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Bill Burdett

My clients know they can call on me at any time – I’m with them through thick and thin.

Contact: P /313.318.9203E /[email protected]

Education

University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 2001

Yale University, B.A., 1998

Bar Admissions

Michigan, 2001

Minnesota, 2022

U.S. Court of Appeals, 3^rd Cir., 2013

U.S. Court of Appeals, 6^th Cir., 2002

U.S. Court of Appeals, 9^th Cir., 2018

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fed. Cir., 2012

U.S. District Court, E.D. Mich., 2001

U.S. District Court, W.D. Mich., 2002

U.S. District Court, C.D. Ill., 2010

My Approach

I provide solutions for closely-held businesses and high net worth clientele—whether helping them through a commercial transaction, a real estate investment, a tricky tax issue, or litigation. It’s exciting to help clients put transactions together, help them grow or seek out the best opportunities, or bring dollars to the table through the creative use of tax credits and other resources. I find the most efficient solution for my clients—all businesses have problems that need solving, and I enjoy utilizing all the skills I have developed over more than two decades to do just that. Sometimes the issues can be resolved through constructive negotiations, but other times the only resort is for aggressive judicial review. Relying on my two decades of experience, I find the best tailored solution for each client.

I’m proud to have the trust and confidence of my colleagues in the legal community. I’ve been named as an expert witness in legal malpractice matters, and as a licensed mediator in Michigan, enjoy helping parties try to resolve their disputes. I have also been retained by trustees and other close family advisors in contested and uncontested estate matters, to assist with the orderly, discreet, and smooth estate and trust administration and disposition.

I am passionate about my home state of Michigan, and using my skills to contribute to its continued success, and the constructive redevelopment of its urban centers. I have provided pro bono legal representation for those who most need it, and I have developed creative funding solutions for the most difficult developments in underserved areas.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my wife and kids, and if work and family allow it, reading a good book.

Practice Areas

Practicing Real Estate Development & Transactions

My Experience

I represent closely held businesses and high-net-worth families in a wide variety of transactions, including the acquisition and redevelopment of real estate, opportunity zone fund development, and tax incentive strategies.

Representative Matters

• Advised on and closed over $750MM in real estate development transactions, including securing tax incentive-based financing packages across the country.
• Successfully advised on and structured numerous opportunity zone funds for the financing of qualified opportunity zone businesses and the redevelopment of qualified opportunity zone properties.
• Represented borrowers in negotiations for the refinancing of significant mixed-use developments in Detroit.
• Represented developers in negotiations with the city of Detroit for a multi-acre residential development along the Detroit Riverfront.

Practicing General Corporate

My Experience

I advise closely-held businesses and high net worth families in connection with all aspects of business, corporate and tax matters, including day-to-day business concerns, long-term tax strategies, contracts and transactions, investment opportunities and succession planning. I work alongside these businesses and families to solve problems and help set them up for future success by understanding their goals, and using all the tools available to achieve them.

Practicing Business & Commercial Litigation

My Experience

I represent clients in both private arbitration and public litigation, emergency injunctive actions and precedent-setting appellate cases. I also have experience in probate and trust & estate litigation, representing both trustees and beneficiaries in contested trust actions for high-net-worth probate estates. I have also assisted trustees in the negotiation and disposition of complicated estates, frequently requiring unique solutions and significant judicial oversight.

I also have experience in defamation law in Michigan, and am proud of my involvement in establishing the standards for anonymous online defamation lawsuits in the Michigan Court of Appeals. I also regularly represent parties in free speech litigation in state and federal courts.

Representative Matters

• Through numerous appellate litigation matters, successfully argued and assisted in defining online defamation law in Michigan. Thomas M. Cooley Law Sch. v. Doe, 833 N.W.2d 331 (Mich. Ct. App. 2013) (amicus), Ghanam v. Does, 845 N.W.2d 128 (Mich. Ct. App. 2014), and Sarkar v. Doe, 897 N.W.2d 207 (Mich. Ct. App. 2016).
• Represented a trust beneficiary in the disputed removal and replacement of a trustee over a trust valued in excess of $300MM.
• Obtained reversal of a premature dismissal of a multimillion-dollar silent fraud claim in Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
• Obtained a favorable, published decision from the United States Federal Circuit Court of Appeals defining an important jurisdictional issue that ultimately led to a reversal of summary judgment in the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
• Represented a charitable beneficiary of a multimillion-dollar trust in an action to ensure the appropriate distribution of proceeds where the testator had created a significant ambiguity in the trust.
• Represented a financial advisor in an action to ensure payment of earned fees; successfully obtained emergency injunctive relief, preventing the $100MM sale of an automotive supplier.
• Represented the trustees assigned to negotiate, litigate, and resolve a billion-dollar claim pool in the bankruptcy and liquidation of a Tier I automotive supplier.

Also experienced in

Appellate

Specialty Tax Credits & Incentives

Honors & Awards

"Top Lawyers"

dbusiness, 2013

MSBA North Star Lawyer

Pro Bono Service, 2022-2023

Associations & Memberships

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at MSU

Board of Advisors, 2022-2024; Chair 2024

Michigan Housing Council

Detroit Institute of Arts

Board of Trustees, 2011-2017

Greening of Detroit

Board Chair, 2016-2018

Cranbrook Art Academy and Cranbrook Art Museum

Board of Governors, 2024