Steven A Roach

Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Insolvency; Corporate and Transactions; Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Real Estate; Workouts; Financial Services

Steven A. Roach brings 40 years of commercial transaction and litigation experience in restructuring lending relationships and enforcing loan transactions. He applies this experience to provide a unique perspective as both a trial and transactional lawyer when representing and counselling the firm's financial institution clients.

Steve has represented lenders in a variety of lending structures, including syndications, financing leases, structured debt and equity financings, multi-jurisdictional and international transactions. He has assisted lenders with the liquidation of many different types of collateral that include operational assets, construction equipment, retail and wholesale inventory, real estate, intellectual property, aircraft and ships, with borrowers located in Michigan, throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and elsewhere. Steve delivers results both out of court and when litigation is needed.

Steve utilizes pre- and post-judgment remedies in both state and federal courts when appropriate to preserve and enhance the value of collateral and to liquidate collateral. He has been actively involved with a large number and variety of receivership actions that have sought to preserve the value of assets, to wind down operating companies, to complete construction projects, and to liquidate both real and personal property. His receivership practice includes representation of both receivers and secured lenders.

His practice experience also includes jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations involving millions of dollars in damages, including lender liability, license and royalty contracts, real estate, construction disputes, Uniform Commercial Code issues, fraudulent transfers, probate issues, shareholder disputes, and, of course, the enforcement of loan agreements. He looks for immediate solutions and creative solutions, when cost effective and beneficial for his clients. In one particularly memorable case, Steve represented the Trustees of Detroit's historic Mariners' Church in a property dispute with the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, prevailing at both the trial and appellate levels.

American Bar Association

Detroit Metropolitan Bar Foundation, Trustee 2013-2017; Secretary/Treasurer 2015-2017

Commercial Advisory Council for the American Arbitration Association, Michigan

"The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Gordon Lightfoot and the Mariners' Church of Detroit" (Media Mention), Detroit Legal News, November 10, 2025

"Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors," Co-Authored with Marc Swanson and Megan Baxter-Labut, Thomson Reuters Practical Law Journal, Spring 2022

"Uniform Commercial Code Article 9 Sales: Michigan," Co-Authored with Megan Baxter-Labut and Marc Swanson, Thomson Reuters Practical Law Journal, Spring 2022

"Receiverships: Michigan," Co-Authored with Scott Lesser and Marc Swanson, Thomson Reuters Practical Law Journal, Spring 2022

"Building an Effective Workout Strategy for Contractor Clients" (Co-author), Journal of Corporate Renewal, March 2015

"Bike commuter keeps a secret: it's more fun than it looks" (Interview), GrossePointeToday.com, August 11, 2009

Michigan Cause of Action Form Book, dealer and sales representative section, ICLE publication

Benzie Wellness and Aquatic Center, Board Member, 2024-present

Mariners' Church of Detroit Foundation, Trustee, 2023-present

U-M Club of Grand Traverse, Board Director and Secretary, 2023-present

Tour de Troit, Inc., Board Member, 2013-2020; General Counsel, 2008-present

League of Michigan Bicyclists, Director, Region 1, 2007-2019; Board Chair, 2012-2016

Brainstormers! Inspiration Factory, Chair of Board of Directors, 2020-2022

Frankfort Zoning Board of Appeals, Member; Chair, 2021

United Way of Southeastern Michigan Annual Campaign, Chair of Professionals Unit for Major Markets, 2006, 2007

Open Arms, Member, Fundraising Committee, 2006

University of Michigan

J.D.

1986

University of Michigan

A.B.

1983