Charles M. Forman, senior member of Forman Holt, is a nationally recognized leader in the field of insolvency and bankruptcy law with more than 40 years of experience as an attorney for debtors and creditors in addition to his service as a member of the private panel of trustees appointed by the United States Department of Justice and as a court-appointed fiduciary in numerous court proceedings.
He's a modern day "Robin Hood" who makes extraordinary efforts to recover funds for creditors. - Bankruptcy Insider magazine
In his capacity as a trustee, Mr. Forman has administered more than 20,000 Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 cases, including many of the most complex cases that have been filed in this region during the past four decades. These cases include household names such as Linens 'n Things, Workbench Furniture, Russ Berrie Toys and Upsala College. During the course of his career, he has administered approximately one-half billion dollars in assets and distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to creditors in order to satisfy their claims against the various bankruptcy estates which Mr. Forman has administered.
His assignments have included serving as trustee for NJ Affordable Homes, a $100 million real estate Ponzi scheme, and Omne Staffing a $350 million per year employee staffing company.
"U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra, Jr. thanked Charles M. Forman, Esq., who serves as the bankruptcy trustee for NJAH in its Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation, for his assistance and cooperation." - FBI Press Release
The United States Department of Justice recognized the excellence of Mr. Forman's performance as a trustee when it awarded him the Director's Award for Outstanding Achievements by a Private Trustee. Mr. Forman is the only panel trustee ever to be recognized by the Department of Justice for his service.
In 2016 Charles M. Forman received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The New Jersey Law Journal.
Mr. Forman is founder of the firm. His combined background in business, law and engineering and his creative approach to problem solving have served him well in connection with the many varied and complex assignments that he has handled including matters in the areas of telecommunications, manufacturing, real estate, employee benefits and health care, the retail industry, securities law and other complex areas.
- Named the "Master of Disaster" by the Bergen Record
- Recipient of US Justice Department's Director's Award for Outstanding Achievements by a Private Trustee - 2002
- Recipient of NJ Law Journal's Lifetime Achievement Award - 2016
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America - Lawyer of the Year for Litigation - Bankruptcy - 2021
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America - Lawyer of the Year for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law - 2020
- Best Lawyers in America 2007 - 2021
- Selected to New Jersey Super Lawyers 2005-2021
- Top ranking in Chambers USA Guide for Bankruptcy/Restructuring NJ 2015 - 2021
- Named to Top Lawyers of Bergen County by 201 Magazine, multiple years, including 2021
- Included in Marquis Who's Who in America 2020 - 2021
- President, NJ Bankruptcy Lawyers Foundation
- American Bankruptcy Institute - Advisory Committee, Mid-Atlantic Section
- Combined background in law and engineering
- Lectures on behalf NJ State Bar Association and NJ Institute for Continuing Legal Education
- Speaks to bankruptcy trends, fraud, trustee practice at the American Bankruptcy Institute
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