Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation
• Creditor's Rights
• Real Estate Litigation

Michael's practice supports the needs of businesses and homeowners in a changing economic environment. He has extensive experience in mortgage foreclosures, collections and loan workouts, general counsel work and real estate litigation.

Recent Representations

• Provided local counsel for a bank in litigation with a borrower in which the bank sued the borrower for $60 million and the borrower filed a separate action against the bank, alleging damages in excess of $60 million.
• Represented landlord whose tenant defaulted on a commercial lease. Recovered possession of the leased property for landlord and all of the unpaid back rent plus the landlord's attorneys' fees.
• Defended client sued as a guarantor of a business loan by filing a petition to strike and/or open the judgment.  
• Debt workout/restructuring for client in restaurant business that defaulted on obligations to lender due to the slumping economy. Assisted the client in re-working certain loans and obligations and delaying others without losing business.
• Obtained retroactive relief from automatic stay on client's behalf after defaulting borrower filed bankruptcy on eve of execution on debtor's real estate.  
• Represented client in investigation and litigation involving embezzlement and fraud by company employees. Successfully pursued former employees and obtained partial recovery of stolen funds. 
• Represented client sued by bankruptcy trustee for payments made to it on the eve of debtor's bankruptcy. Resolved the matter with no payment to the bankruptcy trustee.

Memberships 

• Chester County Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Business Networking International (BNI)

Community Involvement

• Interfaith Housing Assistance Corporation, President
• West Chester Lions Club
• First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, Head Usher and Lay Reader 

Previous Community Involvement

• West Side Little League, Secretary and Coach 
• West Chester Lions Club, President
• "Community Hero Torchbearer," carried the Olympic torch through West Chester, Pennsylvania on its way to the Olympic Games in Atlanta

Articles

• A Primer on Mechanics' Liens
• What Can You Do When You Owe More On Your Property Than It Is Worth?