Douglas C. Bernstein
Partner
- Licensed: 1982
- Joined Firm: 2002
- Partner Since: 2003
Suite 2000
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
FAX: (248) 901-4040
Areas of Practice
Honors & Awards
- Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating-AV. AV is a registered certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.
- 2008 Michigan Super Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights; Michigan Super Lawyers, a publication of Law & Politics magazine
- American Jurisprudence Award – Labor Law 1, 1980
- Honor Roll – Spring 1979, Fall 1980
Education
- Detroit College of Law, 1982, J.D.
- Wayne State University, 1978, B.A.
Bar & Court Admissions
- Michigan, 1982
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 1982
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2004
- U.S.Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1982
The managing partner of the firm’s Banking, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, Douglas C. Bernstein focuses his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, commercial loan restructuring and workouts, commercial loan documentation, creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, banking-related litigation and appeals.
Before joining Plunkett Cooney, Mr. Bernstein was employed by Michigan National Corporation as an attorney for over 20 years. He subsequently joined the Standard Federal Bank Legal Department when the bank merged with Michigan National Corporation in 2001.
He has a number of published appellate decisions to his credit, and he is a member of several professional organizations. Mr. Bernstein has presented seminars on commercial loan restructure, bankruptcy and litigation issues. He has also been a featured guest on bankruptcy issues for a regional finance-themed radio program.
Representative Client Work
- Served as counsel to secured lender in several troubled residential construction and development projects, including obtaining the appointment of a receiver.
- Representation of lender in bankruptcy proceedings to deny debtor the discharge of a $1,500,000 loan.
- Successful restructure on behalf of lender of $28,000,000 loan relationship, resulting in full repayment to client, including reimbursement of all costs and attorneys’ fees.
- Representation of major automotive supplier in defense of $10,000,000 preference and fraudulent conveyance action.
- Served as counsel to lender in numerous matters involving troubled hotels, restaurants, boat manufacturers, automotive suppliers.
- Providing general bankruptcy advice to several automotive suppliers.
Professional Affiliations
- Oakland County Bar Association (Past Chair, In-House Counsel Committee)
- State Bar of Michigan
- Turnaround Management Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
Community Involvement
- Hearing panelist, Attorney Discipline Board
- Case evaluation panelist, Oakland County district and circuit courts
- American Power Boat Association, Former Counsel
- Detroit River Regatta Association, Board Member
- General Counsel, Hydro-Prop Unlimited Hydroplane Racing Series, 2002-2004