Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution Advocates Biographies

Biography: Thomas H. Armstrong
Thomas H. Armstrong has practiced bankruptcy law since 1989. He was the Judicial Law Clerk to the Hon. Richard T. Ford, U. S. Bankruptcy Judge, Retired, from October, 1989 through June, 1994. He also served as the President of the Central California Bankruptcy Association from 1995 to 1997, a Director of the California Bankruptcy Forum, and was the Co-Educational Program Chair for the California Bankruptcy Forum 12th Annual Conference for the Year 2000. He was selected by the Bankruptcy Judges for the Eastern District as the Educational Program Chair for the 1996 Eastern District Conference. Mr. Armstrong serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at San Joaquin College of Law and has spoken on insolvency issues for a number of organizations over the years. Mr. Armstrong represents Chapter 7, 12 and 13 debtors, Chapter 11 debtors in possession, Chapter 7 Panel Trustees, Chapter 11 Trustees and creditors. His experience and common sense provides a solid foundation for service as a resolution advocate.

Biography: John D. Ayer
Professor of Law, University of California at Davis. Bankruptcy Judge, Central District of California, 1983-1984. Counsel, Stutman, Treister & Glatt, PC, 1975, 1980-81. Visiting Professor of Law, Stanford (1988-9); Texas (1979-80); Pennsylvania (1983); Yeshiva (1996). Summer teaching, Rome (University of San Diego, 1985, 1987); Paris (1978, University of San Diego). Academic Visitor, London School of Economics (1976).

Biography: Hagop T. Bedoyan
Hagop T. Bedoyan is a local sole-practitioner and has been certified as a Specialist in Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Law by the Board of Legal Specialization of the California State Bar. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from U.C.L.A. and is a graduate of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor, with distinction in 1987. His practice emphasizes the representation of debtors, creditors, trustees and creditors’ committees in Chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. He is the current President of the Central California Bankruptcy Association, a director of the California Bankruptcy Forum and a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Clerk’s Advisory Committee for the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of California, Fresno Division. He is also a Resolution Advocate for the United States Bankruptcy Court’s Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution Program.

Biography: Peter C. Bronson
Peter C. Bronson is a partner in the Sacramento office of Kelly Lytton & Vann LLP. He attended UCLA School of Law, where he was Managing Editor of the UCLA Law Review. Peter has practiced in the bankruptcy courts for more than 25 years, and is also an experienced business litigator. He also serves on the mediation panel of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, and as a mediator for the California Court of Appeal. Peter is a past chair of the Insolvency Law Committee of the State Bar Business Law Section, and a past chair of the L.A. County Bar Association's Remedies Section. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar Business Law Section, and the Executive Committee of the Beverly Hills Bar Association's Bankruptcy Section. Mr. Bronson is a frequent author and lecturer on insolvency-related topics.

Biography: Robert H. Brumfield, III
A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mr. Brumfield is a Principal attorney with Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedeman & Girard’s Bakersfield office. He received his Juris Doctor and Master of Laws degrees from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, in 1983 and 1985, respectively, and was admitted to practice in 1984. He has practiced law in Bakersfield since 1986. Before joining his current firm, Mr. Brumfield was in solo practice for two years emphasizing real estate, business law and litigation, construction, property tax and bankruptcy (primarily creditor representation). For nearly four years, he was a partner in a four-attorney firm that provided legal services in real estate, business, construction, bankruptcy, tax, estates and probate. For 13 years prior to that, he was an associate and then partner with a Bakersfield full-service business and civil litigation firm. He is a member of the Mediation Panel for the Kern County Superior Court and is a trained mediator handling mediations in civil litigation, transactional matters, and bankruptcy matters.

