The ’Inaugural Black Supplier Engagement Forum’ hosted today by FCA US LLC included members of the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce and featured a keynote presentation by three Plunkett Cooney attorneys, Willard S. Holt III, Jessica D. Mathis and Rasul M. Raheem.

The trio focused their morning remarks at FCA US headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan on the topic of business succession planning. Nearly 50 FCA US certified African American suppliers attended the invitation-only event. The event was conducted as part of the automaker’s celebration of Black History Month.

“This was a tremendous opportunity for us to provide information to FCA US current or potential minority suppliers on a topic that’s often overlooked,” said Holt, who coordinated the firm’s participation in the forum. “Business succession planning done well can lead to a smooth transition for operations, ownership and control. Ignored or done poorly, it can be disastrous for a company.”

Plunkett Cooney’s presentation provided an introduction to the topic of business succession planning, took a deep dive into various issues to consider when creating a plan and
will review and examined how best to structure buy/sell transactions. The forum also included
a presentation regarding access to capital, a lunch/networking opportunity and a special Black History Month celebration.

Holt is an of counsel attorney in the Plunkett Cooney’s Bloomfield Hills office who focuses his practice primarily in the areas of business law and estate planning. His corporate clients include closely held companies and non-profit organizations and quasi-public corporations, including government agencies.

An attorney in the firm's Bloomfield Hills office and Transactional Practice Group, Mathis focuses her practice in the areas of commercial real estate transactions and business law. Former in-house counsel for a Michigan-based real estate developer and management company, Ms. Mathis has experience representing businesses, developers and independent dealers in their corporate, acquisition, financing and strategic matters.

Raheem is a senior attorney in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office and a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Banking, Bankruptcy & Creditors Rights Practice Group. With nearly 30 years of experience as in-house counsel to Bank of America and its predecessor banks, he focuses his practice in the areas of business transactions, regulatory law and banking law.

Established in 1913, Plunkett Cooney currently employs approximately 150 attorneys in nine Michigan cities, Chicago, Illinois, Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm, which provides a range of transactional and litigation services to closely and privately-held businesses, has achieved the highest rating (AV) awarded by Martindale-Hubbell, a leading, international directory of law firms.

For more information about Plunkett Cooney’s participation in the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Black Supplier Engagement Forum, contact the firm’s Director of Marketing & Business Development John Cornwell at (248) 901-4008; jcornwell@plunkettcooney.com.