Ralph E. McDowell

Ralph E. McDowell


Bodman PLC

Recognized since 2003

Detroit, Michigan

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Litigation - Bankruptcy

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Bankruptcy
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Litigation - Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Litigation - Bankruptcy
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Ralph E. McDowell assists clients primarily in the areas of commercial bankruptcy, debtors’ and creditors’ rights, and workouts.

He has represented the interests of banks and other financial institutions in pre-bankruptcy workout situations, commercial bankruptcy cases, and troubled credit situations. His work with banks and financial institutions includes representation in court proceedings, sale of debt transactions, foreclosures, liquidation of assets, and forbearance arrangements.

He also represents numerous clients in the automotive and manufacturing industries in bankruptcy and troubled supplier situations.

Mr. McDowell has represented trustees, creditors’ committees, non-bank creditors and various debtors in all aspects of bankruptcy cases and debtor-creditor disputes. Because of experience and skill, he is able to assist the firm’s loan origination lawyers in structuring and documenting complex and highly-sophisticated loan transactions. In addition, Mr. McDowell represents the interests of parties in the purchase of assets from trustees, receivers, debtors in possession, and from troubled companies.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. McDowell is the chairman of Bodman's Executive Committee, which guides firm operations and business strategy. Outside of the firm, he is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit, on the University of Detroit Mercy Law School Dean’s Advisory Board, and on the Audit Committee of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Contact & Links
Location
  • Ford Field, Sixth Floor
    1901 Saint Antoine Street
    Detroit, MI 48226
Languages
  • English
Education
  • University of Detroit Mercy, J.D., graduated 1986
  • Kalamazoo College, B.A.
Bar Admissions
  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
Affiliations
  • Detroit Bar Association - Member, Debtor-Creditor Rights Committee
  • Detroit Institute of Arts - Audit Committee
  • Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit - Member, Board of Directors and Executive Committee
  • State Bar of Michigan - Debtor-Creditor Rights subsections of the Business Law and Real Property Law sections
  • University of Detroit Mercy School of Law - Dean's Advisory Board

Bodman PLC
Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan

72 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

21 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Litigation - Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Litigation - Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Litigation - Bankruptcy
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy, Detroit (2025)
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy, Detroit (2021)
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Detroit (2020)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Detroit (2019)
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Detroit (2017)
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy, Detroit (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy
Special Focus:
  • Banking
  • Chapter 12
  • Commercial
  • Creditors' Rights
  • Finance
  • Foreclosures
  • Liquidations
  • Out-of-Court Workouts
  • Real Estate
  • Workouts and Restructurings
Awards:
  • Chambers USA 2017 (Banking & Finance: Bankruptcy - Michigan)
  • Michigan Super Lawyers 2006-2016 (Bankruptcy: Business)
  • Michigan Super Lawyers "Top 100" Lawyers in Michigan
  • DBusiness magazine 2017 "Top Lawyer" (Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Peer Rated

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Publications

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