Matthew D. "Matt" Johnson
- Partner
My admin
- Julie Bonter
I provide practical advice to help clients meet their commercial goals while understanding the dynamics of their business. I draw on my experience as executive and from the fire services to be an advisor and team member with my client in their business decisions. It’s important that I help clients develop solutions that minimize legal risks and protect their interests while also understanding the nonecomonic factors that may affect those solutions.
Attorney Reel: The Real Matt Johnson
Representing closely held and family-owned businesses with corporate and transactional needs, Matthew Johnson forms strong relationships with clients to better further their objectives. Matt provides sound, useable advice on a spectrum of subjects, from long-term planning to simple day-to-day operational issues and agreements to sales or purchases of businesses. As an experienced general counsel and a skilled decision-maker with a deep well of knowledge in both the legal and business arenas, Matt is an excellent resource for clients making critical and potentially dramatic changes to their organizations. He’s always happy to weigh in on key issues to impart his unique perspective.
industries
practices
- Represents buyers and sellers in asset, equity and bankruptcy sales and purchase transactions valued from $2,000 to $200,000,000.
- Serves as general counsel for several family offices with a variety of operations and ownership issues.
- Serves as general counsel, on a retainer basis, for an organization specializing in tax forms and manages day-to-day operational legal issues.
- Specializes in addressing issues over shareholder or buy and sell agreements for closely held companies, including transfers to succeeding generations.
- Work with companies forming an ESOP and trustees representing that ESOP as well as ESOP organizations that are exploring a potential sale transaction.
- Assists organizations with capital raising
- Represents buyers and sellers in asset, equity and bankruptcy sales and purchase transactions valued from $2,000 to $200,000,000.
- Serves as general counsel for several family offices with a variety of operations and ownership issues.
- Serves as general counsel, on a retainer basis, for an organization specializing in tax forms and manages day-to-day operational legal issues.
- Specializes in addressing issues over shareholder or buy and sell agreements for closely held companies, including transfers to succeeding generations.
- Work with companies forming an ESOP and trustees representing that ESOP as well as ESOP organizations that are exploring a potential sale transaction.
- Assists organizations with capital raising efforts through convertible debt and other securities offerings.
- Represents nonprofit organizations, including Chambers of Commerce and start-up organizations.
- “Cannabis Thought Leaders: Survive or Sell? Do-or-Die Decisions in a Tough Market,” Cannabis Thought Leaders Roundtable Series – West Michigan Cannabis Guild, October 25, 2022
- “Organizing and Capitalizing Your Business,” Cannabis Law Seminar – Industry Insights and Trends From the Legal Perspective, September 30, 2021, Lansing, Michigan
- “Tax from Start-Ups to Full-Fledged Companies,” Innovation Lunc
- “Cannabis Thought Leaders: Survive or Sell? Do-or-Die Decisions in a Tough Market,” Cannabis Thought Leaders Roundtable Series – West Michigan Cannabis Guild, October 25, 2022
- “Organizing and Capitalizing Your Business,” Cannabis Law Seminar – Industry Insights and Trends From the Legal Perspective, September 30, 2021, Lansing, Michigan
- “Tax from Start-Ups to Full-Fledged Companies,” Innovation Lunch-and-Learn Series, November 8, 2018
- “Does the Corporate Veil Apply to Cannabis Operators?,” Medical Marihuana – Legal Answers to Your Tough Questions webinar, December 4, 2017
- How to Structure Your Cannabis BusinessWarner’s Legal News For the Cannabis Industry
- Raising Funds for Your Cannabis BusinessWarner’s Legal News For the Cannabis Industry
- Tips for Cannabis InvestorsWarner’s Legal News For the Cannabis Industry
- Webinar — How to Utilize eDiscovery Tools to Gain Efficiencies in Due Diligence
- Webinar — Family Business Succession – The Good, the Bad and the Lessons Learned
- Cannabis Thought Leaders: Survive or Sell? Do-or-Die Decisions in a Tough Market
- Family Business Alliance Board of Directors Workshop
- Cannabis Law Seminar – Industry Insights and Trends From the Legal Perspective
- Warner Attorneys Selected for Multiple Honors by Best Lawyers in America®
- Warner Welcomes Three Partners to Management Committee
- 66 Warner Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- Warner Attorneys Selected for Multiple Honors by Best Lawyers in America®
- 108 Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- Warner Represented Azimuth Capital in Joining Focus Financial Partners Inc.
