Michael B. Reynolds

Bar Admissions

• California

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of California
• United States District Court, All Districts of California

Education

• University of California at Los Angeles (J.D.)
• University of California at Davis (B.A.)

Awards & Recognition

• Orange County Visionary, Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing (2023)
• “Bar and Driver,” Featured Article, Los Angeles & San Francisco Daily Journal (February 16, 2018)
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2018-2025)
• Southern California Super Lawyers^®, Rising Stars Edition, Bankruptcy, Corporate Reorganization, Creditors’ Rights and Remedies (2003-2007)
• Young Gun (top 20 in Southern California under 40 years old), Daily Journal (March 2005)

Representative Matters

• Represents financial institutions, banks, asset-based lenders, investment firms and private lenders in debt enforcement and realization solutions, involving transactions, workouts, sales, litigation, trials, appeals, receiverships, insolvencies, and bankruptcies.
• Experienced in representing lenders with respect to various types of debts and real estate and non-real estate collateral packages, including commercial and residential properties, industrial and office properties. Experienced in a variety of industry areas, including but not limited to hotel and hospitality, manufacturing, technology, steel, chemicals, plastics, agriculture, trucking, transportation, home furnishings, automotive and retail.
• Lead counsel to large financial institution in complex, multi-jurisdictional real property and guaranty enforcement action involving multiple properties, borrowers, shell entities and fraudulent transfers.
• Experienced in prosecuting and defending preference and fraudulent transfer litigation in bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy courts.
• Represented and reorganized retail flooring company including confirmation of Chapter 11 plan by cramdown on dissenting creditors and interest holders.
• Represented Receiver for a gourmet grocer in excuse from turnover proceedings in bankruptcy and mediated settlement proceedings involving related state court lawsuits, appeals, and voluntary and involuntary Chapter 11 petitions.
• Represented and reorganized four residential real estate development companies in confirmation proceedings of a Chapter 11 plan through cramdown on dissenting creditors, with a substantial return to equity interest holders.
• Represented a $100+ million producer and distributor of baby and toddler-related gear and products in a bankruptcy case involving confirmation of Chapter 11 plan by cramdown on dissenting creditors.
• Represented and confirmed Chapter 11 plan for residential real estate developers.
• Represented and reorganized large commercial bakery in negotiations leading to a largely consensual Chapter 11 plan.
• Represented and reorganized a multi-million dollar e-business solutions firm through a cramdown of a Chapter 11 plan on dissenting creditors.
• Represented and reorganized a multi-million dollar trucking company through a cramdown of a Chapter 11 plan on dissenting creditors.
• Defended nonprofit charity against eight-count lawsuit by the State Attorney General through a lengthy trial.
• Reorganized nonprofit housing and redevelopment company by Chapter 11 cramdown on dissenting creditor classes.
• Represented a foreign labor union in a complex commercial dispute and defended efforts to enforce a judgment in proceedings to seek relief from a $270 million judgment against the union and to recover nearly $50 million in assets that had been improperly seized by creditors.
• Represented a private U.S. company in complex litigation in several different forums against the government of Chiapas, Mexico

Previous Professional Experience

• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, Judicial Extern to Hon. Robert W. Alberts
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Judicial Extern to Hon. Oliver W. Wanger
• Western State University School of Law, Adjunct Professor, Bankruptcy (2004-2008)

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Orange County Bar Association, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section, Former Chairman
• Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, President (2010); Board of Directors (2003-2011)
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• California Receivers’ Forum

Community Involvement

• Orange County Human Relations Commission, Chairman

Representative Presentations and Publications

• “Will Your Charitable Service Go Unpunished?,” Author, Orange County Business Journal (November 22-28, 2010)
• “Our Orange County Winter of Discontent,” Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (November 24-30, 2008)
• “Enforcement of Judgments in California,” Lecturer, Continuing Education of the Bar