Industries
Education
Wayne State University Law School, J.D., 1988
Wayne State University, B.S. with high distinction, 1985
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals
- Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court
- Western District of Michigan
- Eastern District of Michigan
Joseph Ammar's practice focuses on creditors' rights, bankruptcy, commercial law, and other banking matters. His clients include financial institutions and all types of creditors.
Joe's experience includes loan workouts and enforcement, foreclosures, receiverships, and loan documentation. Joe has extensive experience both in private practice and as in-house counsel for a regional financial institution.
Representative Matters
● Successfully represented lenders in commercial loan workouts and restructurings, including distressed agricultural loans
● Successfully represented financial institutions and creditors in bankruptcy cases
● Defended creditors in bankruptcy preference actions and obtained dismissals or favorable settlements
● Collected millions of dollars on behalf of clients
Honors
● State Bar of Michigan Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2021
● Mark W. Johnson Memorial Moot Court Briefwriting Award
● National Dean’s List
● Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society
● Golden Key National Honor Society
Professional Activities
● Kalamazoo County Bar Association
● State Bar of Michigan (Creditors' Rights Committee, Business Law Section)
● Federal Bar Association (Bankruptcy Section, Steering Committee, Western District of Michigan)
● American Bankruptcy Institute
Civic, Cultural & Social Activities
● St. Vincent de Paul Society (Board Member and Past President, St. Catherine of Siena Conference)
● West Michigan Mustang Club
● Portage Central Football Boosters Club (Past Vice President and Board Member)
● Literacy Center of West Michigan (Past President, Board Member and Tutor)
Speeches
"Bad Faith Chapter 11 Filings," 24th Annual Federal Bar Association Bankruptcy Section Seminar
"Court-Appointed Receiverships" for Turnaround Management Association
Publications
"Michigan's New Assignment of Rents Act Improves Borrower-Lender Relationships," co-authored with Scott Lesser and Ron Spinner, Michigan Bankruptcy Journal, December 2022
"Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019: Sweeping Changes to Chapter 11 Should Make Reorganization Easier for Small Businesses," Michigan Bankruptcy Journal, Fall 2019
"Who's on First?" Federal Bar Association Bankruptcy Section Newsletter, Spring 2017
"Full Satisfaction Checks Under Section 3-311 of the Uniform Commercial Code," Michigan Business Law Journal, Volume XIX-1
Past Editor of "Recent Case Decisions" column in the Federal Bar Association Bankruptcy Section Newsletter