Michael D. Martz
Mr. Martz is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the corporate and finance group. Mr. Martz serves as corporate counsel to Fortune 1000 corporate clients engaged in the retail industry. He also serves as corporate counsel to financial institutions and start-up, emerging and mature closely-held businesses. Mr. Martz has represented both public and private company clients involved in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and other strategic business combinations as well as numerous intellectual property licensing transactions. His work with financial institution clients includes responsibility for mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters and extensive interaction with financial institution regulators as well as Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) compliance.
Career highlights include:
- Providing corporate legal services to over 750 corporate and financial institution clients ranging from Fortune 1000 corporations engaged in the retail and logistics industries, regional banks and bank holding companies and closely held businesses
- Structuring, negotiating and completing public and private company mergers, acquisitions and divestitures for more than 50 firm clients
- Structuring, negotiating and completing over 150 international sourcing agreements
- Structuring, negotiating and completing over 100 intellectual property licensing agreements, including more than 30 celebrity licensing and endorsement deals
- Representing firm clients in licensing transactions with the National Football League, Major League Baseball and over 50 colleges and universities
- Structuring and negotiating international franchise transactions for firm clients
- Assisting start-up bank organizers in establishing de-novo banks in Ohio from the initial meeting of organizers, through the offering of bank securities, and until the banks received approval from the Ohio Superintendent of Banks to open for business
- Accompanying Ohio Governor Robert Taft and representatives of the Ohio Department of Development on a trade mission to France and Germany in 1995
Mr. Martz was chief presenter and organizer of a seminar for general counsel of Fortune 1000 corporations located in Ohio addressing aspects of corporate law of particular interest to Fortune 1000 corporations.
Mr. Martz received his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and his B.S. from the University of Nebraska.
Professional and Community Activities
- Columbus Museum of Art, Board of Trustees, 2010 to present
- Godman Guild Association, Board of Trustees, 1995-2001; Secretary, 1998-2001
- Columbus Bar Association, member
Events
Publications
- "Duties of Directors and Officers Under Ohio Law," Ohio Bar Association, 2009
- “Bank Holding Companies Retain Some Advantage in the Wake of Riegle-Neal,” Ohio Banking News, 1998