Ralph R. Margulis, Attorney

Professional Experience

Ralph was admitted to practice law in Michigan in 1977. A member of the firm and co-chairman of the firm's aviation practice area and the firm's Financial Institutions practice area, he also focuses his practice in the areas of corporate and business transactions, as well as insurance law. Ralph is the former Marketing Director for the firm and has served on the firm's Executive Committee.

Areas of Emphasis

Business Transactions

As the owner of several businesses in industries as diverse as banking, insurance, technology communication and manufacturing, Ralph merges practical business advice with sound legal strategy.

Representation of all forms of business entities in matters including formation, governance and operation of businesses. Financial and financing planning, including debt and equity offerings in both the public and private markets, mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, transaction structuring and financing, and business management.

Banking Law

Representation of regulated and unregulated financial institutions in the areas of complex commercial loan and lease documentation, factoring, securitization, and secured creditor representation in insolvency and bankruptcy matters, including management of distressed loan and lease credits, business planning, advice and implementation of underwriting standards and restructuring of loan and lease arrangements and collection of varied assets in and out of bankruptcy.

Aviation Law

Representation in the purchase and sale, financing and leasing of aircraft, including single and multi-engine general aviation aircraft, all forms of Part 135 and Part 121 certificated passenger and freight aircraft, including aircraft loan and lease originations, the restructuring of aircraft loan and lease arrangements and the representation of various parties in aircraft related insolvency proceedings, including 1110 hearings, pre-bankruptcy counseling and bankruptcy representation. Business planning and structuring of aircraft fractional ownerships, ownership partnerships, LLCs and other associations. Representation of Part 135 and Part 121 air carriers and operators, pilots and mechanics in FAA regulatory compliance matters, including informal hearings for regulatory violations, FAA settlement negotiations and appeals to the NTSB. Representation of owners and financiers in insurance coverage disputes, claims for hull, hazard, war risk and confiscation insurance, and confiscation by U.S. and foreign governments.

Insurance Law

Representation of individuals, self-insured corporations and domestic and offshore insurance companies and agencies in connection with insurance and insurance related issues ranging from formation, licensing, and policy development, capital and surplus requirements, demutualization, regulatory matters, including disputes with state insurance bureaus, guaranty associations and rehabilitators of insolvent insurance companies, individual claimants on policy coverage issues, coverage under umbrella, general liability, physicians', accountants' and lawyers' professional liability, directors' and officers' and trust department errors and omissions policies, and the effect of policy exclusions on coverage and carrier defense matters. Representation in disputes concerning liability for account current and audit premium items, termination provisions, solicitor agreements, ownership of expirations, reinsurance, self-insurance retentions, fronting arrangements, life settlement and viatical insurance issues and TPA relationships. Assistance to sellers buyers and brokers of life settlement/viatical policies and portfolios and to domestic and offshore insurance companies and agencies in the sale and purchase of such companies and agencies, and lines of insurance business.