Michael F. Meskill
Practice Areas
Experience
- Biotech, MedTech, & Life Sciences
- Capital Markets
- Corporate Governance
- Healthcare Mergers & Acquisitions
- Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures
- Public Companies & Securities
- Technology
- Venture Capital & Emerging Companies
Biography
Michael F. Meskill’s practice focuses on securities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters, and general corporate law. Michael represents buyers and sellers in public and private M&A transactions, issuers, underwriters, and investors in public and private debt and equity offerings, and companies and special board committees in corporate governance matters.
Michael is a certified public accountant in the State of Texas. He was an auditor in the audit department of KPMG LLP from 1989 to 1993, where he was the “in-charge” auditor on numerous public and private company audit engagements.
Education
B.B.A., University of Texas at Austin
J.D., cum laude, SMU Dedman School of Law
- Articles Editor, The International Lawyer
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Represented a public mobile advertising company in a series of transformative cross-border acquisitions of digital advertising companies totaling $1 billion
- Served as counsel to a Texas-based bank holding company in connection with its initial public offering for gross proceeds of approximately $48 million, before underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.
- Represented a public healthcare services company in acquiring its largest public competitor as part of its expansion effort
- Represented a public healthcare and manufacturing company in multiple acquisitions of public and private urology services companies
- Represented a public company in the sale of its specialty vehicle manufacturing division
- Represented a public healthcare and manufacturing company in the sale of one of its healthcare services divisions
- Represented a software development and outsourcing services company in an initial public offering and a follow-on public offering and in multiple acquisitions of software development companies
- Represented investment funds in their preferred return investments in high technology companies (multiple investments ranging up to $40 million per investment)
- Represented a nanotechnology company in a strategic joint venture transaction with a public chemicals company designed to monetize significant intellectual property assets
- Represented investor group in ownership expansion of Major League Soccer Austin FC team
- Represented a public bank holding company in a going-private transaction
- Represented a public bank holding company in multiple public exchange offerings to acquire banks
- Represented a public financial services company in multiple acquisitions of consumer finance companies
- Represented an investor in its acquisition of a significant stake in a public company and a related publicly-traded master limited partnership
- Represented an underwriter in the public stock offering of a defense contractor
- Represented a public energy company in its public spin-off of its exploration and production operations
- Represented Native American tribal gaming corporations in Rule 144A bond offerings to raise proceeds to build hotels and casinos
- Represented various public and private companies in their capacity as borrowers under credit facilities
- Represented special committees of boards of directors of high-tech companies in their consideration of private equity offerings
- Advised a public company on its response to dissident shareholders seeking board declassification, majority vote for director elections, and termination of poison pill
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Corporate Law, 2025
Publications
- “Public Benefit Corporations Have Arrived in Texas,” September 27, 2017
- “Texas Adopts Intrastate M&A Dealer Exemption,” March 4, 2015
- “SEC Issues No-Action Letter Regarding Treatment of Certain Unregistered M&A Broker-Dealers,” April 29, 2014
- “Gearing up for 2012 Annual Reporting Season: Has Your Public Company Board Addressed Cybersecurity Risk?,” January 23, 2012
- “SEC Adopts New Net Worth Standard for Accredited Investors,” January 9, 2012
Speeches
- “Top 10 Legal Mistakes of Startup Entrepreneurs,” Ignite Startup Workshop, Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Austin, April 5, 2017
- “Navigating the IPO Process from a Legal Perspective,” KPMG IPO Bootcamp, Dallas, Texas, September 10, 2014
- Panelist, “Beyond Video Game Development and Business: Legal Issues Every Startup Should Know,” Captivate Conference for Digital Entertainment, Austin, Texas, October 26, 2014
- “SEC Update — Dodd Frank Act,” Dallas CPA Society Education Conference, Dallas, Texas, May 26, 2011
- State Bar of Texas
- Diocese of Austin Catholic Foundation
- President and Board Member
- Meadow Lake Water Control and Improvement District
- Vice President and Board Member
- Open Door Preschools
- Former Chair
- Former Director
- St. Theresa Catholic Church
- Former Member, Finance Council
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
April 21, 2022
Insights
The SEC’s Climate Disclosure Requirements Are Heating Up
By Taylor Holcomb & Michael Meskill |Â On April 11, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed to require public companies to disclose extensive climate-related information in registration statements and periodic reports (including Forms 10-K and 10-Q). If finalized as proposed, the requirements would represent a sea change with respect to public company climate-related disclosures.
