Also a CPA licensed in Michigan, he was general counsel of LandAmerica's Michigan direct operations for several years focusing on commercial lending and restructuring transactions, acquisitions of affiliated businesses, joint ventures with lenders and brokers, and commercial property closings and underwriting.
Mike's current and recent matters include:
Representing lenders in the restructuring of commercial real estate loans and projects; forbearance agreements; structuring and closing collateral liquidation transactions; foreclosure; exercise of default remedies, including ALRs and the collection of rents in coordination with property management teams and receivers; loan sale transactions; and all phases of workouts and collateral liquidation.
Mike has represented many borrowers in all phases of real estate financing and the acquisition of property. His collective experience of representing both lenders and borrowers and in the areas title insurance and real property and business acquisitions, and his relationships within many industries, gives him a skill set helpful in today's economic climate.
$100+ million loan restructuring and collateral liquidation of real estate developer group for publicly traded bank
$14 million sale of aerospace and automotive tool facility company
$15 million loan workout and liquidation of 250+ apartment facility, involving management transition, default and control of rents, forbearance, and sale of property for publicly traded lender
$20 million sale of concrete manufacturer and quarry and real estate facilities to Quikrete
$20 million financing and sale transaction of largest US minority owned automotive floor mat manufacturer
$80 million title insurance underwriting of one of Michigan largest privately owned landlords on behalf of Stewart Title and Lehman Brothers
$5 million collateral liquidation for lender that involved coordination of project completion with governmental authorities and construction contractors. Designed protective structure for limited advances by bank and letters of credit which led to higher realization
Mike recently represented the United States government and the US Marshal in a quiet title, drug forfeiture, and Patriot Act action involving multiple properties and perpetrators and was successful in the conveyance, turnover, and settlement of several properties and titles in favor of the government.
Mike and his wife Laurie have three children, and he enjoys SCUBA diving [more than being a lawyer] and woodworking, plays guitar, and misses playing softball and basketball, but still shoots hoops on the driveway. Responsible beer lover.
Mike, his son Kevin, and their dog Bailey won the 2007 Michigan Frisbee Toss and Catch competition, and then immediately retired while they were still at the top of their game.
Central Michigan University, B.S., cum laude, 1980. Detroit College of Law/ Michigan State University, J.D., 1984.
Internship with the Honorable Ralph B. Guy in the U.S. District Court and 6th Circuit Court of Appeals; drafted a published 6th circuit opinion concerning the admissibility of evidence from a confidential informant.
Lecturer and writer for the Michigan Institute of Legal Education, Michigan Association of CPAs, and Michigan Land Title Association in the areas of commercial real property transactions, construction loan disbursement procedures, real estate lending and restructuring, title disputes and claims, construction liens, and 1031 like kind exchanges.
Presenter of in-house seminars to several commercial lenders, brokers, and title insurance companies on those subjects.
Authored: "Accounts Receivable Financing Under Article 9 of the UCC," Michigan Business Law Journal, Volume XIV, Issue No. 3, 1992, Co-authored: "Title Law in Michigan," NBI, 1997; "The Corporate Taxpayer Federal Income Tax Compliance Matters," Price Waterhouse Tax Information Planning Series 26.
Memberships: State Bar of Michigan (Sections on: Taxation; Corporation, Finance and Business Law; Real Property); American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; and Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.