Michael T. Rave

Michael Rave represents financial services companies, in particular community banks and thrifts, in bank regulatory, securities and corporate governance matters, and mergers and acquisitions. He represents many financial institutions in all aspects of their business.

Michael also counsels other business entities on corporate and securities law issues, including mergers and acquisitions and public and private capital raising. A significant part of his practice involves helping public companies comply with federal securities laws and address corporate governance issues.

Michael has a great deal of experience in bank M&A transactions. Through consolidation in the financial services industry, he has represented many banks as buyers or sellers in transactions across the U.S.

Michael also is a frequent speaker and writer on issues related to banking, including regulatory, securities and M&A issues. He is an author for the LexisNexis Practice Advisor series on public securities offerings. He also is the Chairman of the State of New Jersey Corporation and Business Law Study Commission, a legislative commission dedicated to improving and modernizing the New Jersey Business Corporation Act.

Michael prides himself on being obsessively responsive to e-mail regardless of the time of day. He approaches client transactions with both common sense and an urgency to get the best possible results without endangering the deal. Clients appreciate his down-to-earth personality and his ability to work productively with even the most difficult adversary.

The 2013 edition of Chambers USA had this to say about him: "Described as 'very capable and conscientious,' Michael Rave is acknowledged by many for both his technical [experience] and accessibility to clients." In the 2014 edition, they noted that he "is an 'outstanding' attorney whose skills span the gamut of corporate work, and he also has a particular strength in capital markets work." In 2015, Chambers USA noted that Michael is "particularly well versed in handling M&A matters for clients in the financial services space" and "popular among clients." "[He is a] hard-working and responsive adviser with respect to all aspects of M&A negotiations," one client stated. In 2016, another client interviewed by Chambers USA said, "We view him as a strategic partner – he is a pragmatic thinker with extensive legal and industry knowledge."