International & Cross Border Transactions
Michael J. Keskonis
Partner
Michael J. Keskonis is a Partner on the firm’s Business, Finance & Tax Team. He focuses his practice on domestic and international matters, advising public and private companies on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, financings, joint ventures, divestitures, tax planning, transfer pricing, and tax controversy matters. He also counsels clients on the corporate and tax aspects of cross-border transactions and other complex business initiatives.
With more than 25 years of experience in both private practice and senior corporate leadership roles, Michael brings a comprehensive understanding of the legal, financial, accounting, and business considerations that impact complex transactions. Prior to joining Berger Singerman, he served as Senior Tax Counsel at nationally and internationally recognized law firms and held senior tax leadership positions with multinational public companies, where he advised on significant domestic and international transactions, corporate restructurings, financings, and strategic planning initiatives.
Michael regularly works with executives, legal departments, accounting professionals, and financial advisors to develop practical strategies that support business objectives and address complex operational and transactional challenges. His experience spans a wide range of industries and includes advising clients on matters involving acquisitions, divestitures, capital markets transactions, private equity investments, and global business operations.
Pending Admission to The Florida Bar.
Representative Matters 
- Managed structuring, due diligence, drafting, and negotiation for more than 200+ acquisitions and divestitures, including transactions involving private equity sponsors, strategic buyers, and multinational corporations.
- Advised public and private companies on domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures with transaction values up to $2 billion.
- Advised clients on debt and equity financings, refinancings, and capital markets transactions with values exceeding $1 billion.
- Advised private equity firms on recapitalizations, leveraged buyouts, investment transactions, and the replacement of senior credit facilities and mezzanine financing arrangements.
- Collaborated with tax, treasury, legal, accounting, and business development teams of a Fortune 1000 company on pre-divestiture planning, settlement of intercompany debt, cash repatriation, and related M&A activities for multiple cross-border transactions valued at up to $1 billion.
- Led implementation of a global holding company structure for a multinational public company, enabling future tax-efficient repatriation to the United States in excess of $4 billion and optimization of foreign tax credits exceeding $300 million.
- Led global tax structuring for a proposed $2 billion joint venture involving operations in Brazil, China, Italy, and the United States.
- Participated extensively in the sale of a Chinese subsidiary to a strategic buyer in a transaction valued at approximately $150 million.
- Worked extensively with treasury teams on cash repatriation, third-party financings, hedging transactions, and other strategic treasury initiatives.
- Led implementation of a new internal financing structure for a multinational public company involving more than $10 billion of leverage.
- Led the separation of a business line with an estimated fair market value of approximately $2 billion, including analysis of tax-free separation alternatives and other strategic options.
- Advised on the separation of a multinational public company into three stand-alone publicly traded companies through a spin-off transaction.
- Obtained a private letter ruling in connection with the spin-off of a $2 billion construction materials company.
Prior Affiliations
- Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, PC
- Baker McKenzie
- Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP