Jeffrey A. Ott, a partner with the law firm Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, has been named a finalist for Dealmaker of the Year by MiBiz.
Ott will be honored as a finalist in the Adviser category during a ceremony held at St. Cecilia Music Center this evening. He is one of 11 finalists in categories that recognize West Michigan’s Top Deals and Dealmakers, an annual event presented by MiBiz in cooperation with the Association of Corporate Growth West Michigan.
Winners were determined based on best practices and excellence related to mergers, acquisitions and deal-making. Senior executives, attorneys and advisers served as judges.
This past year alone, Ott has led six M&A transactions, which were collectively valued at more than $350 million. Three of the transactions were for Warner Norcross client Chemical Financial Corp., where Ott has served as legal counsel for three decades. He successfully led the acquisition of Northwestern Bancorp Inc. in Traverse City, a $121 million transaction, Monarch Community Bancorp, Inc. in Coldwater, a $27.2 stock deal, and Lake Michigan Financial Corp., a $187.4 million transaction.
His nomination read, in part: “Jeff enjoys a reputation of being honest and fair, yet tough, when it comes to managing deals. His focus is always on getting the deal done effectively and efficiently consistent with the client’s goals, not earning ‘negotiating points.’ ”
A member of the firm’s business law and financial services practice groups, Ott has represented businesses and financial institutions for more than 25 years. He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, compliance with securities laws and general corporate and business matters. He specializes in counseling publicly traded companies on strategic and compliance issues under federal and state securities laws. Additionally, he serves as the chair of the firm's Reporting Companies and Registered Offerings Group.
Active in the community, Ott is a trustee for Albion College and a board member for Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. He has served on the board of directors for Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding in Rockford for 20 years, including six years as president.
About Warner
By providing discerning and proactive legal advice, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP builds a better partnership with our clients. One of Michigan’s largest law firms, we’re focused on providing the best legal solutions and exceptional client service to organizations throughout the world. Connect with us on wnj.com, LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.
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