Aerospace and Defense Industry Attorney Anthony Scalise Joins Butzel
TROY, Mich. – Attorney Anthony J. Scalise has joined Butzel as a shareholder in the firm’s Troy office. His practice focuses on helping clients navigate complex corporate matters primarily in the aerospace and defense industry.
For more than 20 years, Scalise has advised corporate entities in the aerospace and defense industry on defense-industry mergers and acquisitions (M&A), government contracting matters related to combat tracked vehicle weapon systems programs, and complex commercial matters. His extensive experience spans buy-side and sell-side acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic investments, and ongoing regulatory, contractual, and compliance issues associated with operating in highly regulated national security environments.
Scalise has played a pivotal role in numerous high-profile M&A transactions within the defense sector, providing clients with strategic guidance on transaction structuring, comprehensive due diligence, and effective risk management for matters involving the Dept of War contractors and suppliers.
Scalise offers clients the advantage of his deep experience navigating complex regulatory issues, including Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and antitrust reviews, and government contract evaluation and negotiation in the context of M&A. He assists clients with novation and consent requirements, Federal Acquisition Regulation/Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (FAR/DFARS) compliance, export controls, security clearance matters, and the seamless integration of contracts, subcontractor relationships, and supply chains after closing. He partners with acquirers and sellers across every stage of the transaction, from initial diligence and deal structuring through execution and post-closing compliance.
Alongside his M&A work, Scalise has a strong background in advising on the Dept of War and federal contracting matters. He helps clients with everything from developing strategies to win contracts, constructing proposals, negotiating terms, and managing contracts through to completion and compliance. His experience covers a wide range of Army and DoD procurement programs, surge and sustainment planning, and building multi-level subcontracting teams that keep critical defense operations running smoothly.
Scalise often collaborates with clients to set up and negotiate joint ventures, strategic partnerships, public-private partnerships, and licensing deals across the defense, aerospace, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. He’s known for tackling, and frequently retained for, projects that call for creative solutions, careful risk management, and close collaboration between legal, regulatory, financial, and operational teams.
Prior to joining Butzel, Scalise held a leadership role at a Tier 1 defense manufacturing enterprise in the business of supporting US Army and allied military vehicle platforms. He also has served as a procurement analyst at the Dept of War/US Army.
Scalise earned a J.D. from Thomas Cooley Law School, with Honors and a Bachelor of Science from Central Michigan University. Notably, Scalise was named to DBusiness magazine’s 2026 Top Corporate Counsel list.
