Scott Chernich

Overview Affiliations Experience Communications News & Events Overview Scott Chernichs practice areas include representing numerous financial institutions including community banks and credit unions and Chapter 11, 7 and 13 bankruptcy as well as commercial litigation and construction law. Recently, Scott has successfully resolved several insolvent probate estates and has assisted financially challenged agribusinesses. In 2003, Scott was appointed as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee by the U. S. Justice Department and in 2020 appointed as a Subchapter V Chapter 11 Trustee. While he spends a significant portion of his time representing creditors in prosecuting claims and recovering collateral, he also has significant experience as a debtors lawyer and as a trustee. As a result, he offers clients (businesses and individuals) a perspective that includes familiarity with common strategies for all sides and the ability to spot and resolve issues early in the process. Scott is very involved in several professional associations, including the American Bankruptcy Institute and the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and served in numerous leadership roles in the Lansing community. He was also a popular adjunct professor of Bankruptcy at his alma mater, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School for 12 years. He has served several terms on Foster Swifts Executive Committee, acting as the first Treasurer for 6+ years. For several years previous, Scott was the practice group leader for the firms Finance, Real Estate & Bankruptcy section. Honors & Recognitions Best Lawyers in America® - (Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law), 2010-2025 Best Lawyers in America® - Banking and Finance Law Lawyer of the Year in Lansing, 2015 Affiliations Memberships & Affiliations Legal Affiliations: Ingham County Bar Association Federal Bar Association Commercial Law League of America ACADEMIC POSITION: Western Michigan Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Adjunct Professor Industry & Professional Associations: American Bankruptcy Institute National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees Community Involvement: Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Financial Oversight Committee, past member Capital Area Humane Society, Past Chairman of the Board Volunteers of America Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, Advisory Council Experience Representative Matters Scott has administered over 2,000 Chapter 7 cases as a Trustee. Scott has been appointed as Subchapter V Trustee in the following cases: Turbo Components Inc. Atlas Heave Engine Co. Douglas M. Purple East Plus Inc. Krieger Craftsmen Inc. Residential Marketing Concepts Scott was appointed Chapter 11 Trustee in CDDM Corporation case and successfully completed a plan of reorganization. Scott successfully assisted an international broker/dealer avoid a threatened suit by a prominent figure in a nationally known Chapter 11 case. In a very complicated, multi-million dollar construction case, five parties (a general contractor, sub-contractors and insurers) were fighting over the contracts, state lien law rights and surety issues. Scott was hired and, in one day, mediated a resolution to all of the disputes and satisfaction of all parties. When a large credit union was sued on a lien avoidance action, Scott was hired to defend. He succeeded in having the case dismissed on Summary Judgment. A commercial landlord was being sued by a tenant who was in Chapter 11. Scott successfully defended the landlord and recovered back rent in the amount of $250,000. A creditor, sued by a Chapter 11 debtor, hired Scott, who resolved the preference action and then recovered in excess of $1 million for his client on a 503(b)(9) claim. Communications Recent Posts Michigan Bankruptcy Collect Your Money in Bankruptcy: Chapter 13 Collect Your Money in Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 Do People Owe You Money? Publications Understanding the 363 Bankruptcy Sale: High-Value Opportunities for Strategic Investors, Foster Swift Finance & Bankruptcy Law News, October 21, 2024A Business Guide to Dealing with a Major Customers Bankruptcy, Foster Swift Finance & Bankruptcy Law News, October 15, 2024How to Handle Bankruptcy Amid Record Levels of Debt in the Farm Industry, Foster Swift Finance Real Estate & Bankruptcy Law News, November 17, 2022Bio-Digesters: A New solution for a New Era, Foster Swift Agricultural Law News, September 17, 2021The Significance of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Bankruptcy Trustees, Thomson Reuters West Law Today, July 27, 2021Economic Support for Agricultural Producers Under the CARES Act, Foster Swift Agricultural Law News E-blast, April 3, 2020 View More News & Events Speaking Engagements SBRA Deep Dive, Federal Bar Associations Bankruptcy Seminar, September 24, 2021Trigger Point to Avoid Financial Ruin: Perspectives from a Bankruptcy Lawyer, Great Lakes Crop Summit, January 31, 2018Federal Bar Association - Featured Speaker on Bankruptcy, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014-2016, 2018-2022 News Foster Swift Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, August 15, 2024Foster Swift Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, August 17, 2023Foster Swift Attorneys Named 2023 Best Lawyers in America©, Best Lawyers in America, August 18, 2022Foster Swift Attorneys Named to 2022 Best Lawyers in America©, August 19, 2021The Benefits of Chapter 11 During Pandemic under Small Business Reorganization Act, MiBiz, November 2, 2020Foster Swift Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers in America©, August 20, 202042 Foster Swift Attorneys Listed as Best Lawyers® 2020, August 15, 2019