Service Areas
Education
- Michigan State University College of Law, J.D.
- Wayne State University, M.Ed., Ph.B.
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- Michigan
- New York
Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals
- Third Circuit
- Fourth Circuit
- Sixth Circuit
- Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court
- Northern District of Illinois
- Eastern District of Michigan
- Northern District of California
- Eastern District of Texas
Languages
- Hebrew
- Polish
A widely recognized expert in helping businesses solve their commercial problems, Michael H. Traison specializes in all types of commercial matters. He represents clients with business problems from litigation to issues of debtors and creditors’ committees in Chapter 11 reorganizations, and in out-of-court workouts. Michael also represents clients with interests throughout the world with a special focus on Israel, Poland, the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Eastern Europe.
“Each client is treated as our only client. Their issues are our issues. Their success is our success.”
Michael H. Traison
Experience
A tireless advocate on behalf of his clients, Michael has appeared before courts throughout the United States, Poland and Israel.
“My goal is that my clients can rest at night knowing that I am on the job 24/6. They are in the care of counsel who cares about them.”
Prior to entering the practice of law, Michael was a public school teacher for 15 years in Detroit, Michigan and in Essex County, Ontario. He is certified in Michigan and Ontario as a secondary school teacher.
Professional Activities
- U.S. Supreme Court, appeared in Re Ron Pair Enterprises, Inc.
- American Bar Association, Business Law Section; Real Property Section; International Law Section
- Federal Bar Association, Former member of the Board of Directors
- International Bar Association, Business Law Section
- Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
- Oakland County Bar Association
- American Arbitration Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Bankruptcy Committee
- National Association of Credit Management
- Commercial Law League of America, Legislative Affairs Committee, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Section
- American Trial Lawyers' Association
- International Association/Jewish Lawyers & Jurists, Founding Member of Michigan Chapter and Warsaw, Poland Chapter and Member of International Advisory Board of American Section
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- State of Michigan Bilateral Trade Team for Israel
- Association of Israeli Automotive Parts Producers, Vice-president
Honors + Awards
- Polish-American Heritage Award, Polish-American Heritage Council, 2003
- Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law 2006-2009
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy & Creditor-Debtor, 2007-2008
- International Humanitarian Award, Jerusalem Peace Dinner, 2008
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- Israel/Poland Chamber of Commerce
- Jewish Vocational Service, Former Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee
- North American/Israel Chambers of Commerce, Former Member Board of Directors
- NAACP, Detroit Branch
- Jewish Community Council of Metro Detroit, Former Chair of Unity Committee and Former Member of the Board of Directors
- Simon Wiesenthal Center
- Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Former Member of the Cultural and Group Services Division
- American Jewish Committee, Board of Directors
- America-Israel Chamber of Commerce of Michigan, Board of Directors; President, 1994-97; President Emeritus, 1998-present
- America-Israel Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Chicago, Board of Directors
- Polish American Jewish American Council
- American Friends of Shaare Zedek Hospital of Jerusalem, Israel, Board of Directors, Chicago and Midwest Region
- Jewish National Fund Midwest, Board of Directors
- Executive Club of Chicago
- Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
- Forum for Dialogue Among Nations, Supporter
- National Polish-American/Jewish-American Council
- Jewish Wysokie Mazowieckie
- Chicago Jewish Federation
- Urban League
- United Negro College Fund
- New York Jewish Federation
- Lira Ensemble in Chicago
- Zamir Chorale in Boston
- AIPAC
- Moses Shorr Foundation of Warsaw, Poland, Deputy President; Board Member
- Polish American Chamber of Commerce of Chicago, Board of Directors
- Chicago Historical Society
- Standard Club, Chicago, Illinois, Member
- Originator (1996) of Ceremony of Annual Awards for Poles Preserving Jewish Heritage in Poland
- Board of Foundation for Remembrance and Reconciliation Member
- Creator of Pinczow Szabbat 2006
- AAJLJ - Chicago, Warsaw, Poland and Detroit Chapters, Founding Member
Religious Activities
- Congregation B'nai David, Former Member of the Board of Directors
- Lakeshore Drive Synagogue, Chicago, Illinois, Member
Publications
Author of articles on bankruptcy and debt collection in Poland and Israel.
Read more about Michael Traison's work in Poland.
Speeches
Rotary Club of Chicago
Madonna University School of Business
National Home Centers Credit Group
Poland Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
International Transaction Forum
Kol Israel Radio
Israel Business Institute
National Association of Credit Management Annual Meetings and
International Trade Group
Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants
New York University Law School
Canadian Bar Association
Society of Automotive Engineers
American Bar Association’s International Section
University of Windsor Law School
Warsaw School of Economics
Piotrikow High School
Seminars + Conferences
Presenter, "Polish/Jewish History" and "Doing Business in Poland," Rotary Club of Chicago, November 2008
Presenter, "Doing Business in Poland," Warsaw School of Economics, November 2006
Presenter, McManus Distinguished Business Lecture Series, "Doing Business in Poland," Madonna University School of Business, November 15, 2005
Presenter, National Home Centers Credit Group, "Issues in Anti-trust," Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, August 16/17, 2005
Cosponsor, 3rd Annual Academic Israel Conference titled "Israel: The Successes, The Setbacks, The Road Ahead," March 21, 2004, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.