Overview
Experience
Awards
Publications
News & Videos
Michael R. Bakst is experienced primarily in various fields of bankruptcy and insolvency, including representing creditors, bankruptcy trustees, and receivers, as well as representing litigants within complex bankruptcy matters, commercial litigation, receiverships, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. He is a panel United States Bankruptcy Trustee for the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Bakst has also served as an Examiner appointed through the offices of the United States Trustee.
Mr. Bakst frequently speaks at continuing education seminars for bankruptcy and commercial litigation practitioners, as well continued education seminars for trustees in bankruptcy on a regional level.
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Court Admissions
- U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
- U.S. District Courts, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida Trial Bar
- U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Education
- J.D., University of Miami School of Law, 1990
- B.A., University of Miami, 1987
Professional and Community Involvement
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, Current Member
- Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, Past Director
- City of West Palm Beach Planning Board, Member, Planning Board, 2015-2018
- City of West Palm Beach Zoning Board of Appeals, Chairperson, 2000-2015
- National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
- Palm Beach County Bar Association
- Southern District of Florida, Standing Local Rules Advisory Committee, Appointee Member, 2003-2004
Speaking Engagements
- Panelist, “Trustee’s Avoidance Powers,” Region 21 Trustee Association Webinar, May 2, 2019
- Panelist, “Bankruptcy Litigation: Tips, Tricks and Best Practices,” Bankruptcy Bar Association Southern District of Florida, April 24, 2019
- Speaker, “View of Bankruptcy Practice: The interaction between bankruptcy and state court practice,” Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Law CLE Committee, December 8, 2017
- Panelist, “Bankruptcy: A View from the Bench,” Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Bench Bar Conference, March 10, 2017
Recognitions
- U.S. News & World Report, “Best Lawyers in America,” Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2010-2024
- Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV® Preeminent™
- Super Lawyers magazine, “Super Lawyers Florida,” Bankruptcy: Business, 2012-2023
- Palm Beach Illustrated, “Top Lawyers,” 2019, 2021
- Super Lawyers magazine, Super Lawyers Business Edition, Bankruptcy, 2014-2015
In the News
- Featured, “South Florida Lawyers Are Raking in Million Working in Bankruptcy Court,” Daily Business Review, March 21, 2019
News
- Aug 17, 2023 49 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 Edition
- Jun 26, 2023 14 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Recognized As 2023 Florida “Super Lawyers”
- Aug 18, 2022 48 Attorneys At Greenspoon Marder Listed In The Best Lawyers In America© 2023
- Jun 24, 2022 17 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Recognized As 2022 Florida “Super Lawyers”
- Jan 4, 2022 Greenspoon Marder Partner Michael Bakst Selected As A “Top Lawyer” By Jupiter Magazine For 2022
- Sep 1, 2021 Greenspoon Marder Partners Cindy Crawford And Michael Bakst Named “2021 Top Lawyers” By Palm Beach Illustrated
- Aug 19, 2021 37 Attorneys At Greenspoon Marder Listed In The Best Lawyers In America© 2022
- Jun 24, 2021 16 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Recognized As 2021 Florida “Super Lawyers”
- Sep 1, 2020 Greenspoon Marder Partners Laurence Blair, Cindy Crawford, And Michael Bakst Recognized As “2020 Top Lawyers” By Palm Beach Illustrated
- Jun 4, 2020 Super Lawyers Recognizes 18 Attorneys At Greenspoon Marder As “Super Lawyers” In Florida
- Sep 3, 2019 Greenspoon Marder Partners Laurence Blair, Cindy Crawford, And Michael Bakst Recognized As “2019 Top Lawyers” By Palm Beach Illustrated
- Aug 15, 2019 33 Attorneys From Greenspoon Marder Listed in the Best Lawyers in America© 2020
- Nov 8, 2018 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Selected as 2018 Legal Leaders
- Aug 15, 2018 35 Attorneys From Greenspoon Marder Listed In The Best Lawyers in America© 2019
- Jun 18, 2018 Super Lawyers Recognizes 22 Attorneys at Greenspoon Marder as “Super Lawyers” in Florida
- Nov 14, 2017 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Receive 2018 AV Preeminent Rating By Martindale-Hubbell
- Nov 3, 2017 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Receive 2017 AV Preeminent Rating By Martindale-Hubbell
- Aug 14, 2017 34 Attorneys from Greenspoon Marder Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018
- Jun 7, 2017 Super Lawyers Recognizes 21 Attorneys at Greenspoon Marder in Florida
- Mar 15, 2017 Greenspoon Marder Shareholder Michael Bakst Panelist At 2017 Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Bench Bar Conference
- Feb 15, 2017 Eight Attorneys From Greenspoon Marder Listed In The Best Lawyers Business Edition 2017
- Nov 26, 2016 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Selected as 2016 Legal Leaders
- Aug 15, 2016 32 Attorneys from Greenspoon Marder Listed in the Best Lawyers in America 2017
- Jun 23, 2016 Super Lawyers Recognizes 38 Attorneys at Greenspoon Marder
- Aug 17, 2015 25 Greenspoon Marder Law Attorneys Listed Among 2016 Best Lawyers in America
- Jun 12, 2015 26 Greenspoon Marder Law Attorneys Listed Among 2015 Florida Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
- Feb 9, 2015 Michael Bakst Appointed to the City of West Palm Beach Planning Board
- Nov 17, 2014 Nine Greenspoon Marder Law Attorney’s Selected for the 2014 Super Lawyers Business Edition
- Aug 21, 2014 Twenty-Three Greenspoon Marder Law Attorneys Listed Among Best Lawyers in America in 2015
- Jun 10, 2014 Fifteen Greenspoon Marder Law Attorney’s Selected as 2014 Florida Super Lawyers, and Ten as 2014 Florida Rising Stars
- Aug 21, 2013 Twenty-Three Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Listed Among Best Lawyers in America in 2014
- Jun 13, 2013 26 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Listed Among Florida Super Lawyers
- Nov 1, 2012 Greenspoon Marder Named Among the 2013 “Best Law Firms”
- Aug 23, 2012 Greenspoon Marder Attorneys Named Among The Best Lawyers in America® 2013
- Jun 14, 2012 South Florida’s Top Rated Lawyers, 2012