Finance, & Real Estate
Banking and Secured Transactions
Business and Commercial Transactions
Business Organizations
Corporate Finance, Venture Capital, and Securities
Corporate Governance
Electronic Commerce
Mergers and Acquisitions
Data Breach and Information Security
EDUCATION
University of Iowa (B.S., Psychology, with honors, 2001; B.A., Philosophy, 2001; J.D., with highest distinction, 2006)
BAR ADMISSIONS
Iowa, 2006
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Lecturer, MBA Law & Ethics, University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business, Spring 2015
Contact & Links
Location
- 700 Walnut Street, Suite 1600
Des Moines, IA 50309-3899
37 The Best Lawyers in America® awards
14 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America awards

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Des Moines (2021)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 for work in:
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.
Please use the print button to print this profile page.