Michael G. Gallerizzo Partner

Michael G. Gallerizzo is a senior partner at Gebhardt & Smith where he chairs the firm’s Bankruptcy/Creditors’ Rights Group. An accomplished litigator and bankruptcy attorney, his clients include commercial banks, finance companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), leasing companies, equity investors, pension funds and other lenders from the Mid-Atlantic region as well as other areas of the country.

Mike’s practice is focused on representation of creditors in commercial loan workouts and restructurings, bankruptcies, foreclosures and related litigation. He frequently defends institutions in lender liability cases, and defends and prosecutes actions for banks involved in bankruptcy-related adversary proceedings. Mike’s deep experience includes Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 cases, liquidations, loan syndications and loan sales.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mike worked in the real estate industry and was an economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Extremely knowledgeable on topics involving bankruptcy, foreclosure, liquidations, restructuring, credit facilities, post-judgment remedies and hidden liens, he frequently lectures at business and legal seminars. He is also active in the community and serves as president of the Associated Italian-American Charities of Maryland.

Mike studied finance and economics as an undergraduate at the University of Maryland where he earned a B.A. and B.S. and was a Dean’s List awardee. He graduated magna cum laude and second in his class from the University of Baltimore School of Law where he was an editor of the University of Baltimore Law Review and a member of the Heuisler Honor Society.

• Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
• Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Maryland, 1983
• Delaware, 2004
• District of Columbia, 1996
• Virginia, 1996

Court Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit (1996)
• U.S. District Court, Maryland (1983), District of Columbia (1997) and Delaware (2005)
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Delaware (2006), Eastern District of Virginia (2010), Western District of Virginia (2013), the District of Columbia (2003)
• U.S. Tax Court (1985)
• Superior Court of Delaware (2004)
• Superior Court of Virginia (1996)
• Maryland Court of Appeals (1983)
• District of Columbia Court of Appeals (1996)

Education

• University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1983)
• University of Maryland (B.S and B.A., 1978)

Professional / Community Affiliations

• Associated Italian-American Charities of Maryland, Inc., President (2015-2017)
• Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association
• Maryland State Bar Association
• Virginia Bar Association

Presentations

• "The New Maryland Statutes and Rules Governing Maryland Foreclosures," National Business Institute (2013)
• "Alternatives to Foreclosure," National Business Institute (2011)
• "Fraudulent Conveyances," American Bankruptcy Institute (2010)
• "New Statutes and Rules Governing Motions for Relief from the Automatic Stay," American Bankruptcy Institute (2007)

Publications

• Author, “New York v. Belton, The Search Incident to Arrest Exception to the Fourth Amendment Warrant Requirement,” University of Baltimore Law Review (1982)