Skip to Main Content
Michael Zalay | Much Law

Chair of the firm's Corporate & Finance group, Michael is an accomplished corporate attorney. He advises clients ranging from established businesses with an international presence to emerging startups in a wide array of industries.

Michael is often the first call his clients make when contemplating big decisions. They trust him to lead the M&A deals and complex transactions that make up the core of his practice. They also rely on him to provide strategic business counsel that positions them for success on a day-to-day basis. Whatever they’re facing, clients know Michael will skillfully guide them, never losing sight of their big-picture goals.

In his transactional work, Michael advises on acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and real estate, corporate and LLC formation and governing documents, private placements, joint ventures, stock sale and asset purchase agreements, license agreements, supplier and distribution agreements, professional services agreements, and commercial and retail leases.

In his counseling work, Michael serves as de facto general counsel for clients, advising them on everything from day-to-day operations to extraordinary business decisions to the resolution of disputes. His practice spans numerous industries, including health care, consumer packaged goods, consulting, information technology, financial services, construction, marketing, manufacturing and distribution, industrial recycling, financial services, and real estate. He has extensive experience representing clients in the hospitality and food service industries, including restaurateurs, chefs, and hotel owners.

At Much, Michael chairs the firm’s largest practice group, leading its corporate attorneys in efforts to continually elevate both legal counsel and client service. Michael also serves on Much’s strategic planning team, helping architect the firm’s future and ensuring it continues to grow in tandem with its clients.

Much More Than My Work

I’m a lifelong Chicagoan who loves to explore the city’s culture, sports, music, and food scenes. Outside of the office, you can find me with my wife and daughters at the park or with my friends and clients at Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, and the United Center.

I’m an authority member of Together Hospitality Chicago, the city’s leading hospitality industry forum. I’m also an active volunteer for Culinary Care, a nonprofit that partners with restaurants to provide nourishing meals for cancer patients.

Time and time again, I find that food brings people together. I see it when Culinary Care provides meals for families visiting their loved ones in the hospital, when I support a client at the opening of a new restaurant, and when my family and friends sit down around a table for dinner together. That connection is one of the reasons I love what I do.

News & Insights

much more