Skip to Content

Michael H. Traison is a partner in the firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights department. He focuses his practice in the areas of corporate law, restructuring and insolvency, as well as international law.

Michael, who has represented business clients for more than 42 years, is a widely-recognized leader in helping resolve complex legal issues. 

Traison and his colleagues have represented committees of unsecured creditors in major Chapter 11 cases as well as other parties in the bankruptcy process, including debtors and secured creditors. In addition to Chapter 11 reorganizations, he is experienced with out-of-court workouts. 

Traison is also an educator and author. He publishes frequently on developments in bankruptcy law and, together with his colleagues at Cullen and Dykman, has written over 200 “legal alerts” which are often republished in professional journals. 

In his international law practice, Michael maintains a special focus on Israel, Poland and Eastern Europe, and he has appeared before courts throughout the United States, Poland and Israel. 

An educator prior to being admitted to the bar, Michael is also a recognized authority on 20th Century European and Holocaust history. He has written extensively on topics related to 20th-century European and Holocaust history. 

He co-founded the Foundation for Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODŻ) and established the Preserving Memory Award, which honors non-Jewish Poles who have contributed to preserving Jewish heritage. His efforts have been recognized with several honors, including the Cavalier’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, awarded by the President of Poland.

Practice Areas

Industries

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Michigan
  • New York
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

Education

  • J.D., Michigan State University College of Law, 1983
    • post graduate studies in history and political science, university of Windsor 
  • M.Ed., Wayne State University, 1970
  • Ph.B, Monteith College, 1968

Professional and Community Activities

  • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute, 1990 – Present
  • Member, Turnaround Management Association
  • Board Of Governors, International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
  • Vice-President, American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists 
  • Member, YIVO Institute of Scientific Research
  • Member, The American Bar Association International Law Section
  • Member, Bar Associations of States of New York, Illinois and Michigan
  • Board of Trustees, Decalogue Society 
  • President Emeritus, American Israel Chamber of Commerce 
  • Editor of Newsletter, Canada-U.S. Business Council 
  • Board Member Emeritus, Poland America Chamber of Commerce
  • Member, The Arab American Bar Association
  • Member, The Forward Association
  • Board Member, Friends of Jewish Heritage in Poland

Honors and Awards

  • Leading Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Workout Law, 2014
  • Leading Lawyer in Commercial: Creditor’s Rights/Commercial Collections Law, 2014-2017
  • Leading Lawyer in Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law, 2006-Present
  • Illinois Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy & Creditor-Debtor, 2015-Present
  • Illinois Super Lawyers, Litigation-Bankruptcy 2015-Present
  • Presidential Citation, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, 2013 
  • Board of Directors, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, 2015-Present
  • Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, 2013
  • Polish-American Heritage Award, Polish-American Heritage Council, 2003
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2001-Present
  • Chicago Litigation-Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year, 2014
  • Michigan Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy & Creditor-Debtor, 2007-2014
  • International Humanitarian Award, Jerusalem Peace Award, 2008
  • Top Lawyers, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights, DBusiness Magazine, 2011
  • Martin Sandler Award, America-Israel Chamber of Commerce Chicago, 2012
  • Teraz Polska Friend of Poland and Outstanding Polish American, 2014

News & Insights