James A. Plemmons

Jim Plemmons is a Chambers USA Band 1–ranked bankruptcy and restructuring lawyer who has spent more than three decades advising automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, lenders and investors when the supply chain is under stress. Clients rely on him to keep parts flowing and protect their positions when a supplier fails, whether in Chapter 11, Chapter 7, Subchapter V, Chapter 15, foreign insolvency proceedings, or out-of-court workouts.

Jim has represented OEMs and suppliers in many of the most significant automotive insolvencies of recent years. He regularly leads emergency litigation to stop supplier shutdowns, negotiates accommodation and access agreements, and represents customers in OEM customer groups formed to fund, restructure, sell or wind down distressed suppliers.

He also represents secured and unsecured lenders, creditors’ committees, insurance companies, bankruptcy trustees, debtors and investor groups in workouts, reorganizations, liquidations and receiverships, and handles commercial real estate matters.

Jim is a member of the firm’s Management Group.

• Represented Stellantis in emergency litigation against ZF Foxconn Chassis Modules after the supplier halted shipments and forced a shutdown of Stellantis’ Toluca assembly plant, obtaining injunctive relief in Ontario and a temporary restraining order in the Oakland County Business Court.
• Represent Stellantis in Marelli’s 76-debtor Chapter 11 cases (D. Del.).
• Represent Stellantis in the First Brands Group cases (S.D. Tex.).
• Represent Stellantis in the Spanish insolvency proceedings and related Chapter 15 case of Grupo Antolin (S.D.N.Y.).
• Represent Stellantis in the Jack Cooper Chapter 7 cases (D. Del.).
• Represent Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc. as a supplier-creditor in the Marelli Chapter 11 cases (D. Del.).
• Represent Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc. in the Subchapter V case of 4OEM Plastics LLC (S.D. Tex.).
• Represent Tachi-S Engineering USA, Inc. in the Canoo bankruptcy (D. Del.).
• Represented Stellantis in the Lonero Engineering Chapter 11 case (E.D. Mich.).
• Represented BorgWarner affiliate Rhombus Energy in the Proterra Chapter 11 case (D. Del.).
• Represent National Presto Industries, Inc. in the Slate River bankruptcy (D. Del.).
• Counsel to Adient in supplier and bankruptcy matters.
• Counsel to Yanfeng in supplier and bankruptcy matters.
• Represented FCA US LLC (Stellantis) in the Chassix, Inc. bankruptcy (S.D.N.Y.).
• Represented FCA US LLC (Stellantis) in all aspects of the Metaldyne Corporation matter (S.D.N.Y.).
• Represented FCA US LLC (Stellantis) in the Collins & Aikman bankruptcy (E.D. Mi).
• Represented more than 15 suppliers in General Motors’ bankruptcy (S.D.N.Y.).
• Represented numerous suppliers in Lear Corporation’s bankruptcy (S.D.N.Y.).
• Represented the Piston Group, a private investment platform, in the acquisition of Irvin Automotive, formerly part of Takata Corporation.
• Represented Callidus Capital Corporation, an all-asset secured lender, in the Esco Marine, Inc. bankruptcy (S.D. Tex.).
• Represented Callidus Capital Corporation, an all-asset secured lender, in the Fortress, Inc. bankruptcy (E.D. Ky.).
• Represented Callidus Capital Corporation, an all-asset secured lender, in the Harvey Industries federal court receivership (E.D. Mich.).
• Counsel to Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation in collection, bankruptcy and insolvency matters in Michigan and Texas.
• Represented numerous insurance companies, including Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Travelers Insurance Company and Nationwide Insurance Company, in workout, foreclosure and bankruptcy matters.
• Represented Apotex Inc. in the PRACS Institute, LLC bankruptcy (W.D. Tex).
• Counsel to Bristol Myers Squibb in the Dow Corning bankruptcy (E.D. Mi).
• Counsel to the official committees of unsecured creditors in the Windward Industries, Inc. (Micro Manufacturing), Caribbean Telephone & Telegraph, Inc., D&C Industries, Inc., and Global Technovations, Inc. bankruptcies (E.D. Mi.)
• Counsel to numerous secured lenders, unsecured lenders, bankruptcy trustees, debtors, shareholders and investor groups in all manner of bankruptcy, restructuring and workout proceedings, including corporate and individual reorganization and liquidation proceedings.

• Featured, “Law Firms ‘Pull Back’ on Hiring Fired Government Lawyers,” The American Lawyer, February 2025
• Co-Author, “Managing Uncertainty Through Financial Crisis Requires Proactive Guidance,” Dickinson Wright Client Alert, March 2020
• Author, “Distressed Suppliers: How Your Company Can Deal with the Problem” Equipment Leasing Newsletter, December 2016
• Co-Author, “A Tale of Two Industries and the Bankruptcy Code,” American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, August 2016
• Author, “Business Triage: Can Your Company Survive?” The Bankruptcy Strategist, August 2016
• Closing, Reorganizing or Selling the Business (ICLE), co-author, November 1993
• Strategies for Secured Creditors in Workouts and Foreclosures, 2004