Attorney W. Patrick Dreisig: Butzel Long

Overview

Clients have come to depend on Mr. Dreisig’s experience in matters including strategic business, succession and estate planning, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, recapitalizations, debt and equity finance transactions, venture capital transactions, supply agreements, intellectual property development and licensing transactions, customer and supplier workouts, entity selection and formation and other complex matters inherent to doing business on any scale. He is renowned for his experience in family and closely held business and corporate governance matters.

Notably, Mr. Dreisig was lead counsel for the sellers in the Deal of the Year for large transactions (over $50 million in revenue) awarded by the Association for Corporate Growth (Detroit Chapter) in 2023. Mr. Dreisig’s client was the seller of a manufacturer of highly engineered automated industrial assembly systems, with operations in the US and in numerous foreign countries.

Also, of significance, The Best Lawyers in America® has named Mr. Dreisig as Lawyer of the Year in Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law for 2022 and, in addition, as Lawyer of the Year in Corporate Governance Law for 2025. The Best Lawyers in America® has also recognized Mr. Dreisig in the areas of Mergers and Acquisitions, Banking and Finance, and Corporate Law. He has additionally been named to DBusiness magazine’s lists of Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit and Top Corporate Counsel.

Mr. Dreisig is a Shareholder practicing in Butzel's Troy office. He previously served as a Vice-President, Treasurer, and Director of the Firm and as Co-Chair of the firm's Finance Committee. He is a member of the Business Law Sections of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan. He has served as a member of MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association’s Legal Issues Council and also as past counsel to the organization’s Chief Purchasing Officers Council.

Primary Practice Areas

All Related Practice Areas

Credentials

Education

Wayne State University Law School, J.D.

University of Michigan, B.A., with distinction

Admissions

Michigan

Memberships

American Bar Association - Business Law and Section
State Bar of Michigan - Business Law Section
MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association - Legal Issues Council, past member; Chief Purchasing Officers Council, past counsel

Awards & Recognitions

Association for Corporate Growth – Detroit Chapter - Deal of the Year, Large Transactions (Over $50 Million in Revenue), lead counsel for seller, 2023

The Best Lawyers in America® - Lawyer of the Year - Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, 2022; Corporate Governance Law, 2025

The Best Lawyers in America® - Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, 2013-2027; Corporate Governance Law, 2014-2027; Corporate Law, 2025-2027; Banking and Finance Law, 2025-2027; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2025-2027

DBusiness – Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit – Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2018; Banking & Financial Service Law, 2021, 2023

DBusiness- Top Corporate Counsel, 2016

Leading Lawyers – Closely & Privately Held Business Law; Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2021

Wayne Law Review, Wayne State University, Editor, 1976-77

Experience

Negotiation of complex Settlement Agreement with an OEM of claims arising under long-term Supply Agreement
Negotiated a settlement agreement for a major auto supplier with an OEM resulting in $40,000,000 in payments to the supplier, deal also included commitment by OEM to provide significant additional future business to supplier
Negotiation of a Complex Supply Agreement for major Tier I Automotive Supplier with an OEM; included subsidies and exit provisions