Michael J. Riella

Michael J. Riella is a partner in Covington’s corporate group and is resident in the firm’s Washington, DC office.  Mr. Riella works with clients ranging from development stage companies to large public companies in a variety of industries, with a focus on the life sciences, energy, sports and technology industries.  He represents clients in a broad range of transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, joint venture arrangements, and financing and licensing transactions.  Mr. Riella also advises clients on general corporate, securities and strategic matters, including federal securities law compliance, corporate governance and executive compensation arrangements.

Representative Matters

• AstraZeneca in its $1.26 billion acquisition of Ardea Biosciences (NASDAQ: RDEA).
• ExxonMobil in structuring and forming the Marine Well Containment Company, a joint venture with Chevron, Shell and ConocoPhillips dedicated to developing and, if needed, deploying, a rapid response system to capture and contain oil in the event of a future deepwater well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico.
• The Procter & Gamble Company in its 50/50 joint venture with Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. for the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of existing and to-be-developed consumer diagnostic products in a transaction valued at $650 million.
• LIN Television Corporation in its issuance of $200 million of senior notes.
• Eisai Inc. in its strategic manufacturing alliance with Biogen Idec and in product acquisitions and dispositions.
• Several NYSE and Nasdaq-listed companies in connection with securities disclosure and corporate governance matters.
• The D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission in connection with stadium development and lease arrangements with Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals.
• Public and private companies and investors in the life sciences, energy, technology, media and consumer products industries in connection with mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions.

Honors and Rankings

• Washington DC Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2013)

Pro Bono

• Advises multiple nonprofit organizations in the DC metropolitan area regarding governance, strategic planning, commercial and general corporate matters.
• Advises a multinational nonprofit relief organization regarding corporate governance matters.

Memberships and Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• The District of Columbia Bar
• Virginia Bar Association

Publications and Speeches

• "Considering Director Independence," Covington Advisory (7/12/2007), Co-Author
• "New Executive Compensation Disclosure Rules," Covington Advisory (8/23/2006), Co-Author
• "Exchange Act Reporting Update," Covington Advisory (1/9/2006), Co-Author