Jerome M. Schwartz

Member

PROMINENT ASSIGNMENTS

Counsel to public and private companies, directors, officers, and shareholders for public offerings and private placements of securities, reporting and compliance under SEC and stock exchange rules, shareholder meetings, corporate governance, public disclosures and avoiding insider trading.

Counsel to financial institutions seeking to raise capital or restructure in response to adverse economic conditions or to comply with regulatory requirements.

Counsel to financial institutions seeking to avoid or respond to regulatory proceedings.

Counsel to start-up companies and equity owners in formation, private placements, venture capital financing, and public offerings.

Counsel to special board committees and majority shareholders in acquisitions, mergers and divestitures, and regarding fiduciary obligations.

Counsel to lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured financings.

Counsel to audit, compensation and governance committees.

Counsel to buyers and sellers in acquisitions, mergers, and divestitures.

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS

Community Shores Bank Corporation

Crestmark Bancorp, Inc.

Ford Motor Company

Greater Detroit Area Health Council

H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc.

Mercantile Bank Corporation

Mitsubishi Corporation

Nuveen Investments, Inc.

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

State Bar of Michigan, Chairperson, Regulation of Securities Committee
Association for Corporate Growth
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Arbitrator
National Commercial Finance Association Education Foundation, Advisory Board Member (1990-2000)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Planning Commission Member, City of Sylvan Lake
Michigan Advisory Board and Executive Committee of the Anti-Defamation League
Detroit Economic Club, Sustaining Member
American Heart Association of Michigan, Member of the Board of Directors/Executive Officer (1993-1998); Chairman of the Board (1995-1996)

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

"The New Michigan Uniform Securities Act" (Seminar October 2009), Sponsored by The Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan
"SEC Issues Update" (Seminars in 2009, 2004, 2002 and 1999), "Latest Developments in Executive Compensation Disclosure" (Seminar October, 2006) and "New Developments in Public Company Reporting" (Seminar January, 2006); Sponsored by Bowne and Glasser Legal/Works
"Serving as a Director in Today's Environment" (Article June 2005) and "Should You Go Public?" (Article September 1999), published by the Michigan Banker