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2021 Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award Recipient

Lee J. Viorel of the Western District of Missouri is Chosen for 2021 Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award Recipient

Since 1994, the Commercial Law Committee of the Missouri Bar, through a special selection subcommittee consisting of past recipients and attorneys representing different geographical areas throughout the state in a variety of practice sizes, has presented the Roser award to an attorney who manifests the highest standard of excellence in bankruptcy practice, who contributes distinctively to the development and appreciation of bankruptcy law, and who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of bankruptcy practice or administration. The award is named in honor of the late Michael R. Roser, a prominent Kansas City bankruptcy lawyer.

Lee Viorel is a partner with the firm of Lowther Johnson in Springfield, Missouri, where his practice focuses on banking, bankruptcy, debtor/creditor rights, commercial litigation, and commercial transactions. Lee graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science from Truman State University and obtained his J.D. from the University of Missouri at Columbia School of Law. He is an AV rated lawyer with litigation experience in the bankruptcy court, Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, and the Eighth Circuit. Lee has contributed to the improvement of bankruptcy law and the continuing legal education of his colleagues in a number of ways including serving as President of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and its foundation and acting as Chair of the Missouri Bar Commercial Law Committee. Lee has also been a speaker at numerous programs sponsored by the Missouri Bar and authored legal education materials including a chapter on avoidance powers for the Missouri Bar Bankruptcy Practice Manual. In addition, he served as a member of the Attorney Advisory Group for the Western District of Missouri Bankruptcy Court which advises the Court on matters of practice and procedure.

The award will be presented at the Midwestern Bankruptcy Institute in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 1, 2021.