Michael F. O'Connor joined Williams & Connolly LLP in 1997 and became partner in 2003. He has a diverse practice representing corporations and individuals on a variety of matters. His primary areas of representation include mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring and transactions, executive compensation and counseling, complex financial transactions, and commercial contract negotiations. His clients include large and small corporations, both public and private, individuals including executives, journalists, public figures, and politicians, particularly those transitioning to the private sector.

Recent corporate transactions include the merger of a public staffing company with a private staffing company, acquisition of an economic consulting business, sale of several minor league baseball teams, sale of several coal mining companies, structuring of several new business ventures including a major financial services joint venture, conversions of existing corporations into limited liability companies, negotiation of commercial agreements and licensing arrangements, and negotiation of corporate financing facilities. In addition, Mr. O'Connor assists many individuals in the negotiation of employment agreements, licensing arrangements, book deals, and other business transactions.

Prior to joining Williams & Connolly, Mr. O'Connor practiced at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, focusing on complex financial transactions, international commercial contracting, securities transactions, and broker-dealer regulation. Before his legal career, Mr. O'Connor was a Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State for five years, serving overseas in London, England and Algiers, Algeria.

Mr. O'Connor received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1994 and his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Virginia in 1986.