Biography: Dennis K. Cowan
Born in Kansas City, Missouri January 20, 1940. Education: B.A. in history from Yale University, 1961 J.D. from Stanford University, 1964. Admitted in 1965 to California and Federal Bars. Practice: General practice based in Redding, California since 1965, mostly as a sole proprietor. Wide experience in general civil and business practice and litigation. Practice primarily in insolvency and bankruptcy since 1979, and limited solely to insolvency and bankruptcy since 1995, representing debtors, creditors, trustees, and creditors’ committees in consumer and business cases. Represented debtors in over 3,500 Chapter 7 and 13 cases, over 200 Chapter 11 and 12 cases, and five Chapter 9 cases. Represented creditors in hundreds of cases. Adjudicative experience: Pro tem judge in Shasta County Small claims since mid-1970's. Commercial Arbitrator for American Arbitration Association since 1980. Frequent service as arbitrator and mediator in Shasta County Courts. Dispute Resolution Advocate for Bankruptcy Court since inception of program. Geographical area: Prefer cases from Chico and Orland north to minimize travel for everyone.

Biography: Walter R. Dahl
Walter R. Dahl is the senior lawyer in the Sacramento firm of Dahl Law, Attorneys at Law, where he practices bankruptcy, creditor's rights, secured transactions and commercial law. A 1981 graduate of UCLA School of Law, Mr. Dahl is admitted to practice before all California state and federal courts, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Since 1998, Mr. Dahl has served as an Adjunct Professor at Pacific McGeorge School of Law, teaching Bankruptcy, Sales of Goods, and Personal Property Secured Transactions. Mr. Dahl holds an “AV” rating from the Martindale-Hubbell National Legal Directory and is a member of the Sacramento Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Bankruptcy & Commercial Law Section of the Sacramento County Bar Association, and the Sacramento Valley Bankruptcy Forum. He has a special interest in mediating real estate disputes, having owned and personally managed investment real property for over 30 years. Mr. Dahl is an active member of the Rotary Club of Sacramento, where he served as President in 2006-2007, and in demand as a auctioneer for a broad variety of charity and civic events.

Biography: Bruce A. Emard
Attorney At Law, Sole Practitioner since 1996, Member of the Modesto Panel of Chapter 7 Trustees; Practice emphasis: bankruptcy litigation and reorganization. Formerly of counsel to Voss, Cook & Thel, Newport Beach, CA; Practice emphasis: commercial landlord representation. Former partner in Stopher & Emard, Santa Ana, CA; Practice emphasis: general bankruptcy practice. Formerly associated with Rutan & Tucker, Costa Mesa, CA; Practice emphasis: complex bankruptcy litigation. Formerly associated with Boyden, Cooluris, etc. Sacramento; Practice emphasis: Creditors rights. Former Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Loren S. Dahl.

Biography: Robert F. Fay
Arbitrator/Mediator, Robert F. Fay Education: Bates College B.A.; WSU, College of Law, J.D. 1972. Arbitration and Mediation training courses since 1990, including Advanced Mediation Skills Certificate, Pepperdine University. Experience: Practice limited to private mediation and arbitration service since 1991. Arbitrated over 100 civil cases in Stockton and Sacramento; currently mediate civil harassment cases in San Joaquin County Superior Court; currently serve as Hearing Officer, City of Stockton; currently mediate employment disputes for US Postal Service, and private divorce mediation. Affiliations:: Member, ABA, Section on Dispute Resolution; California Dispute Resolution Council; Academy of Family Mediators; BBB National Panel of Arbitrators; USPS Panel of Certified Mediators.

Biography: Steven H. Felderstein
Steven H. Felderstein is a partner at Felderstein Willoughby & Pascuzzi LLP. He represents creditors, debtors and trustees in complex chapter 11 cases and workouts. His clients include public pension funds, institutional lenders, creditors’ committees, equity committees and debtors in business chapter 11 cases. Mr. Felderstein has participated in restructuring businesses in numerous industries, including hospitality, forest products, food processing, publishing, entertainment, real estate development, agriculture, manufacturing and financial services. He lecturers frequently on bankruptcy and related topics to the California Continuing Education of the Bar, the Practising Law Institute, and local and regional bar organizations. He is immediate past president of the California Bankruptcy Forum, a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, and a member of the Debtor/Creditor Relations and Commercial Law Committee of the State Bar Business Law Section. He received his J.D. from Hastings in 1973.

