Steven G. Howell
Banking and Finance Law
Banking and Finance Law
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Steve Howell has been practicing for over 40 years as a bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer providing a broad range of services in the distressed business context. A significant part of Steve’s practice is spent counseling lenders in troubled loan matters throughout the workout process, including exit strategies, refinancings, restructures, sales, out-of-court and court proceedings, bankruptcy and liquidation. Steve has also represented borrowers, creditors’ committees, creditors and purchasers of financially distressed companies. He is currently serving as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan as lead bankruptcy counsel on behalf of the State of Michigan in the Chapter 9 bankruptcy case filed by the City of Detroit. In addition, he serves as counsel to the Detroit Financial Review Commission which is responsible for reviewing and approving certain activities by the City of Detroit and reviewing compliance with the City's plan of adjustment confirmed by the bankruptcy court in November of 2014. Increasingly, Steve has been called upon to mediate matters in both state and federal courts.In addition to his practice responsibilities, Steve serves as the Firm's Executive Director of Community and Client Relations, focusing on increasing the visibility and involvement of Dickinson Wright in its communities and complementing the business development activities and efforts of the Firm and his colleagues. He has previously served as Practice Department Manager of the Banking, Bankruptcy, and Municipal Finance groups at Dickinson Wright for eight years. Steve Howell has been practicing for over 40 years as a bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer providing a broad range of services in the distressed business context. A significant part of Steve’s practice is spent counseling lenders in troubled loan matters throughout the workout process, including exit strategies, refinancings, restructures, sales, out-of-court and court proceedings, bankruptcy and liquidation. Steve has also represented borrowers, creditors’ committees, creditors and purchasers of financially distressed companies. He is currently serving as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan as lead bankruptcy counsel on behalf of the State of Michigan in the Chapter 9 bankruptcy case filed by the City of Detroit. In addition, he serves as counsel to the Detroit Financial Review Commission which is responsible for reviewing and approving certain activities by the City of Detroit and reviewing compliance with the City's plan of adjustment confirmed by the bankruptcy court in November of 2014. Increasingly, Steve has been called upon to mediate matters in both state and federal courts.In addition to his practice responsibilities, Steve serves as the Firm's Executive Director of Community and Client Relations, focusing on increasing the visibility and involvement of Dickinson Wright in its communities and complementing the business development activities and efforts of the Firm and his colleagues. He has previously served as Practice Department Manager of the Banking, Bankruptcy, and Municipal Finance groups at Dickinson Wright for eight years. Steve Howell has been practicing for over 40 years as a bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer providing a broad range of services in the distressed business context. A significant part of Steve’s practice is spent counseling lenders in troubled loan matters throughout the workout process, including exit strategies, refinancings, restructures, sales, out-of-court and court proceedings, bankruptcy and liquidation. Steve has also represented borrowers, creditors’ committees, creditors and purchasers of financially distressed companies. He is currently serving as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan as lead bankruptcy counsel on behalf of the State of Michigan in the Chapter 9 bankruptcy case filed by the City of Detroit. In addition, he serves as counsel to the Detroit Financial Review Commission which is responsible for reviewing and approving certain activities by the City of Detroit and reviewing compliance with the City's plan of adjustment confirmed by the bankruptcy court in November of 2014. Increasingly, Steve has been called upon to mediate matters in both state and federal courts. In addition to his practice responsibilities, Steve serves as the Firm's Executive Director of Community and Client Relations, focusing on increasing the visibility and involvement of Dickinson Wright in its communities and complementing the business development activities and efforts of the Firm and his colleagues. He has previously served as Practice Department Manager of the Banking, Bankruptcy, and Municipal Finance groups at Dickinson Wright for eight years.
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007
Benjamin Adams
Our manufacturing company in Detroit faced a severe liquidity crisis that threatened its survival. We needed an attorney with deep experience in both bankruptcy and finance to navigate a complex out-of-court restructuring with multiple secured creditors. Steven Howell of Dickinson Wright was recommended for his decades of expertise, and it was immediately clear why. His 47 years of practice, particularly in distressed business matters, provided a strategic perspective that was invaluable. He didn't just recite the law; he understood the nuanced pressures from both the banking and creditor sides, which was crucial in negotiating viable terms. His recent recognition as Lawyer of the Year in both Bankruptcy and Banking Law was evident in his command of the intersecting legal frameworks. Steve was a steady, pragmatic advisor who genuinely cared about achieving a workable solution to save the business. The only minor critique is that during the most intense negotiation phases, response times from his support team could occasionally lag a day, which added to our anxiety. However, Steve himself was always available for critical calls. His Wayne State roots and lifelong practice in Detroit gave him a real understanding of our local business landscape. We successfully avoided Chapter 11, and the company is now on stable footing, thanks in large part to his guidance.