Michael D. Seese

Mr. Seese co-chairs the firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Group.  He represents debtors, committees, lenders (senior, mezzanine and DIP), purchasers and other parties in complex workouts and Chapter 11 proceedings. In cases under Chapter 11, Michael has represented clients in numerous jurisdictions throughout the United States.

He has helped clients in industries ranging from banking, technology, and aviation to industrial and not-for-profits.  For example, he helped the debtor, a large international air cargo carrier, successfully reorganize under Chapter 11, and he successfully litigated and obtained authority on behalf of one of the largest steel and tin producers in the United States in connection with the sale of substantially all of the debtor's assets. He represented the foreign representative in a case ancillary to one of the largest commercial bankruptcy proceedings ever filed in Argentina, represented the creditors’ committee in a Chapter 11 proceeding on behalf of one of the largest producers of aluminum in the United States, served as bankruptcy litigation counsel to the Chapter 11 trustee in one of the largest not-for-profit bankruptcy proceedings ever filed in the United States, and represented the liquidating trustee in a Chapter 11 case involving over 600 lawsuits.

From Mr. Seese’ s Case Files

Devising a Quick Turnaround for Amerijet:  While representing Amerijet International, Inc. in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, we negotiated amicable arrangements with aircraft equipment lenders, stabilized the company’s relationship with its primary lender, restructured the company’s operations and confirmed a plan of reorganization – all in less than ninety days.  In doing so, we minimized the administrative costs, including attorneys’ fees and costs, preserved critical assets, and facilitated the company’s successful reorganization and emergence from bankruptcy.

Quarterbacking a Winning Team:  I was asked to serve as lead litigation counsel in an effort to obtain authority to sell all assets of a billion-dollar producer of steel and tin mill-products. I coordinated and led a team of attorneys in undertaking no less than ten depositions in four states, completed expedited discovery (including expert witnesses), and obtained a successful result at a trial before the bankruptcy court – all in less than thirty days.

**"CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies."

Education

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1993
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania, B.S. (Finance/Economics), 1989

Bar Admissions & Memberships

• Florida, 1994
• U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, 1994
• Pennsylvania, 2004 (inactive)

Noteworthy

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School Law Review
• Merit Scholarship recipient
• American Jurisprudence Award – Trial Skills Workshop
• Named, Legal Elite, “Florida Trend” magazine - 2007
• Listed, Leading Lawyers for Business, “Chambers & Partners USA Guide” – 2007
• Named, Super Lawyer, “Florida Super Lawyers Magazine” - 2006, 2007
• Recommended for Restructuring and Insolvency, “PLC Cross-Border Restructuring & Insolvency Handbook - 2007

Professional Affiliations

• The Florida Bar
• American Bar Association
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• Bankruptcy Bar Association – Southern District of Florida
• American Bankruptcy Institute, Professional Compensation Committee, e-News Letter, Editor (former)
• Local Rules Committee, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida (former)
• Standing Advisory Committee, Study of the Rules of Practice and Internal Operating Procedures, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida

Presentations & Publications

Tri-state Bankruptcy Symposium, Allegheny County Bar Association, lecturer, Pittsburgh, PA, 2004

Judgment Enforcement Seminar, Lorman Education, lecturer, Miami, FL, 2001-2003, 2005

Advanced Judgment Seminar, Lorman Education, lecturer, Miami, FL, 2004

Understanding the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005 in Florida, Lorman Education, lecturer, Miami, FL, 2005 and  West Palm Beach, FL, 2006

Collective Bargaining Agreements and The WARN Act in Bankruptcy, National Convention, Federal Bar Association, lecturer, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2005