Ryan Heilman

Bankruptcy lawyer, commercial litigator, and business law advisor

Skilled. Tested. Accomplished.

Ryan Heilman is an experienced advocate for his clients at the negotiating table and in court.

Since graduating in the top 10% of his class from the University of Michigan Law School in 2001, Ryan has focused his practice on debtor-creditor rights, complex business workouts, Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, receiverships, and other commercial insolvency matters. Ryan’s corporate bankruptcy practice includes representation of debtors, guarantors, business owners, secured and unsecured creditors, trade vendors, committees, trustees, purchasers, landlords, and other interested parties throughout the Chapter 11 process.

Ryan is also an experienced advisor in business law and contract drafting, advising clients on business matters throughout the business life cyle: from formation and structure of business entities; through building the business via purchase agreements, joint ventures, complex loan agreements, and related business transactions; operations and commercial matters such as supply chain logistics, terms and conditions, and crisis management; and finally divestitures, succession plans, and wind-downs. When business disputes cannot be resolved out of court, Ryan has successfully litigated numerous commercial disputes through trial and the appellate process. Ryan’s practice includes extensive experience both in and out of court negotiating and litigating supplier-customer conflicts, shareholder and member disputes, and uniform commercial code and lien matters, including Article 9 security interests, judicial liens, disputes arising under the molder lien and moldbuilder lien statutes.

Ryan Heilman is recognized as one of the top Michigan-licensed attorneys by Michigan Super Lawyers from 2013-2022. He was awarded Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers from 2009-2012. Super Lawyers conducts peer-based assessments of legal professionals to choose leading legal representatives across the U.S. Only 5% of attorneys in any given region are recognized by Super Lawyers.

Representative Publications and Presentations

  • Co-Author, Auto Industry Changes Threaten Delicately Balanced System, Turnaround Management Association, (April 2009)

  • Co-Author, Swords and Shields – Prepayment Premiums In and Out of Bankruptcy, The Michigan Business Law Journal, Fall 2003.

  • “Dealing with Distressed Properties, Part III – The Lawyer’s Guide to Negotiating/Renegotiating Commercial Leases,” State Bar of Michigan, Real Property Law Section, Presenter and Discussion Leader, April 18, 2013

Professional and Community Memberships

  • American Bankruptcy Institute

  • Turnaround Management Association

  • Federal Bar Association – Eastern District of Michigan Chapter

  • Vice President and Board Member of George Crockett Academy – Detroit

Published Cases

  • In re St. James Nursing & Physical Rehab. Center, Inc., __ B.R. __, 2022 Bankr. LEXIS 2934 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2022).

  • Nallaballi v. Achanta (In re Achanta), 583 B.R. 123 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2018).

  • Kohut v. Lewiston Living Trust (In re Lewiston), 532 B.R. 36 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2015).

  • Kohut v. Wayne County Treasurer (In re Lewiston), 528 B.R. 387 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2015).

  • In re Tristar Fire Prot., Inc., 466 B.R. 392 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2012).

  • Osprey-Troy Officentre, LLC v. World Alliance Fin. Corp., 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 21369 (6th Cir. Mich. 2012).

  • In re SAI Holdings Ltd., 2012 Bankr. LEXIS 3599 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio Aug. 3, 2012).

  • Simon v. ASIMCO Techs., Inc. (In re Am. Camshaft Specialties, Inc.), 410 B.R. 765 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2009).

  • In re Griswold Bldg., LLC, 420 B.R. 666 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2009).

  • In re Greektown Holdings, L.L.C., 2009 Bankr. LEXIS 1231 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. May 13, 2009).

  • SAI Admin. Claim & Creditor Trust v. Benecke-Kaliko AG (SAI Holdings Ltd.), 2009 Bankr. LEXIS 1523 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio Feb. 27, 2009).

  • Delta Engineered Plastics, LLC v. Autolign Mfg. Group, Inc., 286 Mich. App. 115, 116 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009).

  • Results Sys. Corp. v. MQVP, Inc., 395 B.R. 1 ( E.D. Mich. 2008).

  • SAI Admin. Claim and Creditor Trust v. Benecke-Kaliko (In re Sai Holdings, Ltd.), 2008 Bankr. LEXIS 4100 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio Nov. 10, 2008).

  • In re SAI Holdings Ltd., 2007 Bankr. LEXIS 1051 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio Mar. 26, 2007).

  • Buffalo Molded Plastics, Inc. v. Omega Tool Corp. (In re Buffalo Molded Plastics, Inc.), 344 B.R. 394 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. 2006).

  • Dery v. Cumberland Cas. & Sur. Co. (In re 5900 Assocs.), 468 F.3d326 (6th Cir. Mich. 2006).

  • Dery v. Cumberland Cas. & Sur. Co. (In re 5900 Assocs., L.L.C.), 326B.R. 402 ( E.D. Mich. 2005).

  • Slone v. M2M Int’l, Inc. (In re G-P Plastics, Inc.), 320 B.R. 861 ( E.D.Mich. 2005).

  • Dery v. Cumberland Cas. & Surety Co. (In re 5900 Assocs., L.L.C.),317 B.R. 332 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. 2004).

  • Guzzo v. Thompson, 393 F.3d 652 (6th Cir. Mich. 2004).