Arthur Spector concentrates his practice in business bankruptcy cases and workouts. He served from 1984-2002 as a United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Eastern District of Michigan where he was Chief Judge the last three years. He authored 170 published judicial opinions, including 25 in the Dow Corning case.
Representative Experience
· Coordinated worldwide litigation on behalf of committee of creditors overseeing the liquidation of a debtor after chapter 11 plan confirmation regarding allegedly fraudulent schemes by a former director and numerous accomplices involving dozens of companies on several continents and over $160 million
· Represented low-cost airline with large antitrust claim in negotiations and potential litigation against legacy air carrier in its chapter 11 case.
· Represented purchaser of large bankrupt retailer's intellectual property and website
· Designed and executed strategy to obtain confirmation of restaurant chain's reorganization plan in heated competition with a creditor's plan
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member of the American Bankruptcy Institute
· Member of National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and served on the Board of Governors and committees
Awards & Recognition
· Chambers & Partners USA Guide, America's Leading Business Lawyers, Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2005-2011)
· The Best Lawyers in America (Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law, since 2009)
· Florida's Super Lawyers (2006-2011)
· AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Articles & Presentations
Articles
· "Notwithstanding Stern: Bankruptcy Courts May Still Enter Judgment in Many Noncore Counterclaims," Norton Bankruptcy Law Adviser, September 2011
· "Anna Nicole Smith Decision Affects Court's Authority," Daily Business Review(August 23, 2011)
· "Suggestion: Plug the No-Fault Act's Notorious Loophole," 1997 Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University Law Review 777 (1997)
· "Who Watches the Watchdog?," NACTT Quarterly, Vol. 10, No. 1 (October 1997)
· "Bankruptcy," 1998 Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University Law Review 365 (1998)
· "Bankruptcy," 1999 Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University Law Review 317 (1999)
· "Bankruptcy" 2000 Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University Law Review 563 (2000)
· "Discharges of Non-Debtor Parties," American Bankruptcy Institute's Central States Bankruptcy Workshop 2000: Educational Materials 131 (June 2000)
· "Trustees to PRPs: Please Join Me in Cleaning Up This Mess," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, Vol. XXII, No. 5 (June, 2003)
· "Amend Rule 2014(a) to Include a Rule of Reason or Safe Harbor Guidelines," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal (December/January, 2005)
· Defense of Bankruptcy-Eve Payments Likely to Be Easier, Daily Business Review, March 30, 2005
· "Bankruptcy Code Revision Favors Commercial Landlords," Florida Real Estate Journal (May 16-31, 2005)
· "Unlimited Homestead Exemptions Meet BAPCPA's 522(p)," Bankruptcy Court Decisions, Volume 45, Issue 12 (November 1, 2005)
· "Liberalization of Section 547(c)(2) Gives Defendants a Powerful Choice,"Bankruptcy Reform 2005 LRP Publications
· "Thanks to Chapter 15, South Florida Should See Wave of Transnational Insolvencies," International Quarterly (Spring 2007)
· "Rule 2014(a) and a Rule of Reason or Safe Harbor Guideline Revisited," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal (February, 2007)
· "Making Sense of New Rule 6003: Interim Approval of the Retention of DIP Professionals," Bankruptcy Court Decisions, Vol. 49; Issue 11 (Feb. 19, 2008)
· "Second Circuit Clarifies that the Bankruptcy Court Lacked Jurisdiction to Enter 'Clarifying Order' in Johns-Manville," Norton Bankruptcy Law Adviser (May 2008)
· Contributing editor for Norton Bankruptcy Law & Practice II & III
Presentations
· Adjunct Professor of Law at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, and instructed at law schools
· Numerous professional and judicial seminars, including
- The Florida Bar CLE, Annual Wealth Protection 2010, "Voluntary or Involuntary Bankruptcy: What the Estate Planner Needs to Know About the Bankruptcy Process, May 2010"
- Commercial Finance Association, Florida Chapter Education Workshop on Bankruptcy Panel - Current Issues and Trends, January 2010
- Norton's Bankruptcy Law & Practice Seminar, February 2009
- ABI - Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, February 2006
- Mealey's Asbestos Bankruptcy Conference, December 2004
In the News
Thanks to Chapter 15, South Florida should see wave of transnational insolvencies, International Quarterly, Jonathan Brand & Arthur Spector, April 13, 2007
First NLC's bankruptcy lists more than $50 million in debt, South Florida Business Journal, Paul Avron, Paul Singerman and Arthur Spector, January 25, 2008
Bankruptcy near?, Vallejo Times Herald, Arthur J. Spector, February 22, 2008
Bankruptcy Near?, Times Herald, Arthur J. Spector, February 22, 2008
Deadline looms for New River, Daily Deal/The Deal, Arthur Spector, July 24, 2008
Companies expand financing search beyond U.S. borders, Daily Business Review, Arthur J. Spector, March 27, 2009
People, Daily Business Review, Arthur J. Spector, June 12, 2009
People on the move, South Florida Business Journal, Arthur J. Spector, June 12, 2009
Movers, Miami Herald, Arthur J. Spector, June 15, 2009
People on the move: Professions, Sun-Sentinel, Arthur J. Spector, July 06, 2009
News and Notes, The Florida Bar News, Daniel H. Thompson, July 15, 2009
Developer McGill Files Chapter 11 on Ohio Shopping Center, South Florida Business Journal, Arthur J. Spector, April 12, 2010
Twenty-Four Attorneys Named Florida Super Lawyers By Publishers of Law & Politics Magazine, Daniel H. Aronson, Robert W. Barron, James L. Berger, Mitchell W. Berger, Howard Berlin, Anthony J. Carriuolo, John Eaton, Brian K. Gart, Jorid Guso, Melanie Ann Hines, Nick Jovanovich, Charles H. Lichtman, Sheldon S. Polish, Brian G. Rich, Leonard K. Sam, June 08, 2010
Fifteen Berger Singerman Attorneys Named to 2011 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, October 28, 2010
Berger Singerman Receives High Marks in the World-Famous Chambers USA 2011 Guide, Daniel Aronson, Douglas Bates, James Berger, Mitchell Berger, Howard Berlin, Leslie Cloyd, Brian Gart, James Gassenheimer, Jordi Guso, Brian Rich, Marc Shuster, Paul Steven Singerman, Arthur Spector, Daniel Thompson, June 10, 2011
Publications
In This Issue, Norton Bankruptcy Law Advisor, 05/01/2008
Making sense of new Rule 6003: Interim approval of the retention of DIP professionals, LRP Publication, 02/19/2008
Thanks to Chapter 15, South Florida should see wave of transnational insolvencies, Daily Business Review, 03/01/2007
Rule 2014(a) and a Rule of Reason or Safe Harbor Guideline Revisited, ABI Journal, 02/01/2007
Amend Rule 2014(a) to Include a Rule of Reason or Safe Harbor Guidelines, American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, 01/01/2005