Profile
Michael F. Thomson focuses his practice on navigating complex bankruptcy and receivership proceedings, workouts, and related litigation. Mike represents creditors, distressed companies, Chapter 7 and 11 trustees, and court-appointed receivers in virtually all aspects of the workout, restructuring, and liquidation process, including litigation and appeals.
Concentrations
- Creditors’ rights
- Restructuring and bankruptcy
- Bankruptcy litigation and appeals
- Federal court equity receiverships
- Ponzi scheme and fraud matters
- Commercial litigation
Capabilities
Experience
- Lead counsel for large Nasdaq-listed and international health/nutritional products company and affiliates as debtors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.
- Appointed as Chapter 11 Trustee in business debtor case involving $100 million of investor claims, operating and selling eight event centers and a water park in Utah, California, Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona.
- Lead counsel for federal equity receiver in SEC civil enforcement action concerning alleged Ponzi scheme involving over 100,000 investors and claims exceeding $100 million.
- Represented secured lenders in numerous workout and bankruptcy matters involving hundreds of millions of dollars.°
- Counsel for senior secured lender in Chapter 11 casino case.°
- Counsel for national clothing retailer as debtor in Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.°
- Counsel for Chapter 7 trustee in a multi-million dollar Ponzi case and managed all related lawsuits.°
- Counsel for 10 different Chapter 7 trustees in numerous bankruptcy cases in Utah and Nevada.°
- Administered thousands of bankruptcy cases as a Chapter 7 Trustee.
- In re Kiley, 595 B.R. 595 (Bankr. D. Utah 2018).°
- In re Naartjie Custom Kids, Inc., 534 B.R. 416 (Bankr. D. Utah 2015).°
- In re Reinhart, 267 P.3d 895 (Utah 2011).°
- Gillman v. Ford (In re Ford), 492 F.3d 1148 (10th Cir. 2007).°
- In re Flamingo 55, Inc., 378 B.R. 893 (Bankr. D. Nev. 2007).°
- Miller v. Miller (In re Miller), 302 B.R. 705 (10th Cir. BAP 2003).°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Thomson prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2011-2021, 2023-2025
- Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy, 2024-2025
- Listed, Utah Business Magazine, “Legal Elite,” Bankruptcy/Workout, 2017-2020 and 2022
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Mountain States Super Lawyers, 2008-2024
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 4.5 out of 5.0
- Board Member, Federal Bar Association, Utah Chapter, January 2023-Present
- Board Member, Turnaround Management Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter, 2017-Present
- Member, National Association of Federal Equity Receivers
- Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
- Member, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
- Member, Federal Bar Association
- Member, Utah Bankruptcy Lawyers Forum
- Member, State Bar of Nevada, Bankruptcy Law Section, 2002-Present
- Past Member, Voting Council
- Member, Utah State Bar
- Member, Character & Fitness Committee, 2015-Present
- Subject Matter Expert, Debt Collection, Licensed Paralegal Practitioner program, 2019-Present
- Volunteer, Pro Bono Program, Landlord/Tenant Pro Se Calendars, 2018-2022
Credentials
Education
-
J.D., University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, 2000
- Articles Editor, Utah Law Review
- B.A., Brigham Young University, 1997
Admissions
- Utah
- Nevada
- Wyoming
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Languages
- Italian, Conversational