Michael F. Sweeney

Publications
Admissions
Michael Sweeney is the president and co-founding shareholder of Duffy & Sweeney, a leading boutique business law firm headquartered in Providence.
Known as a savvy deal-maker and negotiator, Mike leads the mergers and acquisitions practice where he regularly handles mergers, sales and business acquisitions as well as recapitalizations and equity financings. He serves as general corporate counsel to a number of privately held, mid-market businesses. He is a frequent speaker and writer on contemporary middle-market strategies for companies.
Mike is recognized annually by key ranking organizations including Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers and Chambers USA: America’s Leading Guide for Business, among others. Most recently, he was recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” — for the fifth time — for Mergers and Acquisition Law. Previously, he was named “Lawyer of the Year” for the practice areas of Closely-Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, and Corporate Law.
Michael Sweeney is a “very business-savvy” attorney who specializes in M&A, recapitalizations and equity financings. Sources praise him for “always looking out for the best interest of his clients.” He is deemed to be “extremely knowledgeable in commercial transactions.” | Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
“Michael Sweeney is well regarded for his abilities in M&A, equity financings and recapitalizations. Sources are impressed with his negotiating skills and praise him as a “talented lawyer with great business sense. He is sought out for his M&A expertise.” | Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
“Mike Sweeney has a fine reputation for problem solving and is praised by clients who say his strength is the ability to see the big picture of what people are trying to accomplish. He solves problems, he doesn’t create them.” | Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
Mike represents leading companies in technology, manufacturing and distribution, insurance, banking, trust and financial services, and e-commerce industries. He has counseled numerous clients from initial start-up formation through various stages of growth and financing, including initial and secondary public offerings and/or sale or merger.
Since the 2008 recession, Mike has successfully spearheaded numerous significant mid-market M&A transactions across the US, helping family and entrepreneur owners convert several billion dollars of private enterprise value into liquidity. He is a frequent speaker at middle-market forums with leading financial institutions and investment banks.
Learn more about our M&A practice and see our deals here.
Recognition
Mike is recognized annually by key ranking organizations including Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers and Chambers USA: America’s Leading Guide for Business, among others.
He was included in Rhode Island Monthly‘s Excellence in Law for 2022 in the category of Business Law and recognized — for the fifth time — by Best Lawyers as the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for the practice area of Mergers and Acquisitions Law in the Rhode Island region.
He was previously recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” for Closely-Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (2020), Corporate Law (2019), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (2017), and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2014).
He received the Deal Maker of the Year award from Finance Monthly in 2012. Mike holds Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating of AV.
“What Clients Say”
Michael Sweeney is a “very business-savvy” attorney who specializes in M&A, recapitalizations and equity financings. Sources praise him for “always looking out for the best interest of his clients.” He is deemed to be “extremely knowledgeable in commercial transactions.” | Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2019)
Michael Sweeney is well regarded for his abilities in M&A, equity financings and recapitalizations. Sources are impressed with his negotiating skills and praise him as a “talented lawyer with great business sense. He is sought out for his M&A expertise.” | From Chambers USA (2018)
“Mike Sweeney has a fine reputation for problem solving and is praised by clients who say his strength is the ability to see the big picture of what people are trying to accomplish. He solves problems, he doesn’t create them.” | Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2017)
Co-founding partner Michael Sweeney is regarded as “not just a bright and intelligent legal technician, but someone who understands the business and who has a talent for negotiation.” He serves as general counsel to several businesses.
“Michael Sweeney leads the firm’s corporate/commercial team and his recent work involves international IP transfer issues and general corporate. He is described as “astute on financial issues and extremely knowledgeable in commercial law in the USA and internationally.”
Professional & Community Involvement
Overseer, Providence Children’s Museum (Chairperson 2008 – 09 Playworks Capital Campaign)
Commodore, Rhode Island Commodores
Member, Providence College President’s Council
Fellow, American Bar Foundation & Rhode Island Bar Foundation
Member, Rhode Island Bar Association Business Organizations Committee, 1988-Present; Chair 1998 – 2006
Publications
5th Annual “Business Owners Forum” in conjunction with Bank of America / US Trust covering the M&A landscape, succession planning and key questions faced by business owners and their families. (2020)
“Midsize Firms luring ‘Big Law” clients. See PDF of full article from Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly here. (February 2017)
“Middle-Market Forum,” in conjunction with US Trust, Bank of America, & Houlihan Lokey . See article in Providence Business News here. (2016)
My Publications, Publications & Posts
- D&S Recognized as Lawyers of Year & Best Lawyers for 2024 in 17 Practice Areas
- From PBN: Five Questions with Mike Sweeney on M&A
- Congratulations to D&S Attorneys Named Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2023
- Congratulations to D&S Attorneys Named Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2022
- Congratulations to Super Lawyers & Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2021
- ICYMI! Business Owner Webinar Series: Maximizing the Value of Your Business
- Lions and Tigers and Bears ( … deferrals and defaults and workouts) OH MY!
- Mike Sweeney Part of RI & MA Lawyers Weekly Story on PPP
- Webinar with Greater Prov Chamber on Small Business Loan Form
- Client Alert: PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM | ADVICE FOR EMPLOYERS
Admissions
Education
Providence College (B.S., 1985); St. John’s University School of Law, (J.D., 1988). Senior Staff Member, St. John ‘s Law Review, 1986-1988.
Bar & Court Admissions
Rhode Island (1988)
Massachusetts (1990)