“I have been told by peers that I have just the right combination of practicality and aggressive representation. I strive to provide the highest quality of work product to the clients I represent while being conscious of the cast of doing so.”
Areas of Practice
- Commercial litigation
- Creditor’s rights and remedies, including secured lenders in bankruptcy cases.
- Representation of landlords in bankruptcy cases.
- Appeals
Ralph V. Mitchell is a seasoned business bankruptcy lawyer and litigator. He has represented all constituents in Chapter 11 cases – debtors, secured creditors, committees, equity holders, landlords, and unsecured creditors. His current practice focuses on representing Chapter 11 debtors, including real estate debtors, and on litigating cases for Chapter 7 trustees. Most recently he obtained confirmation of plans of reorganization for six affiliated real estate debtors.
Ralph brings high quality work product and appropriate aggressiveness to his Chapter 11 cases. Ralph handles complex Chapter 11 cases efficiently and effectively. He is also experienced in contested evidentiary hearings and trials in bankruptcy on issues including cash collateral, plan confirmation, lease assumption/rejection, dischargeability and claims objections.
While Ralph’s current practice is largely reorganization and workouts, he has substantial prior experience in creditors’ remedies, including foreclosures, receiverships, repossession and Article 9 remedies.
If you are a business owner with a problem, please contact Ralph.
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota Supreme Court, 1987
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1989
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1999
- J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law, 1987
- B.A., University of California, 1970
- Selected to the Super Lawyers list as Top Rated Bankruptcy Attorney in Minneapolis, MN, 2003 – 2005, 2008 – 2017
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
- “Business Bankruptcy Roundtable,”Co-Presenter, 2012 Bankruptcy Institute, Minneapolis, October 2, 2012
- “Bankruptcy Crimes and Consequences,” Co-Presenter, 2011 Bankruptcy Institute, Minneapolis, September 12, 2011
- “Best Practices for Chapter 11s: Plan of Reorganization Basics,”Co-Presenter, 2010 Bankruptcy Institute, Brooklyn Park, October 5, 2010
- “Net Law,” Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1996
- Real Estate Chapter 11 Cases Lecture, William Mitchell College of Law
- Other presentations on bankruptcy and debtor-creditor issues
- Real Estate in Bankruptcy, 25 Minnesota Practice – Real Estate Law, Ch. 7 (Eileen M. Roberts ed. 2001-present).
- Reorganizing the Real Estate Debtor, Firm Newsletter, Spring 2013
- What’s a “Claw-Back”?, Firm Newsletter, Spring 2011
- Suppliers Benefit from BAPCPA Amendment, Firm Newsletter Fall 2008
- Tips to Avoid Business Losses and Personal Liability, Firm Newsletter Spring 2007
- Lease Deposits, Letters Of Credit And Tenant Bankruptcies, Firm Newsletter, Summer 2001
- Real Estate Leases in Chapter 11 Bankruptcies, Firm Newsletter, Winter 2000
- “Justifiable Reliance” Not “Reasonable Reliance” is the Standard for a Creditor’s Reliance on a Debtor’s misrepresentation Under 11 U.S. C. § 523 (a)(2)(A), Commercial Law League Newsletter, January 1996.
- The Lender’s Perspective: Non-Performing Real Estate Loans, Minnesota Real Estate Journal, August 22, 1988 (with Richard D. Holper)
- Volunteer, Open Arms (An organization which prepares and delivers healthy meals to persons with life-threatening illnesses)
- Supporter, The Advocates for Human Rights (An organization dedicated to implementing international human rights standards and assisting asylum seekers)
Bankruptcy Decisions:
- In re Shen Ko Investment Group, LLC, 2008 WL 2003108 (D.Minn. 2008) (Represented Lessee)
- In re Timber Lodge Steakhouse, Inc., 377 B.R. 604, (Bankr. D. Minn. 2007) (Represented Lessee)
- In re Sendmygift.com, Inc., 280 B.R. 667 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2002) (Represented Creditor)
- In re Mack, 269 B.R. 392 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2001) (Represented Defendant)
- In re Wintz Companies, 219 F.3d 807 (8th Cir. 2000) (On brief) (Represented Related Party)
- In re Hampton Corporation, 126 B.R. 61 (Bankr. D. N.D. 1991) (Represented Debtor)
Minnesota Court of Appeals Decisions:
- Minnwest Bank v. All, Inc., 2011 WL 781178 (Minn. Ct. App. 2011)
- LeMaster Constr., Inc. v. Woeste, 2009 WL 1048194 (Minn. Ct. App. 2009)
- Brodsky v. Brodsky, 733 N.W.2d 471 (Minn. Ct. App. 2007)
- Eschweiler v. Eschweiler, 2006 WL 1890646 (Minn. Ct. App. 2006)
- Media Rare, Inc. v. Foley Group, Inc., 2005 WL 2850587 (Minn. Ct. App. 2005)
- Thomas & Betts Corp. v. Leger, 2004 WL 2711391 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004)
- Sunrise Intern Leasing Corp. v. Dedicated Media, 2004 WL 2221477 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004)
- Alpha Systems, Inc. v. Silicon Graphics, Inc., 646 N.W.2d 904 (Minn. Ct. App. 2002)
- In re L-Tryptophan Cases, 519 N.W.2d 616 (Minn. Ct. App. 1994) (On brief)
Chapter 11 Cases in Which Ralph Served as Debtor’s Counsel
- In re Fenton Sub Parcel A, LLC, et al., BKY No. 12-42768 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2012)
- In re Grey Oaks, Inc., BKY No. 12-42242 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2012)
- In re H&R II, LLC, BKY No. 11-38011 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2011)
- In re Primordia Seed, LLC, BKY No. 11-35930 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2011)
- In re Cinema I, LLC, Bky No. 10-49108 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2010)
- In re Scheherazade, Inc. BKY No. 10-42100 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2010)
- In re The Minneapolis Grand, LLC, Bky. No. 09-40942 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2009)
- In re Voom Technologies, Inc., BKY No. 09-35086 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2009)
- In re Twin Cities Avanti Stores, Inc., BKY No. 09-34469 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2009)
- In re VREP, LLLP, BKY No. 08-46308 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2008)
- In re Buxell, BKY No. 08-32049 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2008)
- In re Tobacco Warehouse, Inc., BKY No. 07-40378 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2007)
- In re Green Holding, LLC, BKY No. 07-40375 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2007)
- In re Michels Builders, Inc., BKY No. 07-31596 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2007)
- In re Bunting, Inc., BKY No. 05-48502 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2005)
- In re Boone 94 Properties, LLC, BKY No. 05-03345 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2005)
- In re Beutz, BKY No. 03-51464 (Bankr. D. Minn. 2003)
- In re O’Donovan’s Irish Pub BKY No. 98-32767 (Bankr. D. Minn. 1999)
- In re North Coast Bar & Grill, BKY No. 99-41766 (Bankr. D. Minn. 1999)
- In re 2 South Seventh Street, BKY No. 97-32582 (Bankr. D. Minn. 1997)
- In re Hampton Corporation. BKY No. 90-35503 (Bankr. N.D. 1990)