overview
Bill focuses his practice on finding pragmatic solutions to issues that may affect the viability and continued operations of a business, such as shareholder, vendor, and customer disputes, liquidity shortfalls, and debt maturity.
Bio
Bill focuses his practice in the areas of restructuring, commercial litigation, and fraud investigation and litigation and has substantial experience representing businesses and their owners in commercial disputes, collection and receivership proceedings, state and federal litigation, bankruptcy proceedings, and appeals.
Bill understands that every business has different needs, different revenue sources, and different cost structures. Recognizing that complex problems require comprehensive solutions, Bill tailors his approach to the needs of each client. This often means employing a combination of legal proceedings, administrative remedies, and out of court negotiations to provide a comprehensive and complete solution to existing problems. Bill has represented businesses and their owners in shareholder disputes, collection actions involving customers or vendors, commercial lease disputes, dissolutions, receiverships, asset sales, debt negotiations, loan workouts, and bankruptcy cases. Bill also has experience with issues involving tax liability, construction liens, zoning, and insurance coverage.
Bill also assists clients with matters arising from a complete breakdown of a business relationship. When a business fails, the owners, vendors, and customers are left picking up the pieces. Contracts are breached, and assets are liquidated and transferred. Lawsuits are filed against owners and vendors to recover funds paid out prior to the business’ failure. In these cases, Bill advises clients on how to limit liability and pursue outstanding claims while assets still exist to pay them. Bill also represents clients in defense of lawsuits seeking recovery of transfers made by the failed business.
Oftentimes, the failure of a business will result in allegations of misconduct against or among the business’ owners and employees. In those cases, business owners and employees can be sued for diversion of corporate assets, breach of fiduciary duties, and fraud. Bill represents clients in the investigation, prosecution, and defense of such actions on behalf of his clients.
Bill’s approach is respected throughout the legal community. He has been named to the Michigan “Rising Star” list by Super Lawyers, a division of Thomson Reuters, in bankruptcy practice from 2013-2020, was recognized as a 2018 “Top Lawyer” in commercial litigation by DBusiness Magazine, and was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly‘s “Up & Coming Lawyers” in 2017.
Bill is an active thought leader and often presents on bankruptcy and restructuring issues.
credentials
Affiliations
- Turnaround Management Association
- Kiwanis Club of Warren, Former Board Member
- Detroit Bar Association, Debtor-Creditor Rights Section
- American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI)
Bar and Court Admissions
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- United Stated District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Clerkship
- Law Clerk for the Honorable Robert N. Opel, II, Bankruptcy Judge, Middle District of Pennsylvania
Education
- Emory University School of Law, J.D.
- Notes and Comments Editor for the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal
- Wayne State University, B.A.
Insights & News
April 5, 2023
Back in the Deep End – Managing Risk in Uncertain Times
November 16, 2020
22 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized as DBusiness 2021 Top Lawyers
September 24, 2020
A Less Formal Proposal
September 18, 2020
Kerr Russell Attorneys Named 2020 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
March 30, 2020
Bankruptcy Update - CARES Act Amends the SBRA
March 17, 2020
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Business Continuity: A Message to Our Community, Clients and Friends
November 15, 2019
19 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized as DBusiness Top Lawyers for 2020
October 21, 2019
Article by Bankruptcy Attorney William Blasses Featured in ABI Committee Newsletter
October 14, 2019
Bankruptcy Article by William Blasses in Corp! Magazine
September 3, 2019
15 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized on the 2019 Michigan Super Lawyers List
August 9, 2019
Kerr Russell Attorneys Prevail in Case Before the Michigan Court of Appeals
January 11, 2019
William C. Blasses Elevated to Member of Kerr Russell
October 29, 2018
Attorneys William Blasses and James DeLine Prevail at Trial on a Claim of Non-dischargeability on Behalf of a Creditor
September 20, 2018
Kerr Russell recognizes our 2018 dbusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit honorees
September 11, 2018
Sneak peek of Dbusiness Magazine Top Lawyers photo shoot with Kerr Russell
September 7, 2018
15 Kerr Russell attorneys recognized as 2018 Super Lawyers
July 11, 2018
The Detroit Bar Association welcomes slate of 2018-19 officers, including Joanne Swanson, president-elect
June 24, 2018
Kudos to Joanna Geha Swanson, president-elect of the Detroit Bar Association
February 20, 2018
Second session of 2018 Detroit Bar Association "Inn of Court" series is a capacity affair
January 26, 2018
Download Kerr Russell's updated firm brochure and overview of services
January 18, 2018
Detroit Lawyer Magazine, February 2018, features William Blasses
December 18, 2017
Kerr Russell team makes holiday donations to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Wigs 4 Kids, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor, and Children's Hospital of Michigan
December 7, 2017
William Blasses honored as Up & Coming Lawyer at Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2017 luncheon
November 30, 2017
Merry and bright ... Kerr Russell welcomes the holiday season
November 30, 2017
Kerr Russell, Boulevard Investment lunch and learn
November 16, 2017
Culture of Connection - new Kerr Russell ad to appear in Michigan Lawyers Weekly and dbusiness
November 3, 2017
Kerr Russell launches new advertising in upcoming issues of dbusiness and Crain's Detroit
November 1, 2017
Kerr Russell ranked in the 2018 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" list nationally in 1 practice area and regionally in 17 practice areas
October 10, 2017
Attorneys celebrate "30 in Their 30s" at dBusiness breakfast
September 12, 2017
16 Kerr Russell attorneys recognized as 2017 Super Lawyers
August 10, 2017
A culture of giving
November 1, 2016
Kerr Russell Attorneys Named 2016 Super Lawyers
September 20, 2016
Daniel Beyer and William Blasses successfully defend steel mill owner and operator from employee lawsuit
Representative Matters
Prevailed at trial on a claim of non-dischargeability on behalf of a creditor who was owed over $370,000. Following a four-day trial in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan the court issued a landmark 71-page opinion and judgment concluding that Kerr Russell had proven that the bankruptcy debtor made false statements under oath with actual fraudulent intent.
Represented one of the largest construction lien claimants in a receivership proceeding concerning a failed construction project valued at around $60-70 million. Following significant litigation involving the receiver, the construction lender, and the developer, including a bankruptcy case filed by the developer, the client was able to recover seventy-three (73%) of the value of their lien and obtain a release of all counterclaims that could be asserted against it.
Represented a multinational corporation in pursuing collection of a civil judgment against former employees that had misappropriated corporate assets and then declared bankruptcy to avoid repaying their former employer. Bill was able to assist the client in excluding the judgment from the former employees’ bankruptcy discharges and recovering more than $375,000.00 from the employees.
Represented a business owner and his business entities with respect to more than $1.5 million in claims for fraud, unauthorized transfers, conversion, successor liability, substantive consolidation, and shareholder oppression, asserted by a chapter 7 trustee. Following vigorous litigation, the bankruptcy court approved a settlement releasing the claims for $50,000.00.