Before entering private practice, this neutral served for 26 years on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, including a seven-year term as Chief Judge. He gained international recognition for his role as the Chief Judicial Mediator for the Detroit Bankruptcy, where he orchestrated the 'Grand Bargain' to resolve the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. His career includes extensive experience presiding over complex multi-district litigation, high-stakes commercial disputes, and significant civil rights cases.
A veteran federal jurist with unparalleled experience in high-stakes municipal and commercial mediation. His background as a Chief Judge provides a unique perspective for neutral evaluation and special master assignments in complex federal litigation.
Renowned for mediating the Detroit 'Grand Bargain,' which saved the Detroit Institute of Arts and protected city pensions.
He is widely regarded by legal professionals as a highly effective and persistent mediator who excels in resolving seemingly intractable, multi-party disputes through creative problem-solving and deep judicial insight.