Biography
Michelle Mabugat has a broad-based corporate and transactional practice that focuses on advising entrepreneurs and high-growth companies on matters that span the business lifecycle, from start-up through exit.
Often acting as outside general counsel, she assists clients with their general corporate and day-to-day transactional needs as well as their most critical transactions, including early- and growth-stage equity and debt financings, joint ventures and strategic alliances, licensing deals, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in both distressed and non-distressed situations. She also provides strategic advice to boards, management teams and investors on sensitive issues related to corporate governance, shareholder disputes, regulatory compliance and risk management.
She has earned significant accolades in her field, including being listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in 2024 and 2025 and Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2021 through 2025.
Professional Affiliations
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Association for Corporate Growth, Los Angeles Chapter (2021 - Present)
- Executive Committee, Primerus Cannabis Practice Group
- Cannabis Editorial Advisory Board, Law360 (2022 & 2023)
- Former Member of Legislative Advocacy Committee, Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
- Provisors, Century City 7
Awards
- L.A. Times B2B Publishing, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Visionary List, 2024
- Los Angeles Business Journal, "Women of Influence: Attorneys" List, 2024
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, 2024–2025
- Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2021 - 2025
- "Top Cannabis Lawyers," Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal, 2022
- "Cannabis Law Trailblazers," National Law Journal, 2022
- “Lawyer of the Year,” California Cannabis Awards, Nominee
- Shortlisted on “250 Cannabis Law Leaders in the United States," Databird
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
- United States District Court, Central District of California
- United States Supreme Court
Education
- University of Southern California Gould School of Law (J.D., 2011)
- University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., 2007)
- History/Political Science