Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2021 
Michael P. Dalton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Tax Law since 2021.
Michael is a shareholder in the firm’s Business Department, where he represents businesses and individuals in complex corporate and transactional matters. His practice spans mergers and acquisitions, entity structuring, and strategic advisory work for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Michael has developed a growing focus in the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) space, where he advises collectives and affiliated entities on structuring, governance, and compliance. He regularly assists clients in drafting and negotiating agreements that define relationships among stakeholders while aligning with applicable regulatory frameworks and institutional policies. His work in this area emphasizes practical, defensible structures designed to withstand ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny.
In his broader transactional practice, Michael counsels clients through acquisitions, divestitures, and reorganizations across a range of industries. He has experience guiding closely held businesses and their affiliates through sophisticated transactions, with one recent transaction recognized as a finalist for “Industrials Deal of the Year” by the M&A Advisor.
In addition to his transactional practice, Michael regularly advises closely held businesses and their owners on day-to-day legal matters, including entity formation, governance, contract negotiation, and tax and general business planning. He also assists individuals and business owners with estate planning and succession strategies, with an emphasis on preserving business continuity and facilitating efficient generational transitions.
Michael received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Auburn University in 1998. He received his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 2002, and earned his LL.M. in Taxation from Northwestern University School of Law in 2003. Prior to attending law school, Michael worked as a research assistant for a Member of the British Parliament.
