Michael Blankenship
Mike is the managing partner of Winston’s Houston office, co-chair of the firm’s Capital Markets Practice, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He focuses his practice on corporate finance and securities law, including securities offerings, public company advisory, special purpose acquisition company offerings, private equity and venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate representation.
He is also a veteran mid-market M&A attorney who represents both public companies and private equity clients on a wide range of strategic M&A transactions, investments, and other corporate matters, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Continuing to Evolve: How Public Companies Stay Compliant, Agile, and Ready for What Comes Next
Mike Blankenship of Winston & Strawn on annual risk reviews for newly public companies — insurance audits, litigation trends, M&A readiness, and using public currency for strategic growth. (Go Public Series: Step 8 — Continuing to Evolve)
Institutionalizing Discipline: The Governance and Reporting Standards Every Public Company Must Master
Mike Blankenship of Winston & Strawn on SOX compliance after a DESPAC — governance structure, reporting cadence, internal audit controls, and the discipline that drives long-term public-company success. (Go Public Series: Step 7 — Institutionalizing Discipline)
List and Launch: What Happens the Moment Your DESPAC Deal Closes
Mike Blankenship of Winston & Strawn on what happens when a DESPAC closes — listing day, market communications, the first earnings report, and demonstrating alignment with prior projections. (Go Public Series: Step 6 — List and Launch)
Building Market Trust: Preparing Leaders and Messaging for Public Scrutiny
Mike Blankenship of Winston & Strawn on executive communication before going public — aligning messaging, preparing for analyst and investor scrutiny, and avoiding hype that erodes trust. (Go Public Series: Step 5 — Building Market Trust)
Undergoing Diligence: What Private Companies Must Prepare for in a DESPAC Transaction
Mike Blankenship of Winston & Strawn on D&O insurance before a DESPAC closes — the diligence phase, S-4 disclosures, tail coverage, and the risk framework targets must finalize pre-close. (Go Public Series: Step 4 — Undergoing Diligence)
Positioning the Deal: Crafting the Narrative and Economics Behind a DESPAC Transaction
Mike Blankenship of Winston & Strawn on how to choose a SPAC sponsor — evaluating track record, structuring deal economics, and building narratives that establish trust over hype. (Go Public Series: Step 3 — Positioning the Deal)
Organizing Advisors: Building the Team That Makes or Breaks Your DESPAC Transaction
Mike Blankenship of Winston & Strawn on choosing the right advisors for a DESPAC — vetting securities counsel, structuring D&O/cyber/crime insurance before the S-4, and why missing private D&O coverage creates serious litigation risk. (Go Public Series: Step 2 — Organizing Advisors)
Getting Ready: The Most Critical Step Before a DESPAC Transaction
Mike Blankenship of Winston & Strawn on internal readiness before a SPAC merger — self-audits, cap table cleanup, governance prep, and stress-testing projections. (Go Public Series: Step 1 — Getting Ready)
The "GO PUBLIC" Framework Overview for Private Companies
The Go Public Series kickoff — Mike Blankenship of Winston & Strawn on the GO PUBLIC framework: an 8-step end-to-end system for private companies evaluating a DESPAC, from internal prep through life as a public company.