Michigan's Only Law Firm Offering Integrated Divorce and Bankruptcy Representation for Business Owners
When you’re a business owner facing divorce, your concerns go far beyond who keeps the house or how to split a retirement account. You’re thinking about your company, your employees, your cash flow, and whether your life’s work is at risk.
At The Smart Law Group, we’re uniquely equipped to protect both your family and your financial future. We’re the only law firm in Oakland County that offers coordinated legal representation from two attorneys: Garry M. Greenberg, a divorce lawyer with more than 40 years of experience in Michigan family law, and Steven J. Cohen, a bankruptcy attorney who focuses on business debt restructuring and creditor protection, with over 30 years of bankruptcy experience. Together, we deliver something no other firm can: a single, integrated strategy to protect everything you’ve built.
Why Business Owners Need a Different Kind of Divorce Attorney
Most divorce attorneys aren’t trained to think like a business owner. They’re focused on property division, not payroll. But when your business is your biggest asset—and your main source of income—you can’t afford generic legal advice.
For many of our clients, the business isn’t just a line item in the settlement; it’s the foundation of their identity and financial well-being. That’s why we approach every business owner divorce as both a family law case and a financial protection challenge. We understand how a misstep in one area—valuation, spousal support, or debt obligations—can ripple across your entire enterprise.
With Garry managing the family court side and Steven protecting your business from legal and financial exposure, you’re covered on all fronts.
What Makes Our Dual-Attorney Model So Effective?
Our two-attorney model is more than a partnership—it’s a synchronized system designed specifically for entrepreneurs and business owners going through divorce.
Garry Greenberg brings more than four decades of experience in Oakland County family law. He understands how to manage spousal support, property division, and court strategy to minimize risk to the business. He’s appeared in front of every judge in the Oakland County Circuit Court and knows what arguments resonate when the stakes are high.
Steven J. Cohen is a licensed Michigan bankruptcy attorney focused on business restructuring and creditor protection. He’s represented companies in Chapter 11 reorganizations and out-of-court workouts, and knows how to legally shield your company from disruption—even while divorce proceedings are underway.
What this means for you is simple: You don’t have to coordinate between two separate law firms. You don’t have to explain your story twice. You don’t have to worry that your divorce attorney isn’t protecting your business—or that your bankruptcy attorney doesn’t understand how family court works.
You get one coordinated plan. One legal team. Total protection.
How It Works: From First Consultation to Final Resolution
From day one, we approach your case as a single, interconnected legal challenge. When you engage The Smart Law Group to represent you, both Garry and Steven will assess not just your marital situation, but your business liabilities, and exposure to financial risk.
Then we develop a strategy that addresses both areas of concern: your divorce and your business continuity.
- We time legal actions strategically, ensuring your divorce filing and any bankruptcy protections align in a way that preserves your control over the business.
- We coordinate negotiations and filings, so opposing counsel can’t use one process to outmaneuver the other.
- We stay ahead of problems, including spousal claims to business assets, inflated valuations, or creditor actions during a vulnerable time.
By working in tandem, we coordinate your divorce issues with your business interests to create a plan that protects you and your future.
The Real Challenges We Help Business Owners Solve
Business Valuation Disputes
In any business owner divorce, one of the first—and most contentious—issues is valuation. Spouses often overestimate the value of the business, and seek half its worth as part of the marital settlement.
Garry handles these situations by bringing in trusted forensic accountants and/or valuation experts. He challenges inflated claims and advocates for fair, defensible numbers that won’t cripple the company.
Steven adds another layer of protection by analyzing how a bankruptcy scenario might affect valuation. In some cases, the mere possibility of bankruptcy creates leverage that leads to more favorable settlement terms.
Together, they develop a valuation strategy that reflects reality—and preserves the business’s viability.
Preserving Business Cash Flow During Divorce
Many business owners fear that ongoing spousal support or a poorly timed settlement will strangle their cash flow. And they’re right to be concerned.
Garry crafts spousal support proposals that account for variable income, reinvestment cycles, and seasonal revenue. He makes the case—using evidence, not emotion—that draining the business to fund support payments benefits no one.
