Williams, Patrick S.

Matt Wilkins focuses his practice on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, business and commercial litigation for large automotive suppliers, secured and unsecured creditors in complex bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court negotiations, and acquisitions of distressed businesses.  He also has significant expertise in customer-supplier disputes in the automotive industry, including the negotiation and documentation of workout agreements and asset sale transactions.

Prior to founding Brooks Wilkins Sharkey & Turco in 2009, Mr. Wilkins was a shareholder at Butzel Long in Detroit.  Before joining Butzel Long in 1997, he practiced in Chicago at Coffield, Ungaretti & Harris.  Mr. Wilkins is licensed to practice in Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.

Mr. Wilkins' recent experience includes:

• Representing numerous Tier One and Two automotive suppliers in negotiating agreements with their financially distressed sub-suppliers to ensure continuity of supply.
• Representing the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee and the Liquidating Trustee of a manufacturer with over $500,000,000 in liabilities.
• Representing real estate developers and guarantors in the negotiation and documentation of workout and discounted payoff agreements.
• As debtors’ counsel, representing a substantial Michigan not-for-profit hospital in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy and ultimate sale as a going concern.
• Advising boards of directors regarding their fiduciary responsibilities in the insolvencies of subsidiary and related entities.
• Representing the purchaser of substantially all of the operating assets of an insolvent solar energy company.
• Representing a significant trade creditor in one of the largest Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy cases in the United States.
• Prosecution and defense of many preferential transfer and fraudulent transfer actions.

Professional Associations and Recognition:

• Recognized as a Michigan “Superlawyer.”
• Recognized as a Detroit “Top Lawyer” by Hour Detroit Magazine.
• Recognized as a Michigan “Best Lawyer.”
• Martindale-Hubbell “AV” rated.
• Licensed to practice in Michigan (1997), Illinois (1987) and Indiana (1983).
• Member, American Bankruptcy Institute.
• Member, American, Michigan and Chicago Bar Associations.
• Past-member of the ABA Young Lawyer’s Divisions’ national Executive Council; Past-Chair of the Bankruptcy and Professionalism Committees of the Division.
• Past-Chair, Indianapolis Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Committee.

Speaking Engagements:

Recent speaking engagements include:

• “Strategies for OEM Insolvencies – P.O. Terms and Conditions”
- OESA Annual OEM-Supplier Terms and Conditions Conference

• “Autos and Auto Suppliers: The Nuts and Bolts of Supplier Restructuring”
- Beard Group Annual Conference on Corporate Reorganization

• “OEM Insolvency Risks & Strategies”
- Precision Machined Products Association, Competitive Strategies Seminar

• “GM and Chrysler Chapter 11’s”
- Industrial Fastener’s Institute

• “Basics of Bankruptcy”
- Presented to Detroit Automotive News editors and staff

Education:

• Indiana University School of Law (J.D., 1983).

• Vanderbilt University (B.A., 1980).

Personal:

• President, Menonaqua Corporation, Harbor Springs, Michigan.
• Director and Treasurer, Birmingham Blue Dolphins Swim Club Boosters.