Attorney at Bailey & Dixon, LLP and Educator
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area
- Current
-
- Attorney at Bailey & Dixon, LLP
- Special Faculty at North Carolina State University
- Arbitrator and Chairperson at Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Chairman at Foreign Trade Zone - Number 93
- Past
-
- Board Chairman at Wake County SmartStart
- Candidate at Weisel for North Carolina State Treasurer
- Attorney at Taylor, Penry, Rash & Riemann, PLLC
- General Counsel to Speaker Pro Tempore Richard T. Morgan at North Carolina General Assembly
- Corporate Board Member & Secretary at North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR)
- Chairman at Wake County Democratic Party
- Board Member at North Carolina Community College System
- Board Member at North Carolina State Banking Commission
- Trustee at North Carolina Local Government Employees' Retirement System
- Trustee at North Carolina Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement Systems
- Vice President – Portfolio Manager at Kemper (Zurich) Financial Services, Chicago, Illinois
- Vice President – Equity at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Washington, D.C.
- Office of the General Counsel - Law Clerk at FDIC
- Education
-
- Duke University
- North Carolina State University
- Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
- Guilford College
- Ward Melville High School
- Recommended
-
2 people have recommended Michael - Connections
-
500+
connections
- Industry
- Legal Services
- Websites
Michael Weisel’s Summary
My legal practice concentrates on corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, commercial real estate, venture capital, business and corporate law, government relations, administrative and regulatory law, campaign finance and election law, and securities arbitration matters.
For nearly 20 years, with firms such as Kemper (Zurich) Financial Services and Wells Fargo Bank, I was a pension fund advisor and investment manager in Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Working with pension funds, domestic and foreign commercial banks, investment and merchant banks, insurance companies and municipalities, I invested and managed over $1.25 billion in assets.
During the course of my career, I also gained extensive experience in turnarounds, crisis management, workouts, bankruptcy, DIP lending and litigation management.
Returning to North Carolina, I served on numerous regulatory and administrative bodies and as general counsel to an occupational licensing board with my prior law firm. I joined Bailey & Dixon, LLP in 2007 after serving as general counsel to the North Carolina House Speaker Pro Tempore Richard Morgan.
Most importantly, my business clients get practical advice on making a good deal work - not excuses or roadblocks on why a deal can’t work. I believe clients need clear, concise and practical counsel from their lawyer – not a 40-page legal memorandum.
When representing corporations, financial institutions, insurance companies, associations and individuals before the N.C. General Assembly, U.S. Congress, agencies and regulators, I am able to bring a unique blend of legal, legislative, business and political skills to successfully navigate clients through any governmental squalls.
Michael Weisel’s Specialties:
corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, commercial real estate, venture capital, banking, business and corporate law, government relations, administrative and regulatory law, campaign finance and election law, securities arbitration, investment management, turnarounds, crisis management, lobbying, real estate private equity, real estate investment, real estate development, real estate finance, investment management, portfolio management, asset management, politics
Michael Weisel’s Experience
-
Attorney
Bailey & Dixon, LLP
(Partnership; Legal Services industry)
January 2007 — Present (2 years 11 months)
• Practice concentration in government relations, election and campaign finance law, securities arbitration, franchise, corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, commercial real estate, venture capital, administrative and regulatory law with firm founded in 1916.
• Represent clients before the North Carolina General Assembly and Executive Branch, U. S. Congress, state and federal agencies in legislative, business and administrative matters.
• Peer selected as a 'Best Lawyer in America' for Corporate Governance and Compliance Law.
• Peer selected as a 'Legal Elite' for Business Law in Business North Carolina magazine.
• Peer Review rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell.
• Listed in Who's Who in American Law since 2006. -
Special Faculty
North Carolina State University
(Educational Institution; 10,001 or more employees; Higher Education industry)
2006 — Present (3 years )
I currently teach undergraduate and graduate students U.S. Constitutional History. Previous teaching experience includes U.S. Business History.
-
Arbitrator and Chairperson
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
(Non-Profit; 1001-5000 employees; Financial Services industry)
1998 — Present (11 years )
I serve as an arbitrator and case-designated chairperson for arbitration cases filed with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the largest non-governmental regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States.