If cash flow does become a critical issue, Steven can initiate a Chapter 11 reorganization to preserve operations. This legal process allows your business to keep running while debts and obligations are restructured, if your situation call for it.
In short: we plan ahead, so your business doesn’t become collateral damage.
Protecting Against Creditors During Divorce
Divorce proceedings can trigger creditor activity, especially if the business is leveraged or personally guaranteed. The risk isn’t just financial—it can be existential.
Garry can seek temporary court orders to protect business operations and prevent asset freezes. Steven can implement an automatic stay through bankruptcy, which immediately halts collection efforts, lawsuits, and foreclosures.
This kind of coordination ensures that your business is protected from all sides, even when multiple legal threats emerge at once.
Inside Steven J. Cohen’s Bankruptcy Protection Toolkit
Steven’s work begins long before a bankruptcy filing. In many cases, he helps clients avoid bankruptcy altogether. But when the risk becomes real, his tools include:
Before Divorce
Strategic Chapter 11 planning, asset protection structures, negotiated creditor settlements, and business debt restructuring.
During Divorce
Automatic stay implementation, continuity planning, coordination with Garry, and creditor communication management.
After Divorce
Post-divorce debt optimization, tax-efficient restructuring, and financial recovery plans designed to preserve the business long-term.
See the Team in Action
Sometimes, a short video says more than a paragraph ever could. One of our most-viewed YouTube Shorts captures our firm’s approach in a single message:
🎥 Watch: “We Have Your Back” – The Smart Law Group
This 30-second video gives potential clients a real sense of how Garry and Steven communicate: direct, compassionate, and focused on real solutions. It’s not about drama—it’s about delivering clarity during one of life’s most uncertain moments.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or simply unsure where to start, this clip shows you’re not alone—and that we’ve helped others in your shoes with the same combination of legal strategy and personal support.
🎥 Watch: Myth – Bankruptcy Means You’ve Failed
In this quick but powerful video, Steven J. Cohen challenges the damaging belief that filing for bankruptcy means failure. For many business owners, bankruptcy isn’t defeat—it’s a financial tool. Steven explains how strategic restructuring can be the smartest move to protect what you’ve built.
These videos offer a clear, human perspective on what it really looks like to work with a team that understands both sides of the legal equation—and has your back.
Verified Client Feedback from Farmington Hills and Oakland County
Clients consistently highlight how our coordinated approach helped them feel supported and secure—both emotionally and financially.
Business Owner FAQ Questions:
Do I need both a divorce attorney and bankruptcy attorney for my business?
No. Michigan law does not require physical separation. You can live under the same roof and still file.
How do Garry and Steven work together on business owner cases?
From your first consultation, both attorneys collaborate…
Can bankruptcy protect my business during divorce?
Yes, Steven’s automatic stay provisions can…
What's the advantage of using one firm for both services?
Unlike hiring separate firms, our coordinated approach…
How do you handle business valuation disputes?
Garry partners with forensic accountants and forensic experts while Steven provides…
Meet the Attorneys Behind the Strategy
Garry M. Greenberg – Divorce & Family Law
Garry has been practicing family law exclusively for more than 40 years. He knows the Oakland County court system inside and out, and he’s spent his career helping business owners navigate complex divorce matters with clarity, strength, and results.
Steven J. Cohen – Bankruptcy & Asset Protection
Steven is a licensed bankruptcy attorney focused on helping business owners survive and recover from legal and financial challenges, for over 30 years. His knowledge of bankruptcy, Chapter 11, business workouts, and asset protection makes him an invaluable ally in any high-stakes divorce.
Schedule Your Business Owner Divorce Consultation
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all divorce consult. Our 90-minute Business Owner Divorce Consultation is tailored specifically for people who have something bigger to lose.
Here’s what we cover:
- An assessment of your business’s exposure during divorce
- Asset protection strategies across both family law and bankruptcy
- A roadmap for divorce filings, bankruptcy planning (if needed), and coordinated communication
- Next steps, timelines, and estimated costs
When your business is on the line, don’t settle for less.
