A Full-Service
Litigation And
Defense Practice

Michael J. O’Connor

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  • Partner

Location:

Phone:

Fax:

518-465-0015

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Michael is a board certified commercial and consumer bankruptcy specialist (American Bankruptcy Board of Certification). He is admitted to the New York State Bar, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. His concentration of practice is in the representation of debtors and trustees in bankruptcy liquidations and reorganizations.

Michael is the recipient of the President's Award for Pro Bono services, New York State Bar Association (1989, 1993 and 2007), and the Distinguished Service Award from the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (1989). He is also a member of the Empire Counsel Group of the New York State Bar Association. Michael is also the recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Counsel Award from the United State District Court for the Northern District of New York and the Federal Bar Association for providing pro bono services. In 2021 Michael received The Legal Project's Champion Award for promoting the goal of access to justice for all. He has lectured frequently on bankruptcy issues for the New York State Bar Association, National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, and other regional and national bar associations.

Michael is a Chapter 7 Trustee and was appointed to the Chapter 7 Trustee Panel for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York in 1986. He served on the Local Rules Revision Committee for the Northern District of New York (1993, 1998, and 2000) and was Chairman of the Judicial Merit Selection Committee for the Northern District of New York (1994). Michael is a contributing editor for the West Bankruptcy Exemption Manual (2003-present). He is a member, past president, and past director of the Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association, as well as a member of the American Bar Association, Consumer Bankruptcy Committee and the New York State Bar Association Bankruptcy Committee. He is a member of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and Associate Member of the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, and the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Areas of Practice

  • Bankruptcy Liquidations and Reorganizations

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Board Certified Commercial and Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist, American Bankruptcy Board of Certification

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 1978
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 1978
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1982
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1998
  • U.S. Tax Court, 1980
  • U.S. Court of International Trade, 1980
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York

Education

  • Western New England University School of Law, Springfield, Massachusetts
    • J.D. - 1976
    • Honors: American Jurisprudence Award
  • Siena College, Loudonville, New York
    • B.B.A. - 1973
    • Minor: Accounting & Finance
  • University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
    • M.B.A. - 1978

Published Works

  • Contributing Editor, West Bankruptcy Exemption Manual, 2003 - Present

Representative Cases

  • GMAC v. Valenti, 105 F.3d 55 (2nd Circ. 1997)

Classes / Seminars

  • Speaker, Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute Seminars, Atlanta Georgia
  • Speaker, Bankruptcy Seminars, New York State Bar Association
  • Speaker, Annual Conference, National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees
  • Speaker, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees Seminars
  • Speaker, Annual Conference, New York State Credit Union Association, 1987 to 1992
  • Adjunct Faculty, Business Law, College of St. Rose, 1978 to 1991
  • Speaker, Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association Annual Seminars
  • Speaker, Bankruptcy Issues, New York Credit Union League
  • Speaker, Join Vermont and Northern District of New York Bankruptcy Bar CLE Programs

Honors and Awards

  • Super Lawyers 2015 - Present - Upstate New York Consumer Bankruptcy
  • Super Lawyers 2014 - Top 25 Hudson Valley
  • Super Lawyers - Upstate New York, 2008 - Present
  • President's Award, New York State Bar Association-Pro Bono Services, 1989, 1993 and 2007
  • AV Rated, Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating, 2002 - Present
  • Best Lawyers in America, 1996 - Present
  • Distinguished Service Award-Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, 1989
  • Rensselaer County Bar Association Pro Bono Award, 1988
  • American Jurisprudence Award, 1976
  • Distinguished Counsel Award from the United State District Court for the Northern District of New York and Federal Bar Association - Pro Bono Services, 2007
  • NYSBA - Empire Counsel, 2012 - Present
  • Upstate New York Super Lawyers 2019, Consumer Bankruptcy
  • Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America & Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2024

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association, 1991 to Present
  • Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association, President, 1996 to 1997
  • Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association, Director, 1992 to 1997
  • American Bar Association, Consumer Bankruptcy Committee, Member, 1985 to 2005
  • New York State Bar Association, Bankruptcy Committee, Member, 1992 to 2000
  • Northern District of New York, Bankruptcy - Merit Selection Committee, Chairman, 1995
  • National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, 1992 to Present
  • National Association of Chapter 7 Trustees
  • National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, Associate Member, 1992 to 2014
  • AARP Attorney Reference Program
  • United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of New York, Appointed Panel Trustee, 1986 to Present
  • Northern District of New York Local Rules Revision Committee, 1993, 1998, 2000, Member
  • Northern District of New York, Judicial Merit Selection Committee, Chairman, 1994
  • Third Judicial District of New York, Appointed Member of Committee on Character and Fitness, 2009 to Present
  • New York State Bar Association, Empire State Counsel Designation, 2014 to 2015
  • National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, Member
  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Associate Member

Past Employment Positions

  • Lee & Leforestier, Partner, 1978 to 1991
  • Carter, Conboy, Case & Blackmore, Of Counsel, 1991 to 1993

Ancillary Businesses

  • Chapter 7 Trustee Northern District of New York Appointed 1986

Practice Areas