September 27, 2017
Insights
Public Benefit Corporations Have Arrived in Texas
Public benefit corporations, which are recognized in over 30 states, have now been adopted in Texas.
April 6, 2017
Speaking Engagements
Michael Meskill Speaks at University of Texas Workshop for Startups and Entrepreneurs
Jackson Walker partner Michael Meskill spoke to a group of aspiring entrepreneurs about the legal mistakes that commonly plague startups.
December 5, 2014
Attorney News
Mike Meskill Quoted in “Texas Lawyer” Feature on Jackson Walker Client
Jackson Walker partner Mike Meskill was quoted in a recent Texas Lawyer article about Blake Brodersen, the general counsel of Molecular Rebar Design LLC, one of Jackson Walker’s clients.
Practice Experience
- Represented a public mobile advertising company in a series of transformative cross-border acquisitions of digital advertising companies totaling $1 billion
- Served as counsel to a Texas-based bank holding company in connection with its initial public offering for gross proceeds of approximately $48 million, before underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.
- Represented a public healthcare services company in acquiring its largest public competitor as part of its expansion effort
- Represented a public healthcare and manufacturing company in multiple acquisitions of public and private urology services companies
- Represented a public company in the sale of its specialty vehicle manufacturing division
- Represented a public healthcare and manufacturing company in the sale of one of its healthcare services divisions
- Represented a software development and outsourcing services company in an initial public offering and a follow-on public offering and in multiple acquisitions of software development companies
- Represented investment funds in their preferred return investments in high technology companies (multiple investments ranging up to $40 million per investment)
- Represented a nanotechnology company in a strategic joint venture transaction with a public chemicals company designed to monetize significant intellectual property assets
- Represented investor group in ownership expansion of Major League Soccer Austin FC team
- Represented a public bank holding company in a going-private transaction
- Represented a public bank holding company in multiple public exchange offerings to acquire banks
- Represented a public financial services company in multiple acquisitions of consumer finance companies
- Represented an investor in its acquisition of a significant stake in a public company and a related publicly-traded master limited partnership
- Represented an underwriter in the public stock offering of a defense contractor
- Represented a public energy company in its public spin-off of its exploration and production operations
- Represented Native American tribal gaming corporations in Rule 144A bond offerings to raise proceeds to build hotels and casinos
- Represented various public and private companies in their capacity as borrowers under credit facilities
- Represented special committees of boards of directors of high-tech companies in their consideration of private equity offerings
- Advised a public company on its response to dissident shareholders seeking board declassification, majority vote for director elections, and termination of poison pill
Recognition & Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Corporate Law, 2025
Publications & Speeches
Publications
- “Public Benefit Corporations Have Arrived in Texas,” September 27, 2017
- “Texas Adopts Intrastate M&A Dealer Exemption,” March 4, 2015
- “SEC Issues No-Action Letter Regarding Treatment of Certain Unregistered M&A Broker-Dealers,” April 29, 2014
- “Gearing up for 2012 Annual Reporting Season: Has Your Public Company Board Addressed Cybersecurity Risk?,” January 23, 2012
- “SEC Adopts New Net Worth Standard for Accredited Investors,” January 9, 2012
Speeches
- “Top 10 Legal Mistakes of Startup Entrepreneurs,” Ignite Startup Workshop, Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Austin, April 5, 2017
- “Navigating the IPO Process from a Legal Perspective,” KPMG IPO Bootcamp, Dallas, Texas, September 10, 2014
- Panelist, “Beyond Video Game Development and Business: Legal Issues Every Startup Should Know,” Captivate Conference for Digital Entertainment, Austin, Texas, October 26, 2014
- “SEC Update — Dodd Frank Act,” Dallas CPA Society Education Conference, Dallas, Texas, May 26, 2011
Community Involvement
- State Bar of Texas
- Diocese of Austin Catholic Foundation
- President and Board Member
- Meadow Lake Water Control and Improvement District
- Vice President and Board Member
- Open Door Preschools
- Former Chair
- Former Director
- St. Theresa Catholic Church
- Former Member, Finance Council