NC firm acquired in major expansion

By Jason Thomas
[email protected]

Milwaukee-based Michael Best has acquired North Carolina law firm Forrest Firm, adding 23 lawyers and 13 professionals that will expand the Michael Best’s presence in the state. 

In addition to Michael Best’s established Raleigh office, the firm will gain seven offices throughout the state, in Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Greenville, Wilmingto, and Winston-Salem, the release stated.

With a deep bench of attorneys focusing on representing start-up companies, Forrest Firm will serve as a natural complement to Michael Best’s Venture Best team, which helps counsel high-growth businesses on their financial, organizational, and regulatory needs, as well as investment fund formation, private equity investments, venture capital and growth capital financing, and forming and growing startups, the release stated.

“Combining with Forrest Firm is the ideal match for Michael Best, as they share our vision and goals, with a clients-first focus,” said David Krutz, firm managing Partner of Michael Best, said in the release. “By adding 36 new attorneys and professionals, we will immediately become a market leader for providing legal services, market intelligence, and strategic advice to high-growth businesses and entrepreneurs across the state and across industries in the Southeast.”

Forrest Firm is a full-service business law firm with offices across North Carolina, according to the release. Since its inception in 2011, the firm has represented clients all over the globe in practice areas such as corporate transactions, intellectual property, litigation, labor and employment, venture capital and more. 

“We were drawn to Michael Best because of their rich history of success, along with their focus on client service, innovation, growth, and community service” said James Forrest, founder and CEO of Forrest Firm, in the release. “They are committed to many of the same things we have been committed to during the history of Forrest Firm, but on a much larger scale. We are thrilled with the combination and anticipate big things from the combined organization.”

Michael Best had 260 attorneys across 12 offices after launching its Raleigh office in 2017. The Raleigh office added six attorneys in 2021; now, with the Forrest Firm team from all regions of the state joining Michael Best, the firm will have over 60 legal and technical professionals across the state and nearly 400 across the country.

“We’re impressed by Michael Best’s clear, intentional, and strategic vision for growing its presence in North Carolina, with a culture that reflects our state’s own spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation,” Andy Jones, President of Forrest Firm, said in the release. “Our deep client and community relationships throughout North Carolina will be a great accompaniment to Michael Best’s highly regarded breadth of expertise and level of service.”