As such, I arbitrate employment and business disputes within the securities industry, as well as a wide variety of investment disputes between brokerage firms and investors involving stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds and other types of securities. -
Chairman
Foreign Trade Zone - Number 93
(International Trade and Development industry)
1997 — Present (12 years )
Supervise all foreign trade activity within the Raleigh/Durham foreign trade zone. Foreign Trade Zones were created (in 1934) in the United States to provide special customs procedures to U. S. companies engaged in international trade-related activities.
-
Board Chairman
Wake County SmartStart
(Education Management industry)
1997 — January 2009 (12 years )
Chair, 2006 – 2009 and former Treasurer (Chair, Audit Committee)
SmartStart is responsible for the allocation and distribution of over $25 million annually in Wake County, NC for North Carolina's nationally recognized early childhood education, health, and family support program -
Candidate
Weisel for North Carolina State Treasurer
(Investment Management industry)
September 2007 — May 2008 (9 months)
Endorsement from The Charlotte Observer - April 28, 2008:
… Michael Weisel, is a Raleigh business lawyer who ran for treasurer in 1996. He has worked as an investment manager and pension fund adviser for Wells Fargo Bank and other financial firms. He has been a trustee on the boards that govern the state and local retirement systems, state community colleges and state banking commission.
Weisel's experience outpaces the others. His time on critical boards has given him a detailed knowledge of issues he will face in the treasurer's office.
Another fact should carry weight, too: He is the only candidate who has refused political contributions from banks, investment managers, their PACs or those who invest the state's pension funds...
Because of his experience and qualifications, we recommend Michael Weisel for state treasurer. -
Attorney
Taylor, Penry, Rash & Riemann, PLLC
(Legal Services industry)
2003 — 2007 (4 years )
• Represented non-participating tobacco manufacturers (NPMs) in developing business strategies for MSA escrow compliance, negotiating regulatory processes with state Attorney Generals, federal and state agencies. Handled NPM branding, transactional, and litigation issues.
• Represented corporations and real estate developers in complex business transactions and financings.
• Represented candidates and candidate committees in campaign finance and election law issues before NC State Board of Elections and subsequent litigation.
• Peer Review rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell. -
General Counsel to Speaker Pro Tempore Richard T. Morgan
North Carolina General Assembly
(Government Agency; Government Administration industry)
June 2006 — December 2006 (7 months)
• Developed policy positions, drafted and implemented legislation on behalf of the Speaker Pro Tempore Richard Morgan, with emphasis on campaign finance reform.
• Met and handled legislative, fiscal and political issues with legislators, lobbyists, interest groups, and state and local government representatives.
• Advised Speaker as General Counsel on statutory interpretation, case law, constitutional provisions, administrative rules, and proposed legislation. -
Corporate Board Member & Secretary
North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR)
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Transportation/Trucking/Railroad industry)
1999 — 2004 (5 years )
Chair, Audit Committee; Vice Chair, Real Estate Committee
Directed railroad operations and utilization of capital assets for North Carolina’s oldest (1848) corporation -
Chairman
Wake County Democratic Party
(Political Organization industry)
1999 — 2003 (4 years )
Elected twice to lead the Democratic Party in Wake County, North Carolina.
-
Board Member
North Carolina Community College System
(Government Agency; 201-500 employees; Education Management industry)
1997 — 2000 (3 years )
Vice Chair, Finance and Capital Needs Committee
Chair, Audit Sub-committee
The governing body of NC Community College System (NCCCS) oversees equitable distribution of funds and fiscal accountability for the approximately $780 million annual budget for the 58 individual member institutions. -
Board Member
North Carolina State Banking Commission
(Government Administration industry)
1993 — 1997 (4 years )
The State Banking Commission supervises, directs and reviews the activities of the Office of the Commissioner of Banks providing regulatory oversight of all North Carolina banks.
-
Trustee
North Carolina Local Government Employees' Retirement System
(Investment Management industry)
1993 — 1995 (2 years )
Trustee board helps oversee the local government retirement system for 700,000 North Carolinians, managing and investing more than $75 billion in assets.
