Bodman PLC

77 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Banking and Finance Law Litigation - Banking and Finance Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Bet-the-Company Litigation Litigation - Bankruptcy
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Detroit.

Biography

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 postpetition financing, lifting the automatic stay and maximizing realization of collateral value.

Mr. Diehl 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 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 2018 Detroit "Lawyer of the Year" for Banking and Finance Law by The Best Lawyers in America and has been listed by the publication for 25 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 2020 under Bankruptcy/Restructuring (achieving the highest "band one" ranking), in IFLR1000 2019 under Banking and Finance and Restructuring, in Michigan Super Lawyers 2019 under Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, and in DBusiness magazine as a 2020 “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).

Bodman PLC

77 Best Lawyers awards

Bodman PLC logo

Overview

  • University of Michigan, J.D.
  • University of Michigan, A.B.

  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
  • University of Michigan, J.D.
  • University of Michigan, A.B.

Client Testimonials

Bob Diehl is an expert in his field. He always understands the law and communicates our options in a clear, concise way. We are always confident that we will achieve the best possible outcome when we are working with him.

Kelli E. Carney (IAC Group North America)

Robert Diehl is the best workout attorney I have ever dealt with.

Bob is one of those guys that you know will give timely, practical, and correct advice every time. He does his best to make the complicated as understandable as possible. He also does not waste a lot of time. The point is to get to a solution to the problem, and Bob gets you there efficiently. He is also very easy to work with and I have always appreciated his friendly and professional demeanor. I put him in the top few of the list of lawyers that I retain that I am very glad to have on my side.

I have known Bob Diehl for 25 years and have always found him to be extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Bob's business and legal knowledge position him well to give practical advice to clients. He is very solution-oriented and helps his clients get to the best outcome, even in the most difficult of situations.

Bob Diehl combines an encyclopedic knowledge of both bankruptcy/insolvency law and practice with an in depth knowledge of the credit issues confronted by the bank. He is able to distill his counsel into clear and practical advice to both junior Special Asset's officers as well as bank executives. For example, his counsel has been vital in addressing the myriad credit and operational issues in working with the auto companies and their suppliers. He is regarded as a critical factor in our success.

Keith M. Altenburg (Comerica Bank)

Detroit, MI

Bob Diehl has a grasp of all the issues that are involved in these very emotional, confusing, and troublesome matters. He keeps his eye on the strategic issues as well as the tactical considerations at all times.

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Banking and Finance Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Banking and Finance Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Banking and Finance Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2010 - Banking and Finance Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Banking and Finance Law, Detroit (2026)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Detroit (2026)
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Detroit (2025)
  • Banking and Finance Law, Detroit (2024)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Detroit (2024)
  • Banking and Finance Law, Detroit (2018)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Detroit (2012)
  • Banking and Finance Law, Detroit (2010)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy
Special Focus:
  • Acquisition Finance
  • Asset-Based Lending
  • Banking
  • Bankruptcy and Workouts
  • Chapter 12
  • Commercial
  • Commercial Finance
  • Creditors' Rights
  • Distressed Debt Transactions
  • Finance
  • Lender Liability
  • Leveraged Finance
  • Litigation
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Out-of-Court Workouts
  • Restructurings
  • Secured Transactions
  • Syndicate Transaction Lending
  • Transactions
  • Uniform Commercial Code
  • Workouts and Restructurings

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