Michael D. Martz

Michael is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and serves as the managing partner of the firm’s nine offices. Michael is a member of the corporate and business organizations group and serves as corporate counsel to both large companies and mid-sized businesses engaged in multiple industries including manufacturing, retail, financial institutions and the restaurant and food industry.  Michael’s areas of practice include mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, general commercial and business matters and licensing transactions.

Board Memberships and Community Activities:

• The Columbus Partnership, Current Board Member and Finance Committee Member
• Future Ready Columbus, Current Board Member
• President of the Board of Trustees of the Columbus Museum of Art, November, 2016 to November, 2018
• Ohio Business Round Table, Current Board Member
• One Columbus Leadership Circle, Current Member
• Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Current Board Member and Executive Committee Member
• Upper Arlington Community Foundation Board of Directors, Current Board Member, Vice Chair
• Columbus Museum of Art Board of Trustees, 2010 to present
• Vice President of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Development Committee of the Columbus Museum of Art, 2013 to 2016   
• Godman Guild Association, Board of Trustees, 1995-2001
• Columbus Bar Association, Current Member

Other Career Highlights:

• Selected for Columbus Business First Power 100 List Recognizing the Most Influential Leaders in Central Ohio in 2019 and 2020
• Serving as the Co-Chair of the Legal Aid Society of Columbus' 2019-2022 Capital Campaign
• Accompanied Ohio Governor Robert Taft and representatives of the Ohio Department of Development on a trade mission to France and Germany

Representative Transactions:

• Represented The Ohio State University in its negotiations with Nike regarding licensing rights and equipment/apparel products
• Represented ScottsMiracle-Gro in multiple transactions with Monsanto relating to ScottsMiracle- Gro serving as the exclusive agent for the marketing, sale and distribution of Round-Up products in the consumer lawn and garden market
• Represented multiple firm clients in structuring, negotiating and completing license and branding agreements with the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and over 50 colleges and universities
• Represented Bob Evans Farms, Inc. in its sale of 145 Mimi’s Cafe restaurants to Le Duff America, Inc.
• Represented ScottsMiracle-Gro in its divestiture of the Smith & Hawken Brand to Target Corporation
• Represented Camco Financial Corporation in its merger with Huntington Bancshares, Inc.
• Represented Thirty-One Gifts, LLC in its acquisition of Jewel Kade Holdings LLC
• Representing Thirty-One Gifts, LLC in its acquisition of Rendi LLC
• Represented multiple public companies and start-up companies in capital raising transactions
• Represented Citizens Independent Bancorp, Inc. in its equity raise
• Represented Venture Med, LLC in its Series A preferred equity raise
• Represented the owner of Safety Solutions, Inc. in a sale of stock to W.W. Grainger, Inc.
• Structured, negotiated and completed numerous intellectual property licensing agreements, including numerous celebrity licensing and endorsement deals

Honors & Recognitions

Selected for Columbus Business First Power 100 List Recognizing the Most Influential Leaders in Central Ohio, 2019-2020

Ohio Super Lawyers, Corporate, 2017-2020

Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyer in Corporate/M&A, 2016-2017

Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2015-2016

The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, 2013-2023