Michelle H. Bass

Michelle focuses her practice on consumer bankruptcy restructuring and reorganization.

Michelle represents both debtors and creditors in consumer bankruptcy proceedings.

She primarily represents debtors in Chapter 7 liquidation and Chapter 13 reorganization, which span from high net-worth and high income-earning individuals, to individuals seeking to prevent foreclosure or repossession of secured collateral. She also represents both debtors and creditors in divorce-related bankruptcy proceedings, and is a frequent speaker on the intersection of bankruptcy and family law disputes.

She has represented individuals reorganizing under Chapter 11, as well as small businesses going through Chapter 7 liquidation. She has been extremely successful in practice stopping foreclosures, stripping secured liens, and cramming down loans on collateral for individuals seeking to reorganize under Chapters 13 and 11.

She has successfully defended appeals in the Federal Eastern District for the State of Michigan and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Education:

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D.

University of Michigan, B.A.

Undergraduate Thesis completed in Contemporary American History

Admitted:

Michigan
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
U.S. Court Of Appeals 6th Circuit

More About Michelle

Honors

Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2019 Women in the Law
Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2014 – 2019

Publications

Speaking Engagements

OCBA/CBA Bankruptcy Seminar "When Worlds Collide," May 2019
"The Ethics of Representing the Vulnerable Client Population," ABI's Central States Bankruptcy Workshop, June 2019
"State vs Federal Exemptions," ABI's Steven W. Rhodes Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference, November 2019
"For Richer or for Poorer: When Divorce and Bankruptcy Law Collide," 18th Annual Family Law Institute ICLE, November 2019
Intersection of Family Law & Bankruptcy, ICLE, 2016
Intersection of Family Law & Bankruptcy, Cooley Law School, 2011 - Present
Western District of Michigan Debtors Bar Seminar, 2017

Pro Bono

Tamarack Camps, Board of Directors, 2018 - Present
Tamarack Camps, Board Secretary, 2014 - 2017
Tamarack Camps, Board Member, 2010 - 2017
JARC, Board Member, 2012 - 2018
Kadima, Board Member, 2011 - 2014

Professional Involvement

International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (MI-IWIRC) Michigan Network Co-Chair, 2018 - Present
Consumer Bankruptcy Association, Member, 2008 - Present
Oakland County Bar Association, Member
American Bankruptcy Institute, Membership Relations Director, 2019 - Present

Prior Employment Positions

Gold, Lange & Majoros, P.C.,
2008-2017

Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C.,
Law Clerk, 2007

Honorable Chief Judge Bernard A. Friedman for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan,
Judicial Intern, 2006