Michael centers his practice on complex bankruptcy and insolvency matters.

His diverse and dynamic practice spans representation of Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 trustees, creditor committees, post-confirmation trusts, individual creditors – including financial institutions, loan servicers and landlords – and debtors in all phases of the bankruptcy process. Michael also has deep experience in adversary proceedings and other bankruptcy-related litigation and has facilitated the recovery and administration of millions of dollars in assets and claims. In 2022, Michael was appointed to the Lawyers Advisory Committee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, which serves as a conduit between the bankruptcy bar and the Board of Bankruptcy Judges in the state. In 2024, he was appointed to the Chapter 11 Local Rules Committee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, which serves to review and recommend changes to existing procedures and rules for Chapter 11 cases in the District.

Michael is adept at finding creative legal solutions to difficult problems. In trustee cases, he has earned a reputation for uncovering fraudulent conduct and tracking down hidden assets. Always focused on maximizing return for the estate or recovery for creditors, Michael uses innovative arguments and his deep knowledge of the Bankruptcy Code to optimize the client’s position going into any negotiation.

For businesses in the cannabis sector that encounter financial difficulties, Michael advises and has written and presented on alternatives to traditional bankruptcy, including assignments for the benefits of creditors, receiverships and workouts.

In a niche practice, Michael has developed a particular fluency in issues related to student loans in the bankruptcy context and in other litigation. He represents student loan servicers as creditor in bankruptcy court and in defending claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Michael has also written and spoken on this and other bankruptcy-related topics.

An active member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, Michael is a Contributing Editor of the ABI Journal, overseeing the “Trustee Talk” column, and previously served for several years as an Associate Editor. He serves on the advisory board for the ABI’s Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Conference and is a prolific industry thought leader who has published articles in the ABI Journal, Law360, Bloomberg Law, The Legal Intelligencer and the New Jersey Law Journal, among others. He is also an editor of and a frequent contributor to the firm’s “In Solvency” blog, which covers bankruptcy and financial restructuring issues.