Michele L. Connell

Partner

Languages spoken
English | Spanish

About Michele

Michele Connell is the firm’s Global Managing Partner, US LLP, with responsibility for the business and operations in 36 of our global offices in the US, the Middle East, Asia and portions of Europe.

Michele is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a recognized expert and strategic advisor on global mergers and acquisitions in high-risk regulatory and commercial end markets ranging from automotive and transportation, fintech, industrial manufacturing and healthcare companies. With more than 25 years’ experience in the international arena, including as a diplomat for the US government, her business acumen, language skills and cross-cultural awareness are global in nature. Michele was recently recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Top 200 Lawyers, as well as one of America’s Top Women Lawyers.

Michele has extensive experience in leading strategic investments in challenging markets, including China, Brazil and Europe, and innovating structures to minimize execution and integration risk. She is a trusted advisor to public company boards on sensitive matters of governance, shareholder activism and strategic decision-making and has significant experience leading effective teams.

Before attending law school, Michele served as a diplomat in the US Department of State, where she advanced the mission of the US government while serving in the US Embassies in Poland and Honduras. Michele received the Meritorious Honor Award from the US government for her service.

Michele serves on the boards of multiple non-profits, including University Hospital Health Systems, Inc., a US$4 billion health system with more than 32,000 employees, where she sits on the governance and compensation committees. Michele is also on the board of DirectWomen, a national organization that works to increase the representation of women lawyers on corporate boards. She serves on the board of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, Cleveland’s 14,000+ member chamber of commerce, and on the board of the United Way of Greater Cleveland. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation, which promotes the role of public service and pro bono work in the practice of law and the development of public policy.

Experience

  • Representing a publicly held global supplier of mobility solutions in unwinding of joint venture relationship, including sale of its joint interest for more than US$250 million and negotiation of multi-year licensing, distribution and transition services agreements.
  • Advising a global automotive supplier in connection with a proposed transaction to acquire intellectual property and assets in the autonomous driving space for more than US$500 million.
  • Advising boards of directors and leadership of publicly held global companies in responding to investor activism and shareholder proposals, including proxy access and sustainability proposals, CEO transition and board succession and self-evaluation processes.
  • Representing ITV plc, a UK-based international producer and operator of television shows, in completing five acquisitions and related joint ventures of production companies, including the producers of Duck Dynasty and Cake Boss.
  • Advising a Fortune 200 company in its US$200 million spinoff of a manufacturing division located throughout Europe and Latin America.
  • Representing Parlux Fragrances, Inc., a publicly held worldwide designer and distributor of prestige fragrances, in its merger with Perfumania Holdings, Inc.
  • Representing a privately held company located in the US and Asia in its spinoff of its intellectual property division to a public company.
  • Advising a publicly held information technology company with significant government contracts on its sale by tender offer to a private equity group.
  • Representing a public company on a US$170 million acquisition of assets from a private equity group.
  • Representing a public company in completing strategic joint venture relationships in five countries including a follow-on spinoff of a division in Korea.

Credentials

Education
  • Case Western Reserve University, J.D., valedictorian, summa cum laude, executive contributing editor, Case Western Law Review, 2003
  • Georgetown University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1995
Admissions
  • District of Columbia, 2025
  • Ohio, 2003

Recognitions

  • Named to the Lawdragon 2026 500 Leading Dealmakers in America list 

  • Named by Forbes’ as one of America’s Top Women Lawyers, 2026

  • Included on Forbes’ inaugural list of America's Top 200 Lawyers highlighting “the finest practitioners in the profession with stellar track records who have broken barriers to emerge as leaders in their field”

  • Chosen by Ohio Business Magazine as one of Ohio's 500 most influential executives

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 for Corporate Law, Corporate Governance Law and International Mergers & Acquisitions Law

  • Named by Cleveland Business Journal as a 2022 Women of Influence Honoree

  • Recognized by The American Lawyer as a 2022 Trailblazer

  • Highly regarded in IFLR1000 2019 for M&A, with a focus on the technology and telecommunications sector

  • Recognized as an Ohio Super Lawyer, a distinction honoring the top lawyers in the state

  • Selected by Corporate Counsel and Inside Counsel as an honoree in the 2018 National Women in Law Awards

  • Recognized as a 2016 leading lawyer in the International Financial Law Review’s Financial & Corporate: United States

  • Recognized as a leading lawyer in Latin America the last two years by the International Financial Law Review’s Energy and Infrastructure: Latin America Guide

Expertise

Services
Private Equity Corporate Capital Markets
Industries
Industrial Products

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, “Global Compliance Forum: Minimizing Risk to Protect Your Business Interests,” Squire Patton Boggs, November 1, 2017