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Michael J. Tierney

Partner
1500 Market St. 3500E
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Direct(215) 575-7292
Fax(215) 575-7200
mtierney@dilworthlaw.com

Assistant

Donna Kearse
Direct(215) 575-7076
dkearse@dilworthlaw.com

Mr. Tierney is a partner in Dilworth’s Business Department and chairman of the firm's Lateral Hiring Committee. He concentrates his practice in a wide variety of corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity financings, fund formation, corporate governance issues and general corporate representation.

He represents companies and individuals in forming new businesses, structuring corporate governance arrangements, performing due diligence review and analysis in connection with proposed acquisitions and investments, and drafting and negotiating business agreements. Among other engagements, Mr. Tierney was lead counsel representing the group of local investors who purchased The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and philly.com from The McClatchy Company for $562 million.

Mr. Tierney serves on the boards of Neumann University, Mission Kids and The Philadelphia Charity Ball and is a member of the Easttown Township Zoning Hearing Board. He is also Vice Chairman of the Archbishop's Cabinet for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, a member of the Advisory Council of the Archdiocese's Office for Stewardship and Development and a member of the Advancement Committee at Rosemont School of the Holy Child.

Mr. Tierney has been actively involved in local, state and national political campaigns. Most recently, he was chairman of the finance committee for Risa Vetri Ferman's successful reelection campaign for Montgomery County (PA) District Attorney.

Mr. Tierney received his law degree from Widener University School of Law, where he was an editor of the law review, and his B.A. in chemistry from Denison University. After law school, Mr. Tierney clerked for Magistrate Judge Peter B. Scuderi of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Tierney is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Representative Experience

  • Represented the local group of investors (Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC) that purchased The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, philly.com and related publishing properties from The McClatchy Company in 2006, making the Inquirer the largest locally-owned newspaper in the country.
  • Represented one of the nation’s fastest growing privately-held companies (Inc.com Magazine) in its acquisition by a publically-held company.
  • Represented a nano-technology business in all of its general corporate and governance matters.
  • Represented one the largest REITs in the country (appx. 35 million sq. ft. under ownership) in the successful appeal of the real estate tax assessment for a $100+ million property.
  • Represented the chief of staff to the governor of Puerto Rico in a matter where the island's largest newspaper sued the governor and his cabinet for alleged First Amendment violations.
  • Represents the managing partners in their formation of a $50 million private equity fund.

Professional & Community Activities

  • Board Member, Neumann University
  • Board of Directors, Please Touch Museum
  • Former Member, Please Touch Museum, Planning Sub-Committee for Memorial Hall relocation
  • Board of Trustees, Woodmere Art Museum
  • Board of Directors, Mission Kids
  • Member and Secretary, Board of DirectorsThe Philadelphia Charity Ball
  • Member, “Heritage of Faith, Vision of Hope” Campaign, Cardinal’s Cabinet
  • Member, The Episcopal Academy Annual Fund and Reunion Committees
  • Co-Founder and former Co-Chairman, Stewards’ Alliance, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
  • Former Member, Tredyffrin Township Planning Commission
  • Former Member, Tredyffrin Township Municipal Authority

Speeches & Presentations

  • Presented “Legal Liability Related to Social Media/Networking Web Sites – What Schools Should Know,” on November 30, 2009 to SEPCHE (Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education), a consortium of eight independent higher-education institutions in the Greater Philadelphia region.
  • Panelist at the Widener University School of Law’s fourth annual Dean’s Leadership Forum, hosted by Dean Linda L. Ammons, on September 21, 2009, discussing the practice of law and related career advice.
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Alternate Biographies

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Assistant

Education

  • J.D., Widener University School of Law, Articles Editor for Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, 1993
  • B.A., Chemistry, Biology, Denison University, 1989

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 1993
  • New Jersey, 1993

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