Michael has 25+ years of experience guiding public companies and private equity-backed corporations and their leaders through a wide range of legal areas, including corporate governance, public offerings, SEC reporting, data privacy and security, intellectual property protection, shareholder engagement, activism and takeover defense, and M&A, as well as vendor management, insurance and risk management, human resources, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Kaplan has been recognized for his data-driven, innovative approach to legal department leadership, including as the 2020 winner of the Innovaction Award from the College of Law Practice Management, as a Value Champion by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) in 2016, and as Corporate Counsel of the Year by the Arizona Chapter of the ACC in 2013. He was also named one of the most influential restaurant executives according to Nation's Restaurant News in 2022. Prior to joining MDC Holdings, Mr. Kaplan served as EVP, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. and Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Chief Security Officer at StandardAero, a leading global provider of aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. Prior to going in-house, he was a corporate and securities partner at Greenberg Traurig, focusing on corporate governance, IPOs/public offerings, SEC reporting, and M&A and capital markets transactions. While in private practice, he was recognized as a leading lawyer by various publications, including the Chambers USA Guide to Leading Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Kaplan earned his Juris Doctor degree at Stanford Law School, where he was an associate editor for the Stanford Law Review and President of the Stanford Latino Law Students Association. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Government at the College of William & Mary.