Robert J. Diehl, Jr.

Robert J. Diehl, Jr. represents clients in complex business law matters and commercial transactions with a focus on debtor-creditor rights and bankruptcy. He represents lenders in out-of-court workouts and in bankruptcy proceedings involving all types of businesses and collateral, especially automotive-related businesses and real estate and construction businesses.

Mr. Diehl has special expertise in matters relating to post petition financing, lifting the automatic stay, and maximizing realization of collateral value.

He has documented numerous complex, high risk financial transactions, highly leveraged financings, and asset based loans. He has expertise with syndicated loans, loan participations, foreign currency loans, and banker’s acceptances. Mr. Diehl has extensive experience in counseling lenders on loan structure and lender liability issues and in defending lenders on lender liability claims, especially those relating to the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fiduciary duty, equitable subordination, and fraudulent transfer.

Mr. Diehl is the co-chair of the Bankruptcy and Debtor-Creditor Rights Practice Group and former chair of the Banking Practice Group. He serves on Bodman’s Executive Committee, which guides the firm’s business strategy and day to day operations, and is past chair of the firm’s Finance Committee.

Mr. Diehl was named 2024 Detroit “Lawyer of the Year” for Banking and Finance Law and Litigation-Banking and Finance Law by The Best Lawyers in America and has been listed by the publication for 30 years under Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Debtor-Creditor Rights, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation-Banking & Finance, and Litigation-Bankruptcy. He is listed in Chambers USA 2024 under Bankruptcy/Restructuring (achieving the highest “band one” ranking), in IFLR1000 2024 under Banking and Finance and Restructuring, in Michigan Super Lawyers 2024 under Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, and in DBusiness magazine as a 2025 “Top Lawyer.” Michigan Super Lawyers has also listed Mr. Diehl on multiple occasions as one of the “Top 100” lawyers in Michigan. He is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He was a national finalist for the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (March 2011).

Mr. Diehl serves in leadership roles with numerous organizations, including the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion (ex-officio member and past chair, board of directors), the Catholic Foundation of Michigan (founding member, board of directors), the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce (member, board of directors), Henry Ford Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute (member, board of advisors), VIP Mentoring (vice chair, board of directors), and the Grosse Pointe Club (past chair, board of directors).

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Detroit, Michigan
• The Best Lawyers in America® 2024, 2018 and 2010 Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Detroit, Michigan
• The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 and 2012 Litigation – Banking and Finance “Lawyer of the Year,” Detroit, Michigan
• The Best Lawyers in America® 1995-2025, Banking and Finance; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Banking and Finance; Litigation – Bankruptcy; Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Chambers USA 2024, Bankruptcy/Restructuring
• IFLR1000 2024, Banking and Finance; Restructuring
• Michigan Super Lawyers 2006-2024, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights
• DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyers” 2009-2012, 2014-2025, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
• Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence; Endorsed for High Ethical Standing

Civic, Cultural and Community Activities

• Catholic Foundation of Michigan, Founding Member, Board of Directors
• Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, Ex-Officio Member and Past Chair, Board of Directors
• Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Member, Board of Directors
• Henry Ford Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute, Member, Board of Advisors
• VIP Mentoring, Vice Chair, Board of Directors
• Grosse Pointe Club, Past Chair, Board of Directors

Professional Affiliations

• Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter
  • Bankruptcy Committee, Member
• American Bar Association
  • Debtor-Creditor Rights Committee, Member
• Detroit Bar Association
  • Debtor-Creditor Rights Committee, Member
• Turnaround Management Association®, Member
• State Bar of Michigan
  • Debtor-Creditor Rights Committee, Member

Related News

• 11/04/202478 Bodman Attorneys Included in DBusiness Top Lawyers 2025
• 10/28/2024Bodman Receives Tier 1 Recognition for Financial and Corporate Law in IFLR1000’s 2024 Rankings
• 08/19/2024Nine Bodman PLC Attorneys Named 2025 Lawyers of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America
• 08/15/202472 Bodman PLC Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2025
• 08/12/202458 Bodman Attorneys Listed in Michigan Super Lawyers 2024