William T. Burgess

William T. Burgess

Member and Chief Executive Officer

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Detroit Office

wburgess(at)dickinsonwright.com

Phone: 313.223.3634

Fax: 313.223.3598

PROMINENT ASSIGNMENTS

For more than 20 years, served as counsel to secured lenders (including banks, insurance companies, lending syndicates, administrative agents, collateral agents and loan servicers) in all aspects of workouts, restructurings, loan modifications and enforcement of remedies.

Represented automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers in all aspects of reorganization, turnaround, workout and liquidation cases.

Trial counsel in state and federal court proceedings, including bankruptcy cases and appellate matters, concerning creditor rights and enforcement of remedies.

Extensive experience in purchase and sale of assets with court supervision in bankruptcy or receivership proceedings.

Trial and appellate counsel in matters establishing important precedents on issues of "adequate protection" to secured lenders and enforcement of assignment of rents.

Counsel to governmental economic growth and development agencies in revitalization and turnaround of distressed projects.

Counsel to governmental and quasi-governmental agencies in acquisition of significant properties to be devoted to public use and economic development.

Represented numerous public and private corporations in mergers, acquisitions or reorganizations in the real estate, automotive, foodservice and public utility industries. Represented numerous public and private corporations in mergers, acquisitions or reorganizations in the real estate, automotive, foodservice and public utility industries.

Represented commercial mortgage lenders in underwriting, negotiation and documentation for office, hotel, retail and multi-family residential projects.

Counsel to municipal government on issues of zoning, eminent domain and public contract administration.

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS

  • Bank of America
  • Chrysler, LLC
  • City of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
  • Fifth Third Bank
  • John Hancock Life Insurance Company
  • Johnson Controls, Inc.
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
  • Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

  • University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law 1986-present (Commercial Law, Uniform Commercial Code, Payment Systems)
  • City of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, City Attorney 1990-present

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Leadership Detroit XII, Member
  • Rose Hill Center, Inc., Counsel

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • Co-Author, Strategies for Secured Creditors in Workouts and Foreclosures, ALI-ABA, 2004
  • Contributing Author, Private Equity (History, Governance and Operations), Wiley, 2008

EXPERIENCE

  • Law Clerk to Hon. Charles L. Levin, Michigan Supreme Court, 1984-85

EDUCATION

University of Michigan, A.B., 1981

  • High Honors, High Distinction
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Yale Law School, J.D., 1984