Photo of Richard A. Walawender

Richard A. Walawender

Principal

Offices

T:
+1.313.496.7628
O:
+1.313.963.6420
F:
+1.313.496.7500
T:
+1.212.704.4411
O:
+1.212.704.4400
F:
+1.212.704.4410
O:
+38 097 719 05 33
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Education

University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1986

University of Michigan, B.A.

Bar Admissions

Languages

Richard Walawender is a lawyer in Miller Canfield's Corporate Group, leads the firm's Autonomous and Connected Vehicles practice team and plays an essential role in the firm's International practice. He also served as a managing director of the firm from 2001 to 2003.

Corporate Law

His practice specialties include mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law, corporate governance and securities, private equity, venture capital, equity and debt financing, international transactions and joint ventures, project finance, and franchising.

His clients include publicly traded companies, private equity and hedge funds, financial institutions, privately held companies, start-ups and technology ventures. He acts as general counsel for several clients, and special corporate counsel to domestic and international companies, and represents many clients in structuring their cross-border operations and closing transactions.

Automotive Industry

As a leader of the firm's Automotive Practice, Richard coordinates the firm's attorneys specializing in the full range of legal issues affecting clients involved in the automotive industry. He has a wealth of experience in representing both strategic (OEM and tier suppliers) as well as private equity clients on automotive industry transactions, including mergers, dispositions, acquisitions, Section 363 acquisitions in bankruptcy, joint ventures and alliances, contract drafting negotiations and disputes, licensing, recapitalizations and refinancings, and distressed supplier/customer dealings. More recently, he has spearheaded the firm's representation of traditional auto companies as well as new software companies entering into the exciting autonomous vehicle sector of the auto industry, and has led the effort in establishing Miller Canfield as a legal pioneer in this area.

International

As a leader in the firm's International Practice he has also been the lead attorney on numerous multinational M&A transactions for U.S., Canadian, European, Asian, Mexican, and other non-U.S. clients. He co-founded the firm's Polish partnership in 1991 and served as the lead attorney on the first corporate commercial paper issuance of a U.S. company in Eastern Europe, as well as on the establishment and capitalization of Solidarity Bank, one of the first private commercial banks in Poland. He frequently advises clients on outbound and inbound investment structuring and strategies, international joint ventures and strategic alliances, as well as FCPA, CFIUS, export controls, and other cross-border issues and disputes. His practice involves international law generally, but he has especially focused on Emerging Market economies, including the BRIC countries, Mexico, Eastern Europe, and Korea.

Representative Matters

Honors

Best Lawyers in America, International Trade and Finance Law, 2012-present; Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2013-present; Detroit Lawyer of the Year, International Trade and Finance Law, 2018, 2022 & 2024

Michigan Super Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions, 2009-present

DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Commercial Law, International Trade Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2010-present

European Legal Experts 2010, Real Estate and Corporate + M&A

Crain's Detroit Business, "90 for the 90s," 1990

Professional Activities

American Bar Association

International Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

New York State Bar Association

U.S.-Poland Business Council

U.S.-India Business Council

Civic, Cultural & Social Activities

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Detroit, 2018-present

Consular Corps of Michigan, Vice Dean, 2022-present

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Audit Committee Chair, 2018-present

The Emerging Opal, Board of Directors

Michigan Economic Development Foundation, Former Board Member

Madonna University, Board of Trustees, 2002-2014; Chairperson, 2008-2014

Orchard Lake Schools, Board of Regents, 2008-2012

Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance, Board of Directors, 2007-2009

Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences

Cornerstone Schools Association, Secretary and Legal Counsel, 1990-1996

Publications

"The Outlook for U.S. Corporate Tax Reform, Border Adjustments and Trade Actions," Mexico Update: What Impacts Would The Potential Imposition of a Border Tax or NAFTA Renegotiation Have?, Detroit, Michigan, April 5, 2017

"Roots in Revolution: Miller Canfield in Poland," profile in CEE LM magazine, June 2014

The Bankruptcy and Reorganisation Law, (Co-translators Maja Binkowska and Karolina Niemirska-Fido), C.H. Beck, 2010

The Code of Administrative Proceedings (Co-translators Maja Binkowska and Andrzej Chelchowski), C.H. Beck, 2010

"Legal Considerations in Exit Strategies: IPO vs. Sale," in Harry Cendrowski, et al., eds., Private Equity (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2008) pp. 357-398

"Poland's Revised Bankruptcy, Reorganization Law," (Co-author Karolina Niemirska-Fido), American Bankruptcy Institute, June 2010

"Europe," Co-Author with Andrzej Chelchowski, The International Lawyer, American Bar Association, Volume 4, Number 2, Summer 2009

"Directors' Duties for Corporations Near Insolvency," Miller Canfield Corporate Law Bulletin, October 2008

"Licensing Option for U.S. Companies Doing Business Abroad," Crain's Detroit Business, June 1995

"Bonding and Finance for Municipalities in Poland," series of articles printed in Wspolnota Polska (Poland), 1995

"At-large Elections, A Quantitative Analysis, Note," Journal of Law Reform, March 1986; reprinted in Roger L. Kemp, ed., Local Government Election Practices (McFarland & Company, Inc., 2006) 

"Polish Diplomacy During the Second World War, Review Article," The Polish Review, June 1984

Articles