Overview

"I have had the opportunity to work with Rob Bick for over 10 years and he has always exceeded my expectations. Recently, we had the opportunity to sell our company to a publicly traded company and Rob was our chief attorney on that deal. Rob was amazing and his incredible hard work, methodical approach and experience have proven to deliver the best possible deal for our company and we have had NO issues with the buying entity because of how detailed Rob was in negotiating and developing the final agreement."

Jeff Polter, Senior Vice President, Magellan Health

Robert Bick is co-chair of the Corporate Practice Group at Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett, where he focuses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and complex business transactions. Over the course of his career, he has closed more than $3 billion in M&A transactions and advised on more than 150 deals for private equity firms, founders, executives, and strategic buyers. His work spans a wide range of industries and includes several high-profile transactions involving prominent businesses and ownership groups.

Robert is widely recognized as one of the region's leading Corporate Law and M&A attorneys. He is frequently honored by peers for outstanding accomplishment in the field of corporate law, including being named a "Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America^®, an “M&A Attorney of the Year” by the Association for Corporate Growth, a "Deal Maker of the Year" by the M&A Advisor, a "Go To Lawyer for Business Transactions" and a "Leader in the Law" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and a "Notable M&A Dealmaker" by Crain's Detroit Business.

Professional Affiliations

Association for Corporate Growth
- M&A All Star Awards (2015 to present)
  - Co-Chair, M&A All Star Awards (2024 to present)
  - Judge, M&A All Star Awards (2015 to present)
- Programs Committee (2016 - 2020)
  - Moderator, From Shutdown to Strategic Sale: The Emagine Playbook (2026)
  - Moderator, Navigating Cross-Border Transactions (2019)
  - Moderator, Preparing Your Business for Sale (2018)
  - Panelist, Succession Planning: Creating Business Value Prior to a Sale (2016)
- ACG Cup Competition (2010 – 2013)
  - Chair, ACG Cup Competition, Stephen M. Ross Business School (2012 – 2013)
  - Judge, ACG Cup Competition, Stephen M. Ross Business School (2010 – 2011)
University of Michigan Law School
- Judge, MLaw Transactional Competition (2015 to 2020)
University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business
- Chair and Judge, ACG Cup Competition, Stephen M. Ross School of Business (2010 – 2013)
- Member, Stephen M. Ross School of Business Club of Southeastern Michigan
Oakland County Bar Foundation
- Fellow (2009 to present)
American Bar Foundation
- Fellow (2020 to present)
Financial Management Association
- Member, National Honor Society
National Association of Securities Dealers
- Member, Board of Arbitrators (1989 – 1999)
American Arbitration Association
- Member, Board of Arbitrators (1991 – 1999)

Community/Civic Activities

McDonald Agape Foundation
- General Counsel and Secretary (2024 to present)
American Jewish Committee
- Board of Directors, Detroit Regional Office (2009 – 2012)
Anti-Defamation League
- Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Detroit Regional Office (2009 – 2012)
Student Conservation Association
- Participant, Yosemite National Park (1979)

Honors & Awards

AWARDS:

"Notable M&A Dealmaker"
- Crain's Detroit Business - 2025
"Go To Lawyer for Business Transactions"
- Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Selected to Class of 2024
"Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year"
- Best Lawyers - 2023
"Leader in the Law"
- Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Selected to Class of 2020
"M&A Attorney of the Year"
- ACG Detroit - M&A All Star Awards, Recipient and Winner, April 2016
"Deal Maker of the Year"
- M&A Advisor - Global M&A Advisor Awards, Co-Recipient and Winner, September 2009
U.S. Cross-Border Deal of the Year
- M&A Advisor - Global M&A Advisor Awards, Co-Recipient and Winner, September 2009
Financing Transaction of the Year
- M&A Advisor - Middle Market Financing Awards, Co-Recipient and Finalist, June 2006

HONORS:

"Legal 500 US Elite^®"(2025 to present)
- Corporate Law (Tier 1)
- Mergers & Acquisitions (Tier 1)
"The Best Lawyers in America^®"(2019 to present)
- Corporate Law
- Mergers & Acquisitions Law
- Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law
Michigan “SuperLawyers^®” (2007 to present)
- Corporate Law
- Mergers & Acquisitions Law
- Securities & Corporate Finance Law
“Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit” (2009 to present)
- Corporate Law
- Mergers & Acquisitions Law
AV^® “Preeminent”™ Lawyer (1995 to present)
- Ranked by Martindale-Hubbell. Annually achieved Peer Review Rating of 5.0 out of 5.0
“Superb” Lawyer
- Ranked by AVVO.com. Annually achieved Client Review Rating of 10.0 out of 10.0

Admissions

Michigan, 1986

Experience

Work Highlights

Domestic and Cross-Border M&A

Representative Matters

Sale of equity interests in a National Basketball Association team and sports arena to a U.S. based private equity group.
Sale of U.S. based aerospace tooling manufacturing companies to U.K. based publicly traded company.
Sale of pharmacy benefit management company to NASDAQ listed company.
Several domestic and international M&A transactions by world's leading mainframe-dedicated software company.
Recapitalization and acquisition of controlling interest in U.S. based publicly traded company by European based private equity group.
Acquisition of division of NYSE listed company engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling medical products and devices.
Sale of equity interests in affiliated group of companies engaged in the business of owning and operating manufactured housing communities located throughout U.S. to publicly traded REIT.
Recapitalization of NASDAQ listed financial services company engaged in the business of providing and servicing loans used to finance commercial real estate and manufactured homes.
Sale of software licensing company to NASDAQ listed software licensing and networking company.
Sale of equity interests in a food industry equipment manufacturing company with world-wide operations to strategic buyer.
Recapitalization and refinancing of affiliated companies engaged in the business of inter-coastal oil barging.
Sale of regional industrial roofing companies to roofing industry consolidator in roll-up transaction.
Acquisition of manufacturer and distributor of aluminum extrusions with national operations by private equity group.
Sale of equity interests in manufacturer and distributor of optical lens and optical lens coatings to publicly traded strategic buyer.
Recapitalization and financing of automotive leather supplier with international operations.
Recapitalization and acquisition of controlling interest in U.S. based machine tool manufacturing company by China based equipment manufacturing company with world-wide operations.

News & Insights

Articles & Publications

“Insider Guarantees: Emerging Theories of Preference Recoveries,” Michigan Bar Journal; July 1990; Reprinted in Laches, July 1990
“COBRA Revisited: IRS Regulations Shed New Light on COBRA Requirements,” Michigan Bar Journal, January 1988
“The Effect of COBRA on Group Health Plans,” Michigan Bar Journal, January 1987