Provides comprehensive advice on private equity and M&A transactions.
Represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies, and institutional investors.
Experience spans strategic and growth investments, M&A and corporate governance matters.

Michelle represents investment management and corporate clients on a broad array of complex business transactions. Her practice encompasses private equity and mergers & acquisitions (M&A), leveraged buyouts, divestitures, growth investments, minority investments, co-investments, corporate governance, board consents, equity grants and general corporate advice.

With clients across various industries, Michelle advises private equity funds and their portfolio companies, private and public companies and institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds.

She also represents private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies and other strategic investors in related matters, including follow-on acquisitions, day-to-day corporate issues and corporate governance matters.

Representative Work

Advised Paine Schwartz Partners–backed HGS BioScience, a leading provider of biological crop solutions, in its acquisition of:
- Pharmgrade, an Idaho-based innovator specializing in microbial consortium products.
- NutriAg Ltd., a Toronto-based innovator in bionutritional technologies.
Advised Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the completed sale of its business in Brazil to Publibanca Brasil S.A., an affiliate of Eletromidia S.A
Represented Paine Schwartz Partners, a private equity fund specializing in sustainable food chain investing, in its strategic growth investment, in Elemental Enzymes, a leading developer of naturally occurring enzymes and biochemicals contributing to improved plant health, yield and profitability.
Advised Tandym Group, a national consulting, recruitment and workforce solutions company backed by Mill Rock Capital, a growth and operations-oriented private investment firm that invests in well-positioned businesses in North America, and ICG, a global alternative asset manager, in its acquisition of:
- Certain assets of Entitech Solutions, a provider of tailored solutions for healthcare and life sciences organizations.
- Certain assets of Kolter Solutions, a technology staffing company specializing in healthcare IT.
- Certain assets of AETEA Information Technology (IT), a full spectrum IT human capital organization.

Advised Mubadala Capital, an investor in premier assets in entertainment and hospitality programs covering ticketed sports, fashion and music events, on its acquisition of the remaining stake in IMM Holding Ltda., the operator of the Rio Open from IMG Brazil LLC, an affiliate of Endeavor.
Advised Sheridan Capital Partners, health care-focused private equity firm, in its investment in Future Care Associates, a firm that provides health care groups with revenue management and back-office services.
Advised Eagle Point Credit Management, a specialist investment manager focused on investing in collateralized loan obligation (CLO) securities, portfolio debt securities and other credit investments, as seller of its affiliated CLO business, Marble Point Credit Management, a leading United States-based CLO manager, to Investcorp Credit Management, a leading global alternative investment firm
Advised Paine Schwartz Partners in its acquisition of Humic Growth Solutions, a leading developer in humic acid products with strong manufacturing footprints.
Advised ICV Partners, an investment firm, insignificant investment in Beacon Global Strategies, a Washington D.C.-based strategic advisory firm specializing in government policy, government procurement, geopolitical and risk analysis, technology policy, supply chain risks, cyber risks and strategic communications.
Advised AE Industrial Partners, a private equity fund focused on aerospace, defense and government services, in its:
- $75 million Series B growth equity investment in Firefly Aerospace, which is developing a family of launch and in-space vehicles and services that provide industry-leading affordability, convenience and reliability.
- Earlier agreement to acquire a significant stake in Firefly.

List may include matters worked on prior to joining Akin.

Languages
Cantonese

Education
J.D., Columbia Law School, 2013
B.A., Dartmouth College, 2010

Bar Admissions
New York

Recognitions

Diversity Journal, Women Worth Watching in Leadership, 2024.
The Legal 500 US, Private Equity Buyouts: Middle-Market (up to $500m), 2024.

Speeches and Publications

Moderator, “Hot Commodities in the Consumer Sector,” M&A Summit, Kayo Conference Series, October 2025.
Moderator, “The New Normal: How to Get Deals Done,” Private Equity Summit, With Intelligence, March 2025.
Moderator, “Making Portfolio Companies Successful: Why It’s Key to Making One’s Mark,” Private Equity Summit, With Intelligence, September 2023.