-
Trustee
North Carolina Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement Systems
(Investment Management industry)
1993 — 1995 (2 years )
Trustee board helps oversee the teacher and state employees' retirement system for 700,000 North Carolinians, managing and investing more than $75 billion in assets.
-
Vice President – Portfolio Manager
Kemper (Zurich) Financial Services, Chicago, Illinois
(Public Company; Investment Management industry)
1990 — 1995 (5 years )
Responsible for investment and financial management of a $450 million portfolio for insurance companies and pension funds. Analyzed, structured and closed over $268 million in direct equity investments.
Reviewed and approved operating budgets and capital appropriations totaling over $26 million annually, with gross revenues in excess of $83 million. -
Vice President – Equity
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Washington, D.C.
(Public Company; WFC; Capital Markets industry)
1988 — 1990 (2 years )
Identified, structured, negotiated and closed over $130 million in direct equity investment for pension funds.
Designed, negotiated and closed over $95 million in joint venture financing, $38 million of Mortgage Backed Securities, and $43 million in tax-exempt bond financing. -
Office of the General Counsel - Law Clerk
FDIC
(Government Agency; 1001-5000 employees; Banking industry)
1978 — 1980 (2 years )
Michael Weisel’s Education
-
Duke University
Ph.D. , Business History , 2002 — 2010 (expected)
Dissertation: “Charles Schwab and the Steel Navy: The Political Economy of Big Steel and the U. S. Navy 1885 – 1915”
- Activities and Societies:
- Honors
• Selected as Fellow for Business History Conference Newcomen Dissertation Colloquium, 2007
• Selected as Fellow for Institute for Constitutional Studies at George Washington University Summer Seminar, “War Powers and the Constitution,” 2006
• Summer Research Fellowship, Duke University Graduate School, 2006
• Selected as Fellow for West Point Summer Seminar in Military History, 2004
• Departmental Fellowship, Duke University, 2002 – 2007
-
North Carolina State University
M.A. , History , 1999 — 2003
Thesis: “Dixie Gentlemanly Capitalism: Studies in British Finance of the Confederacy”
- Activities and Societies:
- Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society
-
Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
J.D. , Law , 1977 — 1980
-
Guilford College
B.S. , Business Management and History , 1974 — 1977
Senior Thesis: “T. E. Lawrence and His Influence on the Arab Revolt”
- Activities and Societies:
- Manager for Football and Basketball teams
-
Ward Melville High School
High School Honors Diploma , 1971 — 1975
Additional Information
Michael Weisel’s Websites:
Michael Weisel’s Interests:
Academic Associations • American Historical Association • Business History Association • Economic History Association • Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture • Society for Military History • Triangle Institute for Strategic Studies • H-Net Humanities and Social Sciences Online, Founding Committee, Advisory Board Member and List Editor, H-NC
Michael Weisel’s Groups:
• National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) former licensee
- Series 7 License – General Securities Representative
- Series 24 License – General Securities Principal
- Series 63 License – Uniform State Law
• North Carolina Bar Association
• Wake County Bar Association
• North Carolina Professional Lobbyist Association
• Wake County Democratic Party, Chairman (two elected terms), 1999 – 2003
• North Carolina Democratic Party State Executive Committee, 1997 – Present
• Member: Penn Club (New York), Union League Club (Chicago)
-
Executive Suite -
U.S. Government Relations & Public Affairs -
North Carolina State University Alumni Group -
Union League Club of Chicago -
Banking Connects -
Legal Blogging -
Linking Raleigh, NC -
North Carolina State University Group -
Finance and Investment Management -
Commercial Real Estate Investment Professionals -
Alumni of Guilford College -
Duke University Alumni Network -
Linkin North Carolina -
Raleigh-Durham Business Counsel -
Wells Fargo Alumni -
iContact Users Group -
North Carolina Bar Association -
IOPL- Institute of Political Leadership. -
RTPconnected -
Exclusively for Corporate Counsel and Association Attorneys
Michael Weisel’s Honors:
• Selected as Fellow of the Institute of Political Leadership
• Named Outstanding Young Man of America by National Jaycees
• Listed in Who's Who in America
• Listed in Who's Who in American Law
• Listed in Who's Who in the World
Michael Weisel’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
