Biography

Michael White joined James-Bates-Brannan-Groover-LLP in 2012.  He has practiced law in Macon and Athens since 1999 with a focus on financial institutions, regulatory and securities compliance, corporation structure, commercial real estate, lending and contract litigation. Mr. White counsels financial institutions and their officers and directors on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, de novo bank and holding company formations, corporate governance, board management issues, public offerings and private placements to raise capital as well as including “going private” transactions, regulatory issues including enforcement actions, and shareholder relations. 

Mr. White advises financial institutions regarding securities compliance, including the preparation of periodic reports, disclosure requirements, proxy solicitations and insider trading rules. Mr. White also provides counsel to small businesses and financial institutions for Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy, litigation, loan workouts and collections.

Practice Areas

• Banking + Financial Institutions
• Securities Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Corporate + Transactional
• Litigation
• Creditors Rights + Bankruptcy
• Real Estate
• Commercial Law

Representative Matters

• Represented acquirer in whole-bank purchase by bank holding company which included a three charter subsidiary reorganization; 
• Represented national bank located in North Georgia in acquisition of a state-chartered bank;
• Represented purchaser in $2 million small business acquisition of data processing company in Georgia;
• Represented community bank seller in asset sale to community bank holding company;
• Represented Georgia small business acquirer in $1 million asset purchase of clothing store located in Phoenix, Arizona;
• Represented Georgia community bank in successful private placement capital raises of $11 million and $5 million;
• Represented purchaser in 50% buy-in of periodontal practice;
• Represented community bank in reporting and compliance with state and federal regulators in Consent Order resulting release from enforcement action;
• Represented community bank in receivership action against borrower; and 
• Represented community bank in bond claims resulting from employee embezzlement scheme.
• Represented community bank in Chapter 11 bankruptcy involving court governed auction of real estate collateral.

Professional Organizations/Activities

• General Counsel for the Community Bankers Association of Georgia
• Georgia Bankers Association, Associate Member
• State Bar of Georgia

Awards + Recognitions

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating - Top Rated Lawyer in Banking Law, Creditor Rights and Securities Law
• Best Lawyers 2020 "Lawyer of the Year" for Macon in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights 
• Best Lawyers 2015-2020 in Banking and Finance Law

Presentations + Publications

• Eleventh Circuit Rules Bank Not a “Debt Collector” Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
• HOA Superliens Could Wipe Out Bank's First Priority Lien on Real Property
• Court Ruling Provides Banks Glimmer of Hope in Recovering Costs from Retailer Data Breaches
• Georgia Supreme Court Decides Applicability of Business Judgment Rule to Bank Director and Officer Decision Making
• Loan Participation Agreements and the “Administrator Replacement Provision”
• Presenter, "BSA Legal Update" Community Bankers Association of Georgia Advanced BSA Officer School, 2013, 2014 and 2015
• Presenter, Community Bankers Association of Georgia Annual Convention and Mini Trade Show, 2019

Education

• Mercer University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1999)
• University of Georgia (B.B.A.,1989)

Admitted

• Georgia, 1999

Administrative/Legal Assistant Contact

Name: Christina Cothren
Title: Legal Assistant
Phone: 706.215.8331