Makiah is a core member of the firm’s heralded M+A team, working primarily with middle-market businesses and their owners to pursue and accomplish their most transformational goals. For many clients, she manages traditional stock and asset transactions; for other growth-focused businesses, she advises their corporate leadership teams on alternative paths, often exploring franchising strategy, ESOP conversion, and private equity investment.
From entity formation and startup operations through recapitalization and exit planning, Makiah serves as a strategic advisor to private companies and their owners.
Mergers + Acquisitions
Makiah works with both emerging and established businesses, assisting clients throughout all their corporate transactions, including leading due diligence and overseeing filings and exceptions. She is skilled at walking clients through the complexities and particulars of buying and selling businesses, as well as drafting the required documents and contracts.
Emerging Business
As a key member of the Emerging Business team, Makiah counsels startup businesses with issues related to corporate formation, entity structuring, economic incentives, and tax guidance, as well as contract drafting and negotiation strategy. She also advises clients in the areas of corporate reorganization, corporate governance, and business succession strategies.
ESOPs
Makiah is an important part of our ESOP team as well, helping to structure ESOP transactions for private and public companies in a variety of industries.
Franchising
As part of her corporate practice, Makiah works with our Franchising + Distribution team, helping clients with acquiring and divesting franchised businesses.
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (J.D., 2022)
- Butler University (B.A., 2019)
- Ohio
- John Mercer Langston Bar Association, Communications + Media Chair
- Kegler Brown Diversity Equity + Inclusion Committee, Co-Chair
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch, 2026
- Butler University Black Alumni Association, Steering Committee Member
