“Bob Wright brought his training and experience to effect resolution in a minimal amount of time with maximum results.”
- Lead Counsel |
Dispute Resolution Experience
Robert Wright has represented creditors, trustees and committees in bankruptcy matters since 1983 and has served as a neutral arbitrator and mediator since 1987. Bob is a pioneer in the field of mediation in Michigan. Since 1999, he has mediated hundreds of cases, employing a variety of mediation styles, and consistently maintains a settlement rate well above the average. Bob is highly versatile, mediating disputes in as little as a half day to sessions spanning multiple days; in cities all over Michigan; involving anywhere from two to thirty parties, from a broad spectrum of ethnic, socioeconomic, and business backgrounds. He mediates disputes in many areas of law involving bankruptcy cases, including preference and fraudulent transfers, non-dischargeability, plan confirmation, objections to claims and fee disputes, as well as underlying business and personal issues. In addition to his wealth of practical experience, Bob inspires and motivates participants through his uncompromising ethics, insightfulness, empathy, compassion, and genuine love of the mediation process.
Bob is as an approved mediator for the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan was asked to draft a new local rule to implement mediation in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan. He is licensed to practice law in all Florida and Michigan state courts, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and the federal bankruptcy and district courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan.
Representative Industries
- Auto Style Plastics
- Cessna Financial
- Comerica Bank
- Federal Mogul
- Ford Motor Company
- Georgia-Pacific
- Hallmark Cards
- Mayco Plastics
- Midwest Bank
- Noble International
- Tower Automotive
- Visteon
- Served as mediator or arbitrator in numerous matters
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
- BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA
- MICHIGAN SUPER LAWYERS
- WHO’S WHO IN AMERICAN LAW
- 2009 – George N. Bashara Award, State Bar of Michigan, ADR Section
- 2008 – Distinguished Service Award, Grand Rapids Bar Association
- 2007 – Fellow, American Bar Foundation,
- 2006-2010 – Best Lawyers in America in ADR (nominated by peer group)
- 2006-2010 – Michigan Super Lawyers
- 2004 - Certificate of Appreciation, Kent County Circuit Court
- 2003 – ADR Trailblazer Award, Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan
- ABA DR Section (Co-chair, Practice Management Committee)
- ACR (Member)
- State Bar of Michigan – ADR Section (Chair-Elect, Executive Council)
- Grand Rapids Bar Association ADR Section (Member, Past-Chair,)
- University of Michigan, ICLE Mediation Advisory Board (Member, Mediator Trainer)
- Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Michigan
- Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan in Grand Rapids, Michigan (Board Member, Past President, Pro Bono Mediator)
Lectures and ADR Trainings Conducted
- Lecture & Planner, Michigan ICLE 8th Annual Advanced Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Institute, March 12, 2009
- Trainer, ICLE’s 4th Annual Advanced Mediators Forum, (University of Michigan, Institute of Continuing Legal Education), June 3, 2008
- Trainer, Breaking the Logjam: Apology and Other Impasse Busting Techniques, Mediation Services of Holland (Holland, MI), April 30, 2008
- Lecture, PACIFIC CURRENTS: Sound Perspectives on ADR, ABA Conference & Skills Training, April 4, 2008 (ABA)
- Lecture: ADR in Michigan, speech to US State Department, Latin American delegation (MSU College of Law – Prof. Mary Bedikian), March 5, 2008
- Judge, ABA Regional Arbitration Competition, (Michigan State University), November 9, 2007
- Lecture, Mediation in Kent County, Michigan Circuit Court, Grand Rapids Bar Association ADR Section, November 29, 2006
- Lecture & Trainer, Advanced Mediator Training, Michigan ICLE, 12/16/03
- Lecture & Trainer, Advanced Mediator Training, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, 2/22/03
- Lecture & Trainer, Civil Mediator Training, Lakeshore Dispute Resolution Center, 2/15/03
- Lecture, The Role of Mediation in the Collection of Debts, Michigan ICLE Creditors’ Rights Institute, 6/5/02
- Lecture, Mediation Under the New Court Rules, Michigan, Legal Assistants’ Section of Michigan State Bar Association in Lansing, Michigan 5/3/02
Background and Education
- Juris Doctorate - Wayne State University 1980
- Masters in Psychology - University of Santa Monica 2001
- Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude ¬Western Michigan University 1976
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