Restructuring and Finance Attorney
Bob is a member of the Banking, Finance and Restructuring Team concentrating on commercial and real estate finance, loan restructurings and workouts, receiverships, bankruptcy sales and acquisitions, Chapter 11 bankruptcy case representations, including serving as counsel for debtor, secured creditor, creditors’ committee and other interested parties. Bob also provides federal tax advice in bankruptcy cases and to real estate investors.
Experience
Represented buyer in bankruptcy 363 sale-purchase of manufacturing company assets in Dallas, Texas.
Bankruptcy counsel to affiliated debtors in 363 bankruptcy sale of farm leases, machinery and equipment for 25,000-acre grain farm operation.
Advised partner in liquidating real estate limited partnership on tax basis issues and related tax planning.
Represented unsecured creditors’ committee and liquidating trustee in Chapter 11 hospital case, including negotiating and obtaining confirmation of creditors’ committee plan of liquidation.
Expert witness for liquidating trustee in bankruptcy lien avoidance adversary proceeding relating to real estate perfection issues.
Counsel to lender to mixed use nursing home facility and loan sale to facilitate HUD guaranteed refinancing of facility loan.
Counsel to receiver for 90,000-acre grain farming operation.
Corporate and tax counsel to affiliated corporate automotive supplier group.
Counsel to insider senior secured creditor in successful golf course resort Chapter 11 reorganization case.
Honors and Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, since 2018
C. Robert Wartell Distinguished Service Award recipient, State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Law Section, 2008
Grand Rapids Magazine, Top Lawyers, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law, 2024
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Professional Affiliations
Illinois State Bar Association
Indiana State Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan: Business Law Section; Real Property Section; Bankruptcy, Debtor/Creditor Rights Committee, past chair; Council of the Real Property Law Section; Land Title Standards Committee, past chair
Presentations
Grand Valley State University: Master of Science in Taxation instructor – Partnership Taxation; Estate Planning; Estate and Gift Taxation
Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, instructor – Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Reorganizations; Real Estate and Civil Procedure
Frequent lecturer and continuing legal education instructor – Commercial, Asset-Based and Real Estate Loan Documentation; Leveraged Buyouts, Loan Workouts and Bankruptcy