Lawrence McMichael Esq

- Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Creditors' Rights

- General Commercial Litigation

- Criminal Defense

- Appellate Advocacy

Lawrence G. McMichael is Chairman of Dilworth Paxson LLP. Over decades of practice, Larry has represented businesses, nonprofit institutions, and officers and directors in complex litigation, bankruptcy proceedings, and criminal investigations and prosecutions. He has tried numerous cases in federal and state courts across the country and argued significant appeals, including before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, and Eleventh Circuits and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Larry has particular depth representing debtors in Chapter 11 reorganizations, serving as lead debtor's counsel in some of the region's most prominent nonprofit and corporate bankruptcies. His appellate work includes successful en banc advocacy and precedent-setting decisions in complex federal matters, and as a member of the firm's Appellate Group.

He served as lead trial counsel for The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in the successful defense of a federal civil rights case tried to a jury, and separately in a successful challenge to the scope of a federal subpoena issued to the hospital. He defended the Rigas Family more than 50 securities cases arising from the collapse of Adelphia Communications, in the related bankruptcy proceeding, and in criminal forfeiture matters. On the debtor side, Larry served as lead debtors' counsel to the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Wordsworth Academy, the Please Touch Museum and the National Museum of American Jewish History in their respective bankruptcy reorganizations, including a successful argument on the credit bidding issue before the Third Circuit in the Philadelphia Newspapers' case.

Larry's standing in the bar is reflected in his election as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the American College of Bankruptcy, and as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He has been recognized as a Star Individual for Bankruptcy/Restructuring by Chambers USA since 2019, listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006, and named Philadelphia "Lawyer of the Year" in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law in 2013, 2019, and 2024. He is active in the Union League of Philadelphia, the Supreme Court Historical Society, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Historical Society.

- Served as lead trial counsel for The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in the successful defense of a federal civil rights case tried to a jury, and separately in a successful challenge to the scope of a federal subpoena issued to the hospital.

- Served as lead trial counsel for a leading manufacturer and distributor of recreational equipment in successful federal litigation arising from a failed acquisition.

- Represented the Rigas family in more than 50 securities cases arising from the collapse of Adelphia Communications, in the corresponding bankruptcy case, and in criminal forfeiture proceedings; secured a precedential double jeopardy ruling for John and Timothy Rigas through a successful en banc argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and served as lead counsel in the subsequent federal resentencing proceedings.

- Represented Sanjay Kumar, former chairman and CEO of Computer Associates, in connection with securities litigation and criminal restitution proceedings.

- Served as lead debtors' counsel to the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News in their bankruptcy proceedings, including successful argument of the credit bidding issue before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

- Served as lead debtor's counsel to the Philadelphia Orchestra in its bankruptcy proceeding and successful reorganization.

- Represented the family of Hassan Nemazee in federal criminal forfeiture proceedings, including a successful First Step Act early release application on Mr. Nemazee's behalf.

- Represented the controlling shareholders of Erie Indemnity Company in policyholder derivative claims.

- Served as lead debtors' counsel to Wordsworth Academy, the Please Touch Museum and to The National Museum of American Jewish History in their respective bankruptcy proceedings.

- Served as lead defense counsel for a major regional law firm in fiduciary and professional liability litigation.

Pennsylvania (1978)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1979)

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1980)

U.S. Supreme Court (1985)

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (1997)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2005)

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (2009)

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2025)