07.11.2018

Plunkett Cooney bankruptcy attorney Douglas C. Bernstein was one of the many professionals involved in the city of Detroit’s bankruptcy, which remains the largest Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy ever filed. To commemorate the fifth anniversary of this historic event, Bernstein will participate in a panel discussion on July 18.

Hosted by DBusiness magazine from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Gem Theatre in Detroit, the panel discussion is part of the DBusiness Breakfast Series. The event, titled: “Detroit’s Bankruptcy: Five Years Later – Past, Present and Future,” will feature Bernstein along with former Detroit City Council Member Sheila Cockrel, Patrick O’Keefe of O’Keefe financial advisors and John Naglick, Chief Deputy CFO / Finance Director for the city of Detroit.

“It’s remarkable how Detroit made it through the bankruptcy process. It had a perfect cast of leaders to see the process through. It was historic and the solutions were very creative,” said Bernstein who serves as the Business Law Department Leader of Plunkett Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest law firms. “Here we are five years later, and there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done. But hopefully the city will continue to have the same financial discipline in the future.”

During the city’s bankruptcy proceedings, Bernstein represented foundations that donated to the so-called “Grand Bargain” to ease pension cuts and spin off the Detroit Institute of Arts. He also served, and continues to serve, as a resource to local, regional and national media on Detroit's emergency financial status and issues generally related to Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy.

Tickets for the July 18 panel discussion cost $65 and are available by clicking here. Groups of 10 cost $50 per person. Prior to the start of the discussion, there will be networking reception and strolling breakfast available from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

A member of Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office, Bernstein concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, loan restructuring, commercial loan documentation, bankruptcy, banking-related litigation and appeals. Prior to joining Plunkett Cooney, Bernstein worked as an in-house attorney at Michigan National Corporation for over 20 years.

Bernstein earned his undergraduate degree in 1978 from Wayne State University and his law degree in 1982 from the Detroit College of Law. Earlier this year, he became the only Michigan attorney inducted into the 2018 class of Fellows of the American College of Bankruptcy, a prestigious national organization focused on fostering excellence in bankruptcy and insolvency practice.

Established in 1913, Plunkett Cooney employs approximately 300 employees, including over 150 attorneys in eight Michigan cities, as well as in Chicago, Illinois, Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm, which provides a range of transactional and litigation services, has achieved the highest rating (AV) awarded by Martindale-Hubbell. Fortune magazine has also named Plunkett Cooney among the top commercial law firms in the United States.

For more information about Douglas Bernstein’s participation in the DBusiness magazine panel discussion on July 18, contact the firm’s Director of Marketing & Business Development John Cornwell at (248) 901-4008 or jcornwell@plunkettcooney.com.

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