Biography Photo of Michael Beals

Michael J. Beals

Member and Chair of the Business Succession Practice Group

Michael Beals, a Member in Dickinson Wright's Troy office, is a corporate and trust lawyer who counsels privately owned enterprises and high net worth entrepreneurs. Mike is particularly focused on moving business and wealth from one generation to the next. Mike integrates corporate organization and business succession strategies with trust and estate planning. He combines his corporate, trust, and counseling skill set to develop tailored strategies designed to protect business and wealth from family and management disharmony, federal gift and estate tax liabilities, and creditor and marital claims of each generation.

Mike works closely with his clients' professional advisor team to coordinate planning and execution. He also works very closely with Dickinson's other practice groups, particularly Corporate and Estate Planning and Administration. Together they work to build the foundation to protect and transfer wealth and business. He is experienced in corporate governance, buy-sell and exit transactions, asset protection strategies, multi-generational trust and tax planning, estate planning, and charitable giving. Mike regularly leverages state domestic asset protection trust statutes (DAPT/Dynasty Trust planning) to provide maximum flexibility, access, and control over protected generational wealth and business. 

Prior to joining Dickinson Wright to lead its Business Succession Group, Mike was a corporate attorney with Howard and Howard and chaired its Trust and Estate Planning Group. 

Education & Credentials

Education

Detroit College of Law

J.D., 1986
  • cum laude

Michigan State University

B.A., 1983

Bar Admission

  • Michigan1986

Acknowledgements

  • Michigan Leading Lawyers, 2014-2021
  • DBusiness Magazine
    • "Top Lawyers," 2014, 2020

Prominent Assignments

  • Represents an infrastructure improvement company, providing advice on trust accounting, cash flow analysis, transactions, and overall corporate/trust structure as the business continues to grow.
  • Served as corporate counsel to an electric motor company to close a major sale to an employee stock ownership plan.
  • Represented a cement contractor and developed a family business succession plan.

Community Involvement

  • Thomas M. Cooley Law School
    • Business Planning Elective, Former Adjunct Professor
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