Biography: D. Max Gardner
D. Max Gardner, Esq. 5500 Ming Ave., Suite 257, Bakersfield, California. Sole practitioner. Law Offices of D. Max Gardner. Certified Specialist, Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. Graduated from J. Reuben Clark Law School, 1987. Participated as an advocate in BDRP since inception of the program.

Biography: Robert Hawkins
Robert Hawkins has been a practicing attorney specializing in bankruptcy since 1989 and a Chapter 7 panel trustee since 1990. In addition, he occasionally serves as a Chapter 11 trustee. His extensive experience has resulted in a thorough knowledge of the bankruptcy system and the ability to see all sides of a bankruptcy issue through to resolution. Mr. Hawkins is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Central California Bankruptcy Association ("CCBA"). He currently maintains a continuing membership in the CCBA as well as the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees.

Biography:: H. Lee Horner Jr.
H. Lee Horner Jr. is a partner at Horner & Horner, Attorneys in Sacramento. He has been in full time private practice since 1984, specializing in litigation and appellate matters for consumer debtors, creditors and trustees in the bankruptcy courts of California and Arizona. He is a senior arbitrator with the Better Business Bureau's auto-line program, having so served since 1979. Mr. Horner is one of the charter advocates of the Eastern District's dispute resolution panel and has continuously served since the panel's inception. Horner & Horner Attorneys also specializes in representation of high profile individuals and entities, and civil litigation of probate and trust matters. The California Courts of Appeal have appointed him as appellate counsel in criminal matters and he has served as a panel member of the Central California Appellate Project.

Biography: Nancy Hotchkiss
Nancy Hotchkiss is an attorney with the law firm of Trainor Robertson, where her practice focuses on litigation involving commercial leases and secured loans. Ms. Hotchkiss is the only Sacramento area attorney to have obtained national board certification in business bankruptcy law by the American Bankruptcy Board of Certification. She has also received the highest ranking (AV-rating) from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory in recognition of her reputation among her peers in the legal profession. An attorney since 1982, Ms. Hotchkiss has had extensive experience in bankruptcy proceedings nationwide, and has served as a Resolution Advocate for the Eastern District since the inception of the program. She has also served for many years as a mediator and arbitrator for the Sacramento County Superior Court and for private litigants. Very well skilled at both reaching and documenting settlements, Ms. Hotchkiss takes her role as a negotiator seriously, and holds an impressive record for successful out-of-court resolutions.

Biography: Robert Izmirian
Robert Izmirian is a member of the firm of Buchalter, Nemer, Fields & Younger, a Professional Corporation, in the San Francisco office and is the Chair of the San Francisco Insolvency group. His practice includes all aspects of debtor/creditor law, workouts, problem loan restructuring and bankruptcy and nonbankruptcy reorganizations. Mr. Izmirian attended the University of California, Berkeley and received his B.A. in Economics in 1968. He earned his J.D. From the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, in 1972. Mr. Izmirian is a member of the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco, and was the Chair of that section in 1985. He is a past member and the past Chair of the Committee of Lawyer Representatives of the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of California. He is a member and president elect of the San Francisco Bank Attorneys Association. He is also a member of the Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum.

Biography: Richard G. Jones
Degrees/Licenses: BSc, MSc UC Davis: Professional Member of ASFMRA: CREA: California Real Estate License: Panel Member American Arbitration Association. Specialties: Twenty-five years as a Professional Farm Manager, presently managing 78 farms and ranches in California, Oregon totalling 39,000 m/l acres, including 30,000 acres of grazing leased land. Clients include major corporations, universities and private individuals. Responsible for vineyard and orchard development, as well as introductions to agricultural lenders. Farm appraisals for clients wishing to acquire or sell farm property.

