Mr Michael Cook > Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Mr Michael Cook

+1 212.756.2150 michael.cook@srz.com

Work Department

Business Reorganization, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Litigation, Distressed Investing

Position

Michael Cook served as a partner in the New York office for 16 years, devoting his practice to business reorganization and creditors’ rights litigation, including mediation and arbitration. His clients include professional firms, lenders, acquirers, trustees, creditors’ committees, troubled companies and other parties. Michael’s representative engagements include the following: counsel to prevailing law firm in In re Renaissance Radio, Inc., 2020 WL 2529405 (5th Cir. May 18, 2020) (affirmed denial of former shareholder’s motion to revoke reorganization plan confirmation order and to reopen closed case for purpose of disallowing lender’s legal fees; also affirmed enjoining of shareholder’s further filings as “vexatious litigant.”); counsel to prevailing law firm defendants in Kaplan v. Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., Inc., 2019 N.Y. App. Div. Lexis 2157 (1st Dept. March 21, 2019) (affirmed dismissal of lease breach, fraudulent transfer, conversion and breach of fiduciary duty claims); counsel to prevailing defendant in Enron Creditors Recovery Corp. v. Alfa SAB, 651 F.3d 329 (2d Cir. 2011) (reversed bankruptcy court; fraudulent transfer and preference complaint dismissed); counsel to prevailing law firm in In re Quigley Co., 500 B.R. 344 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2013) (fee application granted over U.S. Trustee objection); counsel for prevailing debtor in In re Quigley Co., 676 F.3d 45 (2d Cir. 2012) (affirmed propriety of injunction staying litigation against insurance assets); counsel for prevailing law firm in In re United Merchs. & Mfrs., Inc.,198 F.3d 235 (2d Cir. 1999) (affirmed denial of sanctions and of creditor’s application for fees and costs); counsel for prevailing debtor in Dalkon Shield Claimants v. A.H. Robins Co., 828 F.2d 239 (4th Cir. 1987) (affirmed denial of motion for reorganization trustee); counsel for prevailing debtor in Grady v. A.H. Robins Co., 839 F.2d 198 (4th Cir. 1988) (affirmed judgment that creditor’s claim subject to automatic stay); counsel for prevailing acquiror in In re Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific R. Co., 756 F.2d 508 (7th Cir. 1985) (affirmed judgment that acquiror could bid for assets months after bidding deadline); counsel for prevailing defendants in fraudulent transfer suit, Scherling v. Ehrenkranz, 121 B.R. 961 (S.D.N.Y. 1991) (affirmed judgment dismissing complaint after trial); counsel to prevailing creditor in Andy Warhol Foundation v. Hayes, 183 F.3d 162 (2d. Cir. 1999) (reversed lower court; held creditor’s claim for debtor’s breach of fiduciary duty survived debtor’s bankruptcy discharge); counsel to prevailing law firm in In re Ames Dept. Stores. Inc., 76 F.3d 66 (2d Cir. 1996) (fee application granted, reversing district court); counsel to prevailing creditor in Columbia Pictures Inds., Inc. v. D.H. Overmeyer Telecasting Co., Inc., 470 F.Supp. 1250 (S.D.N.Y. 1979) (reversed bankruptcy court’s denial of attorney-client privilege; struck compelled responses from record).

Chambers USA listed Michael as a “leading individual” in bankruptcy/restructuring and interviewees praise him for his “tremendous experience and vision in bankruptcy matters.” He has also been recognized by Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, The Best Lawyers in America, Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Banking, Finance and Transactional Law Lawyers, The K&A Restructuring Register, The Legal 500 US, New York Super Lawyers, PLC Cross-border Restructuring and Insolvency Handbook and Who’s Who in American Law. He is past chair of the American College of Bankruptcy, which has established the “Michael L. Cook Extraordinary Grant” for legal services organizations that provide pro bono bankruptcy services for indigent consumer debtors. He is also a fellow of the American and New York Bar Foundations and a former chair of the American Bar Association’s Creditors’ Rights Litigation Committee. A frequent contributor to major publications, Michael serves as lead editor and contributing author of Bankruptcy Litigation Manual (rev. ed., Aspen Law & Business, 2020), is on the editorial boards of Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law and The Bankruptcy Strategist, is a contributing author to Collier Bankruptcy Guide (rev. ed., Matthew Bender, 2020) and Collier on Bankruptcy (15th rev. ed., 2003), and he co-authored Creditors’ Rights, Debtors’ Protection and Bankruptcy (3rd ed., Matthew Bender, 1997) (with NYU School of Law Professor Lawrence P. King). Michael served for 26 years as an Adjunct Professor at New York University School of Law, teaching courses on creditors’ rights, debtors’ protection and bankruptcy. He received his A.B. from Columbia University and his J.D. from New York University School of Law.

Memberships

Director, American College of Bankruptcy (Chair, 2014-2016; President, 2012-2014; Chair, Board of Regents, 2010-2012; Chair, Pro Bono Committee, 2008-2010); Member, Columbia University Undergraduate Campaign Council; Trustee, Board Secretary and Executive Committee Member, The Forman School; Member, Bankruptcy Law Advisory Committee, Practising Law Institute; Chair, New York City Bankruptcy Assistance Project, 2005-2008; Chair, Creditors’ Rights Litigation Committee, American Bar Association (Section of Litigation, 1976–1981); Director, American College of Bankruptcy Foundation; Former Director and Vice President, Columbia College Alumni Association, 1995-2011; Chair and Director, Lawyers Alliance for New York, 1996-2003; Former Director, Goddard Riverside Community Center; Member, Lawyers Alliance for New York Board of Advisors; Fellow, American Bar Foundation; Fellow, New York Bar Foundation.

Education

New York University School of Law, JD.; Columbia University, AB.