Biography

Mike is Vice-Chair of the Firm, a member of the Firm’s Management Committee, and co-head of the Firm’s Portfolio Company Management Group. With more than 25 years of corporate restructuring and governance experience, Mike regularly advises companies in distress and works with management, boards and stakeholders to develop a strategy that provides both certainty and maximum value.  Mike has also developed a niche advising portfolio companies, private equity funds and financial institutions regarding governance and management issues in the context of distressed and conflicted transactions.  Having developed a series of “road show” presentations for clients, law firms, private equity funds, and financial advisory firms, Mike leads presentations that feature in-depth instruction regarding restructuring and governance issues.

Since 2006, clients and colleagues interviewed by Chambers USA have characterized Mike as a "terrific strategist," a "bright lawyer and an excellent negotiator" possessing “incredible business sense,” “a great negotiator and unflappable in court,” and a “deal oriented” leader with "integrity, good people skills, and a common sense approach.” In addition, Mike has been consistently recognized as one of the top restructuring lawyers in Delaware and the country by The Best Lawyers in America ®, The Deal ®, Delaware Super Lawyers ®, IFLR 1000 ®, Corporate Counsel ®, and Who’s Who Legal (Insolvency & Restructuring).

Education

  • Widener University Delaware Law School  (J.D.)
  • University of Maryland  (B.A.)

Bar Admissions

  • Delaware
  • Pennsylvania
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Distinctions

  • Chambers USA:  America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2006 - Present
  • The Best Lawyers in America ®, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Law, 2008 - Present
  • The Deal ®, Leading Bankruptcy Tables, 2006  - Present
  • Delaware Super Lawyers ®, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, 2008 - Present
  • Who's Who Legal, (Insolvency & Restructuring), 2014 - 2016
  • 2015 Law360 Bankruptcy Advisor Editorial Board
  • Turnaround Management Association, Education Oversight Committee

Memberships and Affiliations

  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
  • American Bankruptcy Institute Volo Circuit Court Opinion First Responder, Editorial Board
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Delaware State Bar Association, Member
  • Turnaround Management Association, Member
  • Philadelphia Chapter, Turnaround Management Association, Former Board Member