Biography: Stephen A. Koonce
Stephen A. Koonce is a shareholder of the Sacramento law firm of Jarvis, Longaker, Koonce & Dashiell where he practices as a California State Bar certified specialist in personal and small business bankruptcy law. Mr. Koonce is a senior arbitrator for the Sacramento Better Business Bureau, and since 1984 has arbitrated hundreds of disputes between consumers and automobile manufacturers. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Koonce served as an arbitrator for the Sacramento County Bar Association resolving attorney fee disputes. Mr. Koonce received his B.A. degree from the University of California at Riverside and his J.D. Degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific. He is a member of the Sacramento County Bar Association, the State Bar of California and the Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution Panel for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California.

Biography: René Lastreto, II
Mr. Lastreto is a shareholder/owner of Lang, Richert & Patch, PC in Fresno, CA. He received his JD degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1981 and was admitted to practice that year. He has extensive experience in all aspects of bankruptcy litigation and has represented institutional and individual creditors both in and outside of the Bankruptcy Court. He has also represented debtors, trustees and creditors' committees. He is a judicial arbitrator and judge pro-tem for the Fresno County Superior Court and on the panel of arbitrators for attorney fee dispute arbitrations. He is a member of the Early Neutral Evaluation Panel for the United States District for the Eastern District of California as well as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association for commercial disputes. He is a frequent author and lecturer in the area of bankruptcy, commercial law and litigation.

Biography: Marc A. Levinson
Marc A. Levinson is a partner in the Sacramento office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. He received his B.A. from UCLA, majoring in English, and his J.D. from the U.C. Davis School of Law, where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the law review. He then served as a law clerk for Chief Justice Donald R. Wright of the California Supreme Court and for Judge William H. Orrick, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. He began his practice in 1975 with Shutan & Trost, a nationally-known LA bankruptcy boutique. The dual highlights of his tenure there were his representation of Marvin Gaye’s manager in the singer’s prolonged bankruptcy case and his role in the representation of Chrysler in its 1979-80 workout. Shutan & Trost merged with Sidley & Austin in 1980, and Marc remained a partner there until he bailed out of Los Angeles for Sacramento and Orrick in August 1990. His practice always has been limited to workouts and other out-of-court reorganizations, bankruptcy cases and insolvency planning. He is a past President of the Sacramento Valley Bankruptcy Forum, is the current Vice President of the California Bankruptcy Forum (and will become President in May of 2000), and is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy.

Biography:: David M. Meegan
DAVID M. MEEGAN, born Plattsburgh, New York, December 15, 1953; admitted to: California Bar, 1984; New York Bar, 1986; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Central and Northern Districts of California; U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York. Education: University of California at Davis (J.D., 1983). Member: Sacramento County Bar (past president of the Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section); Current Vice President of the Sacramento Valley Bankruptcy Forum; New York State Bar; American Bar Association; and State Bar of California (Member, Law Practice Management Section). Concentration: Business bankruptcies and workouts; representation of debtors, committees, lending institutions, landlords and other creditors in Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases; representation of Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 Trustees. Personal: Married (wife Cheryl); children (Lauren 5 and Michael 1); dog (Sadie); personal interests (varied).

Biography: Robert A. Middleton
Robert Middleton is a founding principal of the Pacific Management Consulting Group, LLC. He has over 25 years of experience with operations management, banking, finance and marketing. Mr. Middleton acts as a consultant, advisor, principal and expert for resolving problems in the areas of operations and finance. Mr. Middleton has held senior management positions with Crocker National Bank, Continental Illinois Corporation and with several public and private client companies since entering private practice. He has been involved with companies in industries ranging from agriculture to high technology. Bob Middleton holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Washington University and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Kansas.

