Michael R. Mills
PEOPLE

Michael R. Mills

Partner
mills.mike@dorsey.com

Overview

MIKE ADDS VALUE BY GUIDING CLIENTS THROUGH COMPLEX COMMERCIAL MATTERS.

Mike’s experience includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, complex financings and business disputes. He takes pride in understanding the practical business impact of legal matters.

Mike’s practice covers a wide variety of business and finance issues, and he serves as outside general counsel consulting on strategic issues for many of his clients.

Education & Admissions

University of Michigan (J.D., 1987)

University of Queensland, Australia (1984), Rotary Foundation Fellowship

University of Notre Dame (B.A., 1983)

Admissions

  • Alaska
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Districts of Alaska and Colorado
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, the Northern District of Illinois, the Eastern District of Texas, the Western District of Washington, the Northern District of Oklahoma

Experience

Representative Matters

Transactional Matters

  • Ryan Air, Inc. (represented sellers of Alaska regional air carrier)
  • Koniag, Inc. (represented Alaska Native Corporation in acquisition of Texan technology consulting firm)
  • Sudzy Salmon Car Washes (represented sellers of car wash chain and related products distribution company)
  • Ivy Infusion (represented seller of Alaska home infusion business)
  • Big G Electric, Inc. (represented commercial electric contractor in stock sale to Alaska Native Corporation)
  • TecPro (represented technology provider in sale of company to Alaska Native Corporation)
  • Northwest Contracting LLC (dba Pacific Asphalt) (represented company in stock sale to Alaska Native Corporation)
  • Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (America), Inc. (represented Ritchie Bros. in §363 bankruptcy acquisition of $35,000,000 of pipeline equipment)
  • Builders Choice, Inc. (represented seller in stock sale of modular builder and lumber company)
  • Geneva Woods Pharmacy, Inc. (represent Alaska-based pharmacy as corporate counsel and in multiple acquisitions in Wyoming, Washington, Idaho and Alaska, including 363 and receivership purchases)
  • Geneva Woods Pharmacy, Inc. (represented shareholders in stock sale to CVS Pharmacy with durable medical equipment portion of the business spun out to shareholders prior to CVS Pharmacy closing)
  • The Chenega Corporation (represented The Chenega Corporation in numerous multi-million dollar acquisitions from 2007-present, one over $50,000,000, and the sale of several hotels)
  • Bristol Bay Native Corporation (represented buyer in purchase of three Alaska fishing lodges, including Brooks Lodge)
  • Inlet Fish Producers, Inc. (represented fish processor in sale of its three plants)
  • Janicki Industries, Inc. (represented borrower in $52,000,000 financing, $15,000,000 Utah plant expansion, and $62,000,000 financing)
  • VECO Corporation (represented major shareholder in $463,000,000 sale to CH2M HILL of oil and gas related engineering and construction company)
  • Real Estate Financing (completed $10,300,000 commercial mortgage-backed security refinancing after successful debt restructure and co-owner buy-out)
  • Corporate Restructuring (represented numerous companies and also creditors in successful debt restructurings)

Commercial Disputes

  • Plaintiffs v. Paklook Air, Inc. d/b/a Yute Commercial Services d/b/a Yute Air (successfully negotiated a resolution of a wrongful death litigation involving a plane crash)
  • Aleut Enterprise, LLC v. Adak Seafoods and Independence Bank (obtained summary judgment for owner of fish processing plant in complex lease dispute)
  • Tikigaq/Global Services v. Alaska Petroleum Contractors (obtained a jury verdict of approximately $700,000 against Alaska Petroleum Contractors in the Alaska Superior Court)
  • Alltel Publishing v. Alaska Communication Systems (represented Alltel Publishing of Akron, Ohio, subsidiary of Alltel Corporation, in Alaska Superior Court in multi-million dollar breach of contract action over termination of yellow page contract)
  • Ownership Disputes (represent many owners in disputes, sales and dissolutions)

Bankruptcy Matters (Debtor, Creditor and Trustee Counsel)

  • Yak Timber, Inc. (represent Chapter 11 debtor in liquidating plan)
  • Weber, Inc. (represent largest creditor who initiated an involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy against debtor who owed $1.6M arbitration judgment)
  • Alaska Urological Institute (Alaska) (Represent unsecured creditors’ committee in Chapter 11)
  • Cook Inlet Energy (Alaska) (defended six preference lawsuits brought by liquidating trustee; all resolved)
  • Samson Resources Corporation (Delaware) (defended and resolved $600,000 preference action brought by liquidating trustee)
  • Trophy King Lodge (Alaska) (confirmed full payout Chapter 11 plan)
  • Anchorage Midtown Motel (confirmed Chapter 11 full payout plan; subsequently, confirmed second Chapter 11 liquidating plan)
  • Channel Construction (Alaska) (represent unsecured creditors committee in full payment plan)
  • Aleut Management Services (Colorado case) (defended corporate parent in fraudulent transfer case brought by trustee)
  • TW&C (Maryland case) (represented Chenega in a government contractor Chapter 11 cash collateral loan and 363 purchase of contracts)
  • Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska, Inc. (Diocese of Fairbanks) (confirmed Chapter 11 plan) (Debtor Counsel)
  • Pacific Energy (Delaware case) (represented CIRI as pipeline lessor and natural gas lessor in debtor's sale of oil field on west side of Cook Inlet)
  • Era Aviation (represented Seacor Holdings, Era Helicopters, Era FBO, largest unsecured creditors and member of unsecured creditors' committee in Chapter 11, full payout plan)
  • Martech, Inc. and Chapter 7 trustee (represented NYSE listed construction/remediation company in Chapter 11 and served as special counsel for Chapter 7 trustee)
  • MarkAir, Inc. and Chapter 7 trustee (largest Chapter 11 in Alaska's history. Alaska based airline. Successfully reorganized in 1993. Second Chapter 11 case converted to Chapter 7 in 1995. Served as special counsel for Chapter 7 trustee) Trustees (represented trustee in over 100 chapter 7 cases)

