Richard M. Bolton

Richard M. Bolton is a Consulting Member at Dickinson Wright in Detroit and Managing Director of the firm’s Private Equity Practice. Bolton advises private equity and mezzanine firms on mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, divestitures, going-private transactions, mezzanine financings, and related matters. He also counsels fund sponsors on fund organization, capitalization, and administration, while advising boards and committees on corporate finance transactions and governance issues.

Bolton earned his J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 1977 and his B.A. with Highest Honor from Michigan State University in 1974. His legal and academic background supports a practice centered on complex private equity, corporate finance, securities, and M&A transactions. This training complements decades of experience helping investment firms, portfolio companies, and boards evaluate deal structures, financing arrangements, and governance considerations.

Bolton has represented private equity funds in acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, going-private transactions, recapitalizations, and divestitures. His representative work includes organizing and capitalizing acquisition entities, coordinating simultaneous acquisitions and financings, advising on media and special-event business acquisitions, and serving as outside general counsel to portfolio companies. He has also represented issuers and underwriters in registered public offerings and advised funds in numerous mezzanine finance transactions.

Richard M. Bolton has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for corporate governance, corporate law, leveraged buyouts and private equity, and mergers and acquisitions from 2006 through 2026. Chambers USA ranked him as a leading Michigan Corporate/M&A lawyer in 2024, and Michigan Lawyers Weekly inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2022. His professional involvement includes ACG Detroit and the Private Directors Association, reflecting longstanding engagement with business and investment communities.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Dickinson Wright PLLC
• Member, Michigan Bar Association
• Member, Detroit Bar Association

Licensed State

• Michigan

Education

• Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Michigan State University
  Bachelor of Arts

Awards & Badges