Biography: Gerald D. Muto
Member, Muto-Dolk Associates, LLC; California licensed Certified Public Accountant since 1974. Experienced Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution Advocate, experienced Chapter 11 bankruptcy trustee accustomed to operating businesses under adverse conditions, experienced examiners providing timely analyses of complex financial or operational situations, quick assessment of issues and providing viable recommendations. Experienced receivers in complex business matters that require control of business assets and operation of the business until the Court can assess the issues and, based upon our analysis, make judgment about the matters before it. Timely written reports and recommendations are the focus of our receivership role.

Biography: Mike K. Nakagawa
Mike K. Nakagawa is a 1980 graduate of the School of Law at the University of California at Davis. Mr. Nakagawa clerked for the Honorable Philip C. Wilkins, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District prior to entering private practice. He has been in private practice in California since 1984. He is also admitted to practice in Nevada. He is a member of Nakagawa & Rico, a Professional Association whose practice emphasizes business and commercial litigation, debtor-creditor relations, and business transactional matters. He is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubble. Mr. Nakagawa is an adjunct professor in the areas of bankruptcy and reorganization at both McGeorge School of Law and Lincoln Law School of Sacramento. Mr. Nakagawa currently is a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. He is a member of both the Bankruptcy Alternative Dispute Resolution Program panel and the Early Neutral Evaluation Program panel for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the District Court, respectively, for the Eastern District of California. He is a member of the Sacramento County Civil Service Commission, the Sacramento County Bar Association, Asian Bar Association of Sacramento, La Raza Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

Biography: Howard S. Nevins
Howard S. Nevins obtained his law degree from McGeorge School of Law in 1985. He graduated with distinction, was awarded Order of the Coif, and served as comment editor of the Pacific Law Journal Board of Editors. Mr. Nevins is admitted to practice before all the state and federal courts in the state of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a partner in the law firm of Hefner, Stark & Marois, LLP, a general business and real estate firm in Sacramento, where his practice includes civil litigation, commercial law, bankruptcy, real estate and appellate work. Mr. Nevins was President of the Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section of the Sacramento County Bar Association in 1996.Since 1995, he has served as a Dispute Resolution Advocate for the Bankruptcy Court's Dispute Resolution Program in Sacramento. Mr.Nevins also serves as a Settlement Conference Pro Tem Judge with the Sacramento County Superior Court.

Biography: Jack H. Nissen
Born Sacramento, California, October 7, 1943. Admitted to bar 1976 California; 1977 U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; 1983 U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. Education: Sacramento City College (A.A. 1967); San Francisco State University (B.A.1970); McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific (J.D. 1976). Member 1981-1992, President 1990, Board of Directors, Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Member, Sacramento County Bar Association (Chairman, Fee Arbitration Committee 1991--); State Bar of California. Concentration: Mechanics' Liens and Related Remedies. Unlawful Detainer and Bankruptcy for lenders secured by real property.

Biography: Donna T. Parkinson
Donna T. Parkinson is a shareholder with Weintraub, Genshlea, Chediak, Sproul where she practices bankruptcy and collection law. Her clients include banks and other financial institutions, governmental agencies, debtors, creditors, trustees, and creditor's committees. She has extensive knowledge and experience regarding fraudulent and/or preferential transfers, postpetition financing, budgets and cash collateral agreements, plan and disclosure statements, cram down issues, obtaining relief from the automatic stay, and other work-out and reorganization issues. She also has extensive knowledge and experience regarding securing the appointment of receivers, obtaining attachment liens to secure potential judgments, taking possession of collateral prior to judgment, administering foreclosures of real and personal property. She has also been a Resolution Advocate since the inception of the program.

Biography: Chris Wm. Papas
Mr. Papas is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A. 1970) and the University of San Francisco (J.D. 1974). He has been an active member of the California Bar since 1974, practicing in his home town of Stockton since 1979, with a practice emphasizing business counseling, litigation and bankruptcy