Representative Clients

  • The Aleut Corporation 
  • Alpha Aviation, LLC
  • Borealis Basecamps, LLC
  • Bristol Bay Native Corporation
  • Calkins & Burke, Ltd./C.B. Magnum, Inc. (Vancouver, B.C.)
  • The Chenega Corporation
  • ENSTAR Natural Gas Company/Alaska Pipeline Company
  • Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.
  • Janicki Industries, Inc. (Sedro-Woolley, WA)
  • Koniag, Inc.
  • Mobile IV Systems, LLC
  • Nexii Building Solutions Inc. (Vancouver, B.C.)
  • Partusch Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
  • Pinnacle Renewable Energy (Vancouver, B.C.)
  • Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated (Vancouver, B.C.)
  • Western Peterbilt, Inc. (Sumner, WA)
  • Zo Financial, LLC

News & Resources

Articles

Does My Business Qualify for Federal Funding under the CARES Act?
The Trump Administration announced two key appointments to Indian Affairs posts in the Department of the Interior this week

News & Press Mentions

IFLR1000 Ranks 13 Dorsey Lawyers and 13 Practices for 2023
200 Dorsey Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Lawyers of the Year, and Ones to Watch
Alaska Business Legal Elite Recognizes 4 Dorsey Anchorage Lawyers
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Michael Mills and Corporate Practice in Anchorage
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
IFLR1000 Ranks Dorsey Lawyers and Practices for 2022
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
IFLR1000 Ranks Dorsey Lawyers and Practices for 2021-2022
IFLR1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
IFLR1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
IFLR 1000 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2019 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Dorsey Partner Mike Mills Named Iditarod President
Four Dorsey Lawyers in Anchorage Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019
Five Dorsey Lawyers in Anchorage Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2018
Six Dorsey Offices Recognized by Global Law Experts
Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practice Groups in Anchorage
Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Three Dorsey Lawyers in Anchorage Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2017 and 2017 Lawyers of the Year
Chambers USA 2016 Ranks Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2016 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practice Groups in Anchorage
Super Lawyers Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers in Anchorage
Four Dorsey Lawyers in Anchorage Selected for The Best Lawyers in America® 2016 and Best Lawyers of the Year
Chambers USA 2015 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practice Groups in Anchorage
Super Lawyers Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers in Anchorage

Events & Speaking Engagements

Law Seminars International: Commercial Real Estate Leases

Industries & Practices

Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
  • Closely Held Businesses
  • Corporate Governance & Compliance
  • Development & Infrastructure
  • Digital Health
  • Emerging Companies
  • Executive Compensation
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Hospitality
  • Indian & Alaska Native
  • Lending Transactions
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Mining
  • Private Equity
  • Real Estate & Land Use
  • Technology
  • Technology Commerce

Professional & Civic

Community Involvement

  • Iditarod Trail Committee (President, Board of Directors, July 2018-Present)
  • Covenant House Alaska (Board member since 2008; Chair 2014-2016)
  • Anchorage Community Development Authority (Board member since 2012; Chair 2015-2021)
  • Dorsey & Whitney LLP Policy Committee (Board) (2020-Present)
  • South Anchorage High School (Stadium committee)

Accolades

 Chambers USA 2023Chambers 2022Chambers USA 2021  Ranked in Chambers USA 2020 Ranked in Chambers USA 2019 Leading Individual  

Chambers USA 2018 Leading Individual  Ranked in USA Chambers 2017 Leading Individual   Top Ranked - USA Chambers and Partners 2016 - Leading Individual   Top Ranked - Chambers USA 2015 - Leading Individual  

  • Named a Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2022-2023
  • Ranked one of "America's Leading Business Lawyers" by Chambers USA (Corporate/M&A; Bankruptcy/Restructuring), 2005-2023
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© in the specialty of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2003-2024

Pro Bono 50 Hours 2022

  • Contributed more than 50+ Challenge pro bono hours, 2022
  • IFLR1000 Highly Regarded – State, 2019-2023
  • Listed as an Alaska Super Lawyer, 2013-2015
  • Co-Chair of Bankruptcy Section of Alaska Bar, 1995-1997
Michael R. Mills