Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Bankruptcy
State
Daniel R. Fogarty joined Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Postler, P.A. in 2006 after graduating with high honors from the University of Florida College of Law. Following law school, he served as a law clerk for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, gaining firsthand experience with complex bankruptcy and insolvency matters. Based in Tampa, Florida, Mr. Fogarty focuses his practice on Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorgani...
Harry Light practices in the areas of bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, commercial litigation and trademark/copyright applications. In the bankruptcy area he has represented creditors in protecting their collateral, represented purchasers in acquiring assets from bankruptcy estates and defended creditors in bankruptcy adversary proceedings. Harry’s work also includes representing banks, mortgage lenders and other institutions including the Resolution Trust Corporation and the Federal Deposit Ins...
Cia H. Mackle is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Cia H. practices law in Los Angeles, California Best Lawyers has recognized Cia H. Mackle since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Cia H. Mackle is held by oth...
George W. Pratt is Of Counsel in Buchalter’s Salt Lake City office, where he has practiced law for over 40 years. Before joining Buchalter, George was a shareholder at Jones, Waldo, Holbrook & McDonough, where for many years he served on Jones Waldo’s board of directors, executive committee, and as chair of the litigation department.
Brian A. McDowell practices in the areas of bankruptcy, insolvency litigation and receiverships. In bankruptcy, Mr. McDowell has primarily focused on representing debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, tenants, landlords, asset purchasers, defendants in adversary proceedings and trustees. These matters have arisen in both voluntary and involuntary Chapter 11 cases. Mr. McDowell has conducted two jury trials in the United States Bankruptcy Court. In addition to Mr. McDowell's debtor and cre...
Rick Shelby is a partner in the firm's Bankruptcy and Business Reorganization practice. He combines 15 years of industry experience as a corporate engineer with elite legal acumen to advise clients on complex bankruptcy, corporate restructuring, and oil-and-gas litigation matters. This background provides him with a unique insider perspective on the commercial realities facing energy and industrial sectors. A seasoned advocate, Rick guides debtors, creditors, and trustees through high-stakes ...
More than 30 years of commercial litigation experience. Trusted advisor and trial counsel to banks, lending institutions and a variety of organizations. Recognized by his peers for his expertise at the intersection of litigation and transactional law. Steve Abelman helps clients achieve positive resolutions to business disputes. He understands the value of relationships for achieving a client’s objectives and provides his clients with the critical information and insights necessary for ...
Nicholas R. Pagliari is a Partner with the Firm. As Chair of MacDonald Illig's Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights practice group, Mr. Pagliari's practice is concentrated in the areas of corporate restructuring and bankruptcy, bankruptcy related litigation and collection matters. He primarily represents corporate debtors, secured creditors, chapter 7 and chapter 11 trustees, and other entities involved in bankruptcy proceedings. Attorney Pagliari is also an approved mediator in the United Stat...
Alicia Bendana focuses her national practice on complex bankruptcy and commercial litigation, representing trustees, debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, receivers, and liquidators in high-stakes matters involving officer and director liability, professional negligence, fraud, RICO, fraudulent transfers, and business dissolutions. A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Alicia is also board certified in business bankruptcy law by both the American Board of Certification and by the Louis...
Mr. Bennett handles complex commercial litigation involving financial institutions, contracts, corporate issues including directors’ and officers’ claims, disputes among members of closed corporations, and insolvency. His current practice focuses on rights and remedies for debtors and creditors in corporate Chapter 11 cases. He devotes a substantial amount of time to banking and lending litigation; representing borrowers in commercial disputes. Mr. Bennett has tried numerous jury ...
Eric Madden is a partner in the Dallas office of Reid Collins & Tsai LLP. His practice is focused on complex business and insolvency-related litigation. He has represented trustees, receivers, creditor and bondholder committees, and defrauded investors in a number of major cases throughout the country. These cases often involve Ponzi schemes, financial fraud, and/or significant fraudulent transfers. His work has earned the recognition and respect of his peers, including: – Named to ...
Armen Shahinian practices in the areas of commercial litigation, construction litigation, fidelity and surety law, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. He joined the firm in 1977 and today leads the firm’s nationally recognized Fidelity and Surety Group, one of the largest in the country. Armen served as a member and chairman of the New Jersey Supreme Court District Ethics Committee for West Essex County from 1989 to 1993. He is a member of the American Bar Association Tort Trial &am...
Mr. Watson is chair of the Bankruptcy Group. His practice focuses on representing secured lenders in pre-bankruptcy workouts and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. In addition, Mr. Watson represents several national franchisors in bankruptcy cases of franchisees and is a frequent lecturer on a variety of bankruptcy related topics. He is licensed to practice in Georgia and New York and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute. Mr. Watson is listed in Chamber...
Mr. Nussbaum’s areas of practice include complex bankruptcy law, real estate, construction, and contract law. Mr. Nussbaum is a certified specialist in bankruptcy law by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization and is also certified specialist in business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. Mr. Nussbaum is an AV-Preeminent rated attorney and received his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Arizona State University and his law degree from the Sandra Day O’C...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
