Steven T. Buquicchio

Business, Creditors Rights, Credit Union, Banking and Finance Attorney Steve is a trusted business lawyer, advisor and strategist who provides counsel and advice to individuals and companies on business and operational issues and serves as outside general counsel to a variety of businesses and organizations with an emphasis in credit union, financial services, agriculture and business representations. He routinely represents credit unions, agri-finance/farm credit institutions, banks, finance companies and businesses in: commercial disputes and litigation breach of contract actions note defaults collection actions UCC disputes claim and delivery/replevin actions loan documentation and workouts regulatory and compliance issues contract negotiation strategic planning Steve, a board certified creditors rights attorney, also serves as national creditors rights counsel to small and large companies doing business throughout the United States and abroad. Steves litigation practice is focused primarily on creditors rights and business litigation including federal and state receiverships, fraud litigation, loan workouts, collections and foreclosures, commercial litigation and consumer protection/Fair Debt Collection Practices Act/Fair Credit Reporting Act defense litigation. Steve also has extensive experience in asset tracing and recovery, judgment enforcement and judicial liquidations. Experience Serves as outside general counsel to credit union clients in a variety of representations including mergers and bank acquisitions, contract review and negotiation, regulatory compliance, contract disputes, regulatory actions and approvals, due diligence, CUSO creation and development, operational matters, strategic planning, field of membership expansion, litigation, claim and delivery, foreclosure and collection. Served as lead counsel to a multibillion dollar in assets credit union during the merger due diligence process with another multibillion dollar in assets credit union. Served as lead counsel to multiple credit unions of all sizes in multiple completed mergers with other credit unions. Represented credit unions in statewide field of membership expansions. Served and serves as lead counsel to multiple debt recovery and accounts receivable management companies in both individual and class action consumer protection/FDCPA/FCRA defense litigation as well as regulatory compliance review. Represented international furniture maker in the design, implementation and maintenance of credit procedures and training program which resulted in the reduction of millions of dollars in bad debt write-offs to virtually zero. Represented one of the countrys largest agricultural lenders in multiple multimillion dollar securitized transactions. Served and serves as regional legal counsel to one of the countrys largest farm equipment financing companies in connection with loan defaults and workouts. Honors and Recognitions Business Review West Michigan, Business Leader Under 40 Grand Rapids Business Journal©, 40 Under Forty Business Leader Grand Rapids Magazines Top Lawyers, Construction Law, since 2021; Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law, 2023 Leading Lawyers: Banking & Financial Institutions Law; Commercial Litigation; Creditors Rights/Commercial Collections Law Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Leaders in the Law Michigan Super Lawyers®, Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney (including Creditor Debtor Rights: Business; Business/Corporate) The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law, 2024 Professional Affiliations American Bar Association: Litigation Section; Business Section; Committee on the Uniform Commercial Code; ABA Advisory Panel American Board of Certification: Board Certified in Creditors Rights; past Board of Directors Federal Bar Association, Michigan Grand Rapids Bar Association: Litigation Section, past chair Michigan Lawyers Weekly, past Board of Editors State Bar of Michigan: Litigation Section; Business Section Community Involvement American Red Cross, past Board of Directors Heart of West Michigan United Way - Project Blueprint/Schools of Hope March of Dimes - Michigan Chapter, Grand Rapids Division, past Board member