About Ralph

Ralph E. McDowell assists clients primarily in the areas of commercial bankruptcy, debtors’ and creditors’ rights, and workouts. He has represented the interests of banks and other financial institutions in pre-bankruptcy workout situations, commercial bankruptcy cases, and troubled credit situations. His work with banks and financial institutions includes representation in court proceedings, sale of debt transactions, foreclosures, liquidation of assets, and forbearance arrangements. He also represents numerous clients in the automotive and manufacturing industries in bankruptcy and troubled supplier situations. Mr. McDowell has represented trustees, creditors’ committees, non-bank creditors and various debtors in all aspects of bankruptcy cases and debtor-creditor disputes. Because of experience and skill, he is able to assist the firm’s loan origination lawyers in structuring and documenting complex and highly-sophisticated loan transactions. In addition, Mr. McDowell represents the interests of parties in the purchase of assets from trustees, receivers, debtors in possession, and from troubled companies. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. McDowell is the chairman of Bodman's Executive Committee, which guides firm operations and business strategy. Outside of the firm, he is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Hebrew Free Loan of Metropolitan Detroit, on the University of Detroit Mercy Law School Dean’s Advisory Board, and on the Audit Committee of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Practice Areas

Education

• Kalamazoo College, B.A.
• University of Detroit Mercy, J.D.

Bar Admissions

• Michigan, State Bar of Michigan

Languages