Overview
A “very skilled” practitioner who is “everything a lawyer should be—thoughtful, strategic, supportive, and hard-working” (Chambers USA), Mike Merchant has served on the firm’s executive committee and is currently vice chair of the Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring Department.
Mike represents the full range of participants in bankruptcy cases and corporate restructurings, including debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, official and unofficial committees, and acquirers of distressed assets. Clients report that Mike “is really intelligent, diligent and a solid team player. He is thoughtful about how to approach the court” and has “great insight into what the judges look for” (Chambers USA, 2024).
Mike has represented clients from a variety of different business segments, including biopharmaceutical companies, bank holding companies, subprime lenders, telecommunications companies, and businesses in the retail and manufacturing sector. Mike also has significant experience assisting companies facing mass tort exposure navigate through the chapter 11 process. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Turnaround Management Association, and the American Bar Association.
PRACTICES
Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring
Select Experience
Debtor Representations
- Cano Health, Inc.: Co-counsel to one of the largest independent primary-care physician groups in the United States
- Mallinckrodt PLC: Co-counsel to a global specialty biopharmaceutical company that produces and sells both generic and branded products
- Nogin, Inc.: Counsel to e-commerce technology platform providers for corporations in a variety of industries, including apparel, accessories, and other consumer products
- Genapsys, Inc.: Counsel to life sciences company with a mission to build an affordable, scalable genomic sequencing ecosystem for research and diagnostic purposes
- Imerys Talc America, Inc.: Co-counsel to debtors facing significant potential liabilities as a result of claims by plaintiffs alleging personal injuries caused by exposure to talc mixed, processed, and/or distributed by one or more of the debtors
- Paddock Enterprises, LLC: Co-counsel to successor-by-merger to Owens-Illinois, Inc. facing hundreds of claims and lawsuits alleging personal injuries from exposure to asbestos contained in products manufactured between 1948-1958
- TK Holdings Inc. (Takata Corporation): Co-counsel to direct and indirect subsidiaries of global manufacturer of automotive safety components facing litigation relating to issues with certain airbag inflators
- The Rockport Company, LLC: Counsel to leading global designer, distributor, and retailer of comfort footwear
- National Envelope (NE Opco, Inc.): Counsel to the largest privately held manufacturer of envelopes in North America
- A123 Systems, Inc.: Co-counsel to manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries and battery systems
- Blitz USA, Inc.: Counsel to manufacturer of portable fuel containers and fuel transportation products
- Cooper Standard Automotive, Inc.: Co-counsel to manufacturer of components, systems, modules, and replacement parts for the automotive industry
- Linens ‘n Things, Inc.: Counsel to specialty retailer of home textiles, housewares, and home accessories
- QiMonda Richmond, LLC: Co-counsel to U.S. segment of international memory chip company
- New Century Financial Corporation: Co-counsel to one of the largest specialty finance businesses in the U.S.
- Resmae Mortgage Corporation: Counsel to part of nationwide mortgage banking company that originated, sold, and serviced subprime mortgages
- Gottschalks Inc.: Co-counsel to diversified retailer of full-line department stores and specialty stores
- Three A’s Holdings, LLC (Tower Records): Co-counsel to operator of large, widely recognized specialty music and video business
- Teleglobe Communications Corporation: Counsel to owner/operator of extensive global telecommunications network
- NationsRent, Inc.: Co-counsel to leading provider of rental equipment with rental centers located in 26 states
- Weiner’s Stores, Inc.: co-counsel to publicly owned retailer of branded apparel, accessories, shoes, domestics, housewares, and decorative home products
Creditors’ Committees and Strategic Creditor Representations
- Syms Corp/Filene’s Basement, LLC: Co-counsel to Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of national retailer of discounted merchandise
- Edwin Watts Golf Shops: Co-counsel to Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of one of the world’s premier specialty golf retailers
- Canfibre of Riverside, Inc.: Counsel to Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of owner and operator of waste wood recycling facility
- Furniture Brands International, Inc.: Co-counsel to DIP lender and stalking horse purchaser of world leaders in design, manufacturing, and retailing of home furnishings
- Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Co-counsel to stalking horse purchaser of specialty biopharmaceutical company
- Goldking Holdings, LLC: Counsel to DIP lender and stalking horse purchaser of acquirer and developer of oil and gas properties
- Franklin Bank Corporation: Counsel to trustee under senior secured notes of savings and loan holding company