- 51 Warner Attorneys Rated 2022 Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- 105 Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America©
- 35 Warner Attorneys Rated 2021 Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- 102 Warner Attorneys Rated 2021 Best Lawyers in America
- Two Warner Partners to Participate in Grand Rapids Chamber Leadership Programs
- Matthew Johnson Provides CARES Act Guidance for Small Businesses
- One Hundred and Two Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- One Hundred Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- Warner Partners Named to New Leadership Roles
- Warner Partners with WMed Innovation Center for Lunch-and-Learn Series
- Warner to Host Webinar on Medical Marihuana
- Ninety-Seven Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- 26 Warner Attorneys Recognized as Rising Stars
- Chemical Financial Corporation Completes Merger with Talmer Bancorp, Inc.
- Warner Launches New Craft Brewery Industry Group
- Michigan Eliminates Mask Requirement for Fully Vaccinated Individuals, but Workplace Rules Remain Unchanged
- Michigan COVID-19 Update: Larger Capacities and Reduced Mask Requirements
- Governor Whitmer Announces Michigan’s Path Out of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- New Gathering Orders Expand Indoor Capacity and Allow for Nursing Home Visitations
- How to Structure Your Cannabis Business
- Mask Up and Play On! Contact Sports Resume with Risk Reduction Measures
- New Gathering Rules Provide for a Return to Indoor Dining
- Further Extension and Modification of the Gatherings and Face Mask Order
- Further Extension and Modification of the Gatherings and Face Mask Order
- Extension of the Gatherings and Face Mask Order
- DHHS Order Further Limits Indoor and Outdoor Gatherings and Restricts Higher Education In-Person Learning
- DHHS Extends its Epidemic Order
- MI Supreme Court Doubles Down: Governor’s Executive Orders Are Void
- MI Supreme Court Rules Against Governor’s Executive Orders
- Back to the Movies: State of Michigan Moves to Permit Gatherings and Events
- PLAY ON!
- State of Michigan Slows Down Reopening
- No Shirt, No Shoes, No Mask—No Service! State of Michigan’s Current Rules on Reopening
- MRA Accela Online Portal Temporarily Unavailable in July
- Upper Peninsula and Traverse City Regions Move to Stage 5; Non-Essential Personal Care Services to Return June 15, 2020
- Governor Whitmer Further Reopens State of Michigan
- Governor Whitmer Expands the Reopen of Retail and Car Dealerships, and Permits Non-Essential Medical and Dental Procedures and Veterinary Services
- Governor Whitmer Partially Reopens Retail, Restaurants and Offices in Upper Peninsula, Traverse City Regions
- Governor Whitmer Issues Michigan’s Safe Start Plan
- Governor Whitmer Issues New Executive Order to Reopen Manufacturing
- Governor Whitmer Issues New Revised Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order
- Governor Whitmer Issues Revised Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order
- Summary of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
- Governor Whitmer Issues New Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order
- Summary of Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order
- Raising Funds for Your Cannabis Business
- Tips for Cannabis Investors
- Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency Issues Emergency Rules for Adult-Use License Applicants and Establishments
- Michigan Voters Approved Recreational Marijuana: What Does that Mean for Michigan Businesses and Residents?
- “CARES Act Guidance for Small Businesses,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 4/10/20
- “Small business owners should plan ahead to maximize sale value, ease transition process,” MiBiz, 4/1/2018
- “CARES Act Guidance for Small Businesses,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 4/10/20
- “Small business owners should plan ahead to maximize sale value, ease transition process,” MiBiz, 4/1/2018