Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1986
University of Michigan, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
- New York
Languages
- Polish
Richard Walawender is a lawyer in Miller Canfield's Corporate Group, leads the firm's Autonomous and Connected Vehicles practice team and plays an essential role in the firm's International practice. He also served as a managing director of the firm from 2001 to 2003.
Corporate Law
His practice specialties include mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law, corporate governance and securities, private equity, venture capital, equity and debt financing, international transactions and joint ventures, project finance, and franchising.
His clients include publicly traded companies, private equity and hedge funds, financial institutions, privately held companies, start-ups and technology ventures. He acts as general counsel for several clients, and special corporate counsel to domestic and international companies, and represents many clients in structuring their cross-border operations and closing transactions.
Automotive Industry
As a leader of the firm's Automotive Practice, Richard coordinates the firm's attorneys specializing in the full range of legal issues affecting clients involved in the automotive industry. He has a wealth of experience in representing both strategic (OEM and tier suppliers) as well as private equity clients on automotive industry transactions, including mergers, dispositions, acquisitions, Section 363 acquisitions in bankruptcy, joint ventures and alliances, contract drafting negotiations and disputes, licensing, recapitalizations and refinancings, and distressed supplier/customer dealings. More recently, he has spearheaded the firm's representation of traditional auto companies as well as new software companies entering into the exciting autonomous vehicle sector of the auto industry, and has led the effort in establishing Miller Canfield as a legal pioneer in this area.
International
As a leader in the firm's International Practice he has also been the lead attorney on numerous multinational M&A transactions for U.S., Canadian, European, Asian, Mexican, and other non-U.S. clients. He co-founded the firm's Polish partnership in 1991 and served as the lead attorney on the first corporate commercial paper issuance of a U.S. company in Eastern Europe, as well as on the establishment and capitalization of Solidarity Bank, one of the first private commercial banks in Poland. He frequently advises clients on outbound and inbound investment structuring and strategies, international joint ventures and strategic alliances, as well as FCPA, CFIUS, export controls, and other cross-border issues and disputes. His practice involves international law generally, but he has especially focused on Emerging Market economies, including the BRIC countries, Mexico, Eastern Europe, and Korea.
Representative Matters
Represented Norway-based Kongsberg Automotive ASA on its acquisition of Global Motion Systems from Teleflex Inc. for $560 million.
Represented Mexican auto supplier Metalsa SA de CV in the $150 million acquisition of the structural products business from US-based Dana Holding Corp.
Honors
Best Lawyers in America, International Trade and Finance Law, 2012-present; Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2013-present; Detroit Lawyer of the Year, International Trade and Finance Law, 2018, 2022 & 2024
Michigan Super Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions, 2009-2023
DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Commercial Law, International Trade Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2010-present
European Legal Experts 2010, Real Estate and Corporate + M&A
Crain's Detroit Business, "90 for the 90s," 1990
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
International Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
New York State Bar Association
U.S.-Poland Business Council
U.S.-India Business Council
Civic, Cultural & Social Activities
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Detroit, 2018-present
Consular Corps of Michigan, Vice Dean, 2022-present
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Audit Committee Chair, 2018-present
The Emerging Opal, Board of Directors
Michigan Economic Development Foundation, Former Board Member
Madonna University, Board of Trustees, 2002-2014; Chairperson, 2008-2014
Orchard Lake Schools, Board of Regents, 2008-2012
Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance, Board of Directors, 2007-2009
Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences
Cornerstone Schools Association, Secretary and Legal Counsel, 1990-1996
Publications
"International Contracts: Drafting Considerations," Michigan Bar Journal, March 2024
"The Outlook for U.S. Corporate Tax Reform, Border Adjustments and Trade Actions," Mexico Update: What Impacts Would The Potential Imposition of a Border Tax or NAFTA Renegotiation Have?, Detroit, Michigan, April 5, 2017
"Roots in Revolution: Miller Canfield in Poland," profile in CEE LM magazine, June 2014
The Bankruptcy and Reorganisation Law, (Co-translators Maja Binkowska and Karolina Niemirska-Fido), C.H. Beck, 2010
The Code of Administrative Proceedings (Co-translators Maja Binkowska and Andrzej Chelchowski), C.H. Beck, 2010
"Legal Considerations in Exit Strategies: IPO vs. Sale," in Harry Cendrowski, et al., eds., Private Equity (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2008) pp. 357-398
"Poland's Revised Bankruptcy, Reorganization Law," (Co-author Karolina Niemirska-Fido), American Bankruptcy Institute, June 2010
"Europe," Co-Author with Andrzej Chelchowski, The International Lawyer, American Bar Association, Volume 4, Number 2, Summer 2009
"Directors' Duties for Corporations Near Insolvency," Miller Canfield Corporate Law Bulletin, October 2008
"Licensing Option for U.S. Companies Doing Business Abroad," Crain's Detroit Business, June 1995
"Bonding and Finance for Municipalities in Poland," series of articles printed in Wspolnota Polska (Poland), 1995
"At-large Elections, A Quantitative Analysis, Note," Journal of Law Reform, March 1986; reprinted in Roger L. Kemp, ed., Local Government Election Practices (McFarland & Company, Inc., 2006)
"Polish Diplomacy During the Second World War, Review Article," The Polish Review, June 1984
