Butzel Long attorney Rick A. Berg named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s ‘Leaders in the Law’

DETROIT, Mich. – Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Frederick (Rick) A. Berg is one of 30 attorneys named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2017. Honorees will be recognized at a luncheon and awards celebration on March 23, 2017, at the Detroit Marriott Troy. “Leaders in the Law” are honored, among other things, for:

• Significant accomplishments or achievements in law practice;
• Outstanding contributions to the practice of law in Michigan;
• Leadership in improving the justice system in Michigan;
• Seeking improvements to the legal community and their communities at large; and,
• Setting an example for other lawyers.

Berg concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial law and commercial litigation.

He represents businesses in an array of complex commercial disputes, arising from equipment and transfer line purchase agreements, supply chain controversies, security agreements, trade secret disputes, and other manufacturing/sale of goods contracts. He also litigates corporate governance issues and complex corporate disputes that involve majority and minority groups in limited liability companies and corporations. He represents media clients in connection with their commercial interests, dispute avoidance, and defamation issues.

In addition, Berg has extensive experience drafting and reviewing complex commercial agreements, including purchase orders, supply agreements, equipment purchase agreements, manufacturing and license agreements, manufacturer's representative agreements, special tool and molder's lien issues, and security agreements. His practice has focused on the automobile manufacturing and supply industries, the construction industry, media companies, and numerous small- to medium-sized businesses.

He also counsels clients who deal with bankruptcy or insolvency issues, either as a debtor or as a creditor. He assists with secured creditor workouts, preference claims, fraudulent conveyance claims, recovery of collateral, protection of a client's right to payment from an insolvent customer, and other related disputes.

In 2016, Berg was one of 14 attorneys profiled by Crain’s Detroit Business in a special report on lead attorneys behind recent and major court action. He along with a team of Butzel Long attorneys, are representing the City of Flint in defense of almost 20 class action and individual lawsuits filed in state and federal court arising from the city’s water crisis.

Berg is the recipient of Wayne State University Law School's Donald E. Barris Trial Advocacy Award. He is admitted to the Michigan State Bar, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the State Bar of Michigan's Debtor/Creditor Rights Committee, and the American Bankruptcy Institute's Secured Creditor and Uniform Commercial Code Committees.

Moreover, he has been recognized by DBusiness magazine in its annual Top Lawyers edition -- Real Estate Law. Berg also is an eight-time recipient of the Federal Bar Association’s Pro Bono Award.