Industries

Practices

Education

  • Harvard Law School J.D. 1970 Graduated cum laude
  • Albion College B.A. 1967 Graduated summa cum laude

Admitted

  • Michigan, 1970

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James H. Breay
Partner
Grand Rapids
T 616.752.2114
F 616.222.2114
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Jim Breay concentrates his practice in business, banking, corporate and commercial law, with an emphasis on commercial finance, secured transactions and regulation of financial institutions.  Jim is the former Chairman of the Firm's Commercial Finance and Commercial Transactions Groups.

  • Counsel to the Michigan Bankers Association
  • Drafts and analyzes legislation of interest to Michigan banks  
  • Has documented and closed numerous commercial loan transactions
  • Counsel to a number of companies in negotiating, reviewing and drafting documentation for major borrowing transactions, including both bank financing and long-term private placements
  • Extensive experience with state and federal bank regulators on a wide variety of issues
  • Has prepared opinions on numerous banking issues and topics
  • Drafts and updates all types of commercial lending forms
  • Drafts form contracts for a wide range of bank-provided corporate services
Representative Experience
  • Has authored numerous amicus curiae briefs for the Michigan Bankers Association in litigation involving significant issues for the banking industry, including the briefs that persuaded the Michigan Supreme Court to permit Michigan banks to own insurance agencies
  • Drafts dealer agreements for major furniture manufacturer and others and advises on dealer policies, dealer terminations, dealer disputes and antitrust issues
  • Reviews and drafts commercial agreements for the manufacture, sale, purchase, lease and bailment of goods and services
Honors And Awards
  • Named a Super Lawyer in the 2007 and 2008 editions of Michigan Super Lawyers
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America
  • Rated the leading banking and finance attorney in Michigan by Chambers USA America's Leading Business Lawyers, 2003-2004
  • Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Associations
  • American Bar Association
    Business Law Section; Antitrust Law Section
  • State Bar of Michigan
    Business Law Section, Financial Institutions Committee, Chairman; Real Property Law Section; International Law Section
Teaching and Lecturing
  • Speaker at numerous seminars for bankers and attorneys
Publications
  • "The Unfortunate Consequences of Spearing Tool," The Banking Law Journal (February, 2007)
  • "A Glitch in Revised UCC Article 9," The Banking Law Journal (May, 2006)
  • "How to Find Notices of State and Federal Tax Liens," The Michigan Business Law Journal, Vol. XXIV, Issue No. 1 (2004)
  • "Federal Legislation Gives Additional Power to Banks and Bank Holding Companies," The Michigan Business Law Journal, Vol. XX, Issue No. 1 (2001)
  • "Document Preparation Fees: Are Banks Practicing Law?," Michigan Banker (June, 1998)
  • "Commercial Finance" chapter in Michigan Business Formbook (The Institute of Continuing Legal Education)
  • "A Bank's Duty of Confidentiality as to Customer Records and Information," The Michigan Business Law Journal, Vol. XV, Issue No. 2 (1993)
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