LAWYER PROFILE
Michael Small

Michael Small

USA 2026

Chambers ranking badge
Chambers ranking badge

Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Foley & Lardner LLP

USA

Practice Areas

Asset Acquisition, Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations, Creditor Committee Representation, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Fiduciary Representation, Finance, Financial Institutions, Israel, Litigation

Career

Michael Small focuses his practice on corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, and finance, as well as litigation related to each. He represents financial institutions and funds, operating companies, asset purchasers, debtors, creditors’ committees, secured and unsecured creditors in reorganization cases, workouts, out-of-court transactions, and a variety of federal and state court litigation.

Michael has been a partner with the firm since 2000 and previously led the firm’s Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations Practice Group. He is a member of the firm’s Sports & Entertainment and Food & Beverage Industry Teams, the Health Care & Life Sciences Sector, and the Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) Team. He continues to be a member of the Trial Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Experience

Representative Experience

Michael’s notable engagements include:

-In re Stoli Group USA, LLC (debtor)

-In re Marelli Lighting et al (international OEM customer)

-In re First Brands et al (international OEM customer)

-In re Century Mining, LLC (creditor and equity holder)

-In the matter of Hyzon Motors, Inc. (company-assignor)

-In re AmeriMark Interactive, LLC (asset purchaser)

-In re Meridian Restaurants Unlimited (creditors committee)

-In re FTX Trading Ltd. (sports sponsorship counterparty creditor)

-In re Diamond Sports Group (contract counterparties)

-In re Los Angeles Dodgers LLC (acquisition of L.A. Dodgers)

-In re Chicago National League Ball Club, LLC (acquisition of Chicago Cubs)

-In re Texas Rangers Baseball Partners (acquisition of Texas Rangers)

-In re Proterra Inc. et al (supplier-critical vendor)

-In re Universal Cooperatives, Inc., et al (debtors’ counsel)

-In re AgFeed Industries, Inc. et al (special counsel to the debtors)

-In re Loves Furniture, Inc. (creditors committee)

-In re SquareTwo Financial Services Corporation (acquiring plan sponsor)

-In re GenCanna Global USA, Inc. (creditors committee)

-In re The Financial Oversight and Management Board Puerto Rico (infrastructure creditor)

-In re Farmland Industries (bondholder committee and liquidating trustee)

-In re Corcoran Hospital District (chapter 9 debtor)

Education

University of Chicago Law School

JD

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

MA

Brown University

BA

Industry Sector Expertise

Automotive, Energy & Infrastructure, Energy Transition, Environmental & Product Stewardship, Family Offices, Food & Beverage, Hydrogen, International Trade & National Security, Manufacturing, Power & Renewables, Racial Justice & Equity, Smart Manufacturing, Sports & Entertainment, Supply Chain

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Bankruptcy/Restructuring - Illinois

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial

Michael Small is an experienced restructuring attorney and litigator. His clients include financial institutions, trustees and debtors. Areas of expertise include sports and entertainment, automotive and healthcare, among others.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • He is a deal maker; he can get things done.

    Bankruptcy/RestructuringChambers Guide to the USA
  • Michael is excellent; very smart and easy to deal with.

    Bankruptcy/RestructuringChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Foley & Lardner LLP (132)

California

California: Southern

District of Columbia

Florida

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership