Bio

John R. Stevenson is a senior attorney in the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights practice groups.  His practice is focused on commercial litigation, business owner disputes, copyright law, trade secret and unfair competition, creditors’ rights, commercial bankruptcy and auto supplier issues.

Mr. Stevenson is an experienced, creative litigator who delivers value driven results to his clients in matters both in and out of court. Throughout his over 20-year legal career, he has achieved positive outcomes for companies and business owners in numerous industries, including automotive, technology, construction, cannabis, housing, and foodservice and hospitality.

Mr. Stevenson is licensed to practice in the states of Michigan and California, and he is admitted in the federal courts of the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan and the Central and Northern Districts of California.  Mr. Stevenson is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association and the Turnaround Management Association, a global organization of professionals in the corporate restructuring, renewal and corporate health space.

Representative Client Work

  • Obtained judgment on the pleadings in client’s favor in federal case involving antitrust and breach of contract claims, Mike Spot LLC v. GPM Empire, LLC, Case No. 23-cv-11603, 2025 WL 841610 (E.D. Mich. Mar. 18, 2025)
  • Obtained judgment on the pleadings in client’s favor in federal court case involving claims of copyright infringement, deceptive trade practices, unjust enrichment, trade dress infringement, and trademark dilution, SnagPod, LLC v. Precision Kiosk Technologies, Inc., Case No. 23-cv-10401, 2023 WL 6644133 (E.D. Mich. Oct. 12, 2023), reconsideration denied, 2023 WL 6644133 (E.D. Mich. Dec. 6, 2023)
  • Obtained summary judgment, in part, in client’s favor in federal case involving claims for violation of the Stored Communications Act
  • Negotiated settlement of commercial dispute involving claims for breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation, among others, in mediation concerning cannabis company
  • Negotiated consensual Subchapter V plan of reorganization on behalf of bank client in business bankruptcy case
  • Prosecuted preference and turnover actions in automotive supplier bankruptcy case, resulting in the recovery of over $1.6 million
  • Obtained summary judgment on objection to claim exceeding $700,000 for sales commissions based on quantum meruit and unjust enrichment
  • Successfully defended against motion to dismiss non-dischargeability lawsuit in bankruptcy court on behalf of bank client
  • Litigated objection to claim pertaining to price increase by supplier, resulting in settlement of less than 50% of asserted claim

Professional Affiliations

  • Turnaround Management Association
  • State Bar of California
  • State Bar of Michigan
  • Oakland County Bar Association

Credentials

Education

  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D., 2002
  • University of Michigan, B.A., 1993

Admissions

  • Michigan, 2006
  • California, 2002
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2006
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2012
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2019
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 2002
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2002

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