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Michael E. Hollingsworth II
Partner
Atlantic Station
201 17th Street NW
Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30363
201 17th Street NW
Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30363
michael.hollingsworth@nelsonmullins.com
Michael is co-chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group and its Investment Management Group. Michael focuses on middle-market corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. He also serves as the Atlanta office managing partner and on the firm's Executive Committee, the governing body of seven partners who oversee firm standing committees, strategic initiatives, and...
Michael is co-chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group and its Investment Management Group. Michael focuses on middle-market corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. He also serves as the Atlanta office managing partner and on the firm's Executive Committee, the governing body of seven partners who oversee firm standing committees, strategic initiatives, and firm operations.
firm operations.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Has represented private equity and hedge funds relative to their formation, operations and investments
- Industry experience includes food and beverage, consumer-branded products, healthcare, construction and aggregates, technology and telecommunications, media, manufacturing and distribution, and business services
- A transactional lawyer in the firm's multidisciplinary National Healthcare Practice Group
Previous Professional Experience
- Partner, Kilpatrick Stockton (now Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton), an Atlanta-based AmLaw 100 firm
Education
- Samford University Cumberland School of Law, JD, magna cum laude (1996)
- University of Alabama School of Law, LLM, Taxation (1999)
- Tulane University, BA, Political Science
Admissions
- Alabama
- Georgia
Practice Areas
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Has represented private equity and hedge funds relative to their formation, operations and investments
- Industry experience includes food and beverage, consumer-branded products, healthcare, construction and aggregates, technology and telecommunications, media, manufacturing and distribution, and business services
- A transactional lawyer in the firm's multidisciplinary National Healthcare Practice Group
Previous Professional Experience
- Partner, Kilpatrick Stockton (now Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton), an Atlanta-based AmLaw 100 firm
Media
Events / Speaking Engagements
| The 17th Annual Southeastern M&A/Private Equity Forum, Considering Risks and Rewards in a Post-Pandemic Deals Market, Thomson Reuters, Co-Chair (Oct. 8, 2021) |
| Navigating The Changing Business Landscape and Maintaining Liquidity through the COVID-19 Crisis, Panelist (April 16, 2020) |
| Atlanta Bar Joint Litigation Section and Corporate Counsel Section Breakfast, Life of a Trial 2.0 - The Litigator’s Toolbox Series: Effective Client Advocacy, Panelist (February 14, 2020) |
| 2018 Future of Georgia Manufacturing, Speaker (December 12, 2018) |
| Rainmaker Miami Summit, Speaker (November 15, 2018) |
News
Alerts
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- The Best Lawyers in America®,Corporate Governance Law (2023–2025), Corporate Law (2024–2025), Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024–2025)
- IFLR1000 USA, Highly Regarded in M&A in Georgia (2018–2022)
- Legal 500 United States, M&A/corporate and commercial - M&A – Middle Market (sub-$500 million) (2016–2024), Leading Partner (2025)
- Who's Who Legal, Thought Leaders M&A and Governance (2022), Recommended M&A (2024)
- The International Who's Who of Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyers (which ranks the top 614 M&A lawyers worldwide) (2011–2015, 2018–2022)
- The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (annual compendiums)
- Super Lawyers (2009–2012)
- Georgia Trend's “Legal Elite: Georgia’s Most Effective Lawyers”
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
- Corporate/M&A – Georgia (2009–2025)
- Corporate/M&A – Georgia, Up and Coming (2007–2008)
- Among 84 attorneys nationwide named by corporate counsel as the most client-service oriented in the fields of securities, mergers and acquisitions, and transactional law as reported by BTI Consulting Group (2012)
- Circle of Friends Pearl Award from the Circle of Friends/Living Water for Girls organization (2014)
- The Atlanta 500 — Atlanta Magazine (2018–2022)
- Most Admired CEOs — Atlanta Business Journal (2019)
Professional Activities
- President's Council for Tulane University (2023)
- Managing Partner for Nelson Mullins' Atlanta Office
- Serves on Nelson Mullins' Executive Committee
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)
- Southern Capital Forum
- Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, American Bar Association
- Committee publishes the Deal Points studies on prevailing terms in M&A transactions
- Founded the Southeastern M&A Forum (2005)
- Brings together strategic buyers, investment bankers, private equity groups, lenders, accountants, and deal lawyers each fall for a mergers and acquisitions conference
Community
- Board of Trustees, Woodruff Arts Center
- Board of Directors, The Empty Stocking Fund
- Member and Usher, Cathedral of St. Philip
- Membership Committee, Ansley Golf Club
- Board of Trustees, St. Andrew's-Sewanee School, an Episcopal boarding and day college preparatory school in Sewanee, Tennessee
- Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2014
- Advisory Board, Next Generation Manufacturing
- Advisory Board, Cumberland School of Law at Samford University (Appointed by the Dean, 2011)
- Executive Committee Chair, Tulane Fund Advisory Board
Michael is co-chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group and its Investment Management Group. Michael focuses on middle-market corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. He also serves as the Atlanta office managing partner and on the firm's Executive Committee, the governing body of seven partners who oversee firm standing committees, strategic initiatives, and... firm operations.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Has represented private equity and hedge funds relative to their formation, operations and investments
- Industry experience includes food and beverage, consumer-branded products, healthcare, construction and aggregates, technology and telecommunications, media, manufacturing and distribution, and business services
- A transactional lawyer in the firm's multidisciplinary National Healthcare Practice Group
Previous Professional Experience
- Partner, Kilpatrick Stockton (now Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton), an Atlanta-based AmLaw 100 firm
Education
- Samford University Cumberland School of Law, JD, magna cum laude (1996)
- University of Alabama School of Law, LLM, Taxation (1999)
- Tulane University, BA, Political Science
Admissions
- Alabama
- Georgia
Practice Areas
Industries
Events /
Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements
| The 17th Annual Southeastern M&A/Private Equity Forum, Considering Risks and Rewards in a Post-Pandemic Deals Market, Thomson Reuters, Co-Chair (Oct. 8, 2021) |
| Navigating The Changing Business Landscape and Maintaining Liquidity through the COVID-19 Crisis, Panelist (April 16, 2020) |
| Atlanta Bar Joint Litigation Section and Corporate Counsel Section Breakfast, Life of a Trial 2.0 - The Litigator’s Toolbox Series: Effective Client Advocacy, Panelist (February 14, 2020) |
| 2018 Future of Georgia Manufacturing, Speaker (December 12, 2018) |
| Rainmaker Miami Summit, Speaker (November 15, 2018) |
News
Alerts
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- The Best Lawyers in America®,Corporate Governance Law (2023–2025), Corporate Law (2024–2025), Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024–2025)
- IFLR1000 USA, Highly Regarded in M&A in Georgia (2018–2022)
- Legal 500 United States, M&A/corporate and commercial - M&A – Middle Market (sub-$500 million) (2016–2024), Leading Partner (2025)
- Who's Who Legal, Thought Leaders M&A and Governance (2022), Recommended M&A (2024)
- The International Who's Who of Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyers (which ranks the top 614 M&A lawyers worldwide) (2011–2015, 2018–2022)
- The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (annual compendiums)
- Super Lawyers (2009–2012)
- Georgia Trend's “Legal Elite: Georgia’s Most Effective Lawyers”
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
- Corporate/M&A – Georgia (2009–2025)
- Corporate/M&A – Georgia, Up and Coming (2007–2008)
- Among 84 attorneys nationwide named by corporate counsel as the most client-service oriented in the fields of securities, mergers and acquisitions, and transactional law as reported by BTI Consulting Group (2012)
- Circle of Friends Pearl Award from the Circle of Friends/Living Water for Girls organization (2014)
- The Atlanta 500 — Atlanta Magazine (2018–2022)
- Most Admired CEOs — Atlanta Business Journal (2019)
- President's Council for Tulane University (2023)
- Managing Partner for Nelson Mullins' Atlanta Office
- Serves on Nelson Mullins' Executive Committee
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)
- Southern Capital Forum
- Mergers and Acquisitions Committee, American Bar Association
- Committee publishes the Deal Points studies on prevailing terms in M&A transactions
- Founded the Southeastern M&A Forum (2005)
- Brings together strategic buyers, investment bankers, private equity groups, lenders, accountants, and deal lawyers each fall for a mergers and acquisitions conference
- Board of Trustees, Woodruff Arts Center
- Board of Directors, The Empty Stocking Fund
- Member and Usher, Cathedral of St. Philip
- Membership Committee, Ansley Golf Club
- Board of Trustees, St. Andrew's-Sewanee School, an Episcopal boarding and day college preparatory school in Sewanee, Tennessee
- Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2014
- Advisory Board, Next Generation Manufacturing
- Advisory Board, Cumberland School of Law at Samford University (Appointed by the Dean, 2011)
- Executive Committee Chair, Tulane Fund Advisory Board
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