Judge René Lastreto II

Honorable René Lastreto II was sworn as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of California on September 14, 2015. His chambers is in the Fresno Division.

Prior to his appointment as a judge, he was the Managing Partner of Lang, Richert & Patch in Fresno, California, and before that, the Chief Financial Officer of the firm. While in private practice for 34 years, he emphasized litigation matters involving creditor rights in all courts in California. He also represented all constituencies in bankruptcy matters including creditors (both secured and unsecured), creditor’s committees, trustees, asset purchasers, lessees, lessors, debtors, and estate professionals.

Before joining the Lang, Richert & Patch firm in 1999, he was a partner at Dowling, Aaron & Keeler in Fresno, and prior to that, a partner at Crossland, Crossland, Chambers, Lastreto & Knudson.

He was trial counsel in many types of cases in both state and federal courts, and primary trial counsel in numerous contested matters representing various interests on agricultural and commercial code issues.

He is a frequent faculty member in many continuing education programs, both teaching and writing on various creditor related and agricultural issues. Before his appointment as a judge, he was on the commercial panel of the American Arbitration Association and arbitrated numerous commercial disputes including construction and contract disputes.

He is certified by the American Board of Certification in Creditor’s Rights law.

His undergraduate degree was conferred by the University of Utah cum laude in 1978. He received his J.D. from the University of San Francisco in 1981.