As a member of Husch Blackwell’s Financial Services & Capital Markets industry team, Michael brings considerable experience to the litigation and insolvency matters of his clients. He was first exposed to the financial industry by way of his father, who worked at a Utah-based bank for more than 25 years where he was a regional vice president. Michael combines his financial adeptness with his passion for justice and defends creditors and enforces their rights in business bankruptcy and commercial litigation matters on a national basis. He represents secured and unsecured creditors, unsecured creditors committees, Chapter 7 and 11 trustees and Chapter 11 debtors in complex bankruptcy proceedings. Michael is just one of a small handful of attorneys in Missouri and Kansas who is board certified in Business Bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification.*
Michael also prosecutes and defends commercial litigation matters and has tried several cases. Throughout his career, he has represented the receivers of insolvent insurance carriers on novel matters, including a landmark tax refund case. He has significant experience managing numerous interrelated cases for a single client.
Over the years, Michael has prosecuted or defended hundreds of preferential transfer and fraudulent conveyance actions, including the resolution of several cases with claims in excess of a million dollars. As part of his extensive work in this area, he has developed a sophisticated computer program that enables him to quickly analyze a client’s payment history and identify optimal defensive positions. By combining technology with his vast experience in this area of the law, Michael has been able to negotiate favorable settlements for his clients while simultaneously minimizing their litigation expenses.
Michael’s noteworthy experience includes:
- Defended several preferential transfer claims that sought recoveries in excess of a million dollars.
- Obtained a court ruling that granted a motion to dismiss more than $12 million in counterclaims.
- Defended against various motions that sought to dismiss avoidance action claims seeking recovery of millions of dollars.
- Obtained a summary judgment denying administrative expense claim for indenture trustee of notes held by securitized lenders.
In addition, Michael speaks at national, regional and local conferences on topics dealing with bankruptcy, avoidance actions, landlord-tenant issues, evidence, electronically stored information, arbitration, international litigation and ethics. He has also written numerous articles nationally and internationally in well-respected bankruptcy publications.
*The American Board of Certification’s Business Bankruptcy certification program is accredited by the American Bar Association. Neither the Supreme Court of Missouri nor The Missouri Bar reviews or approves certifying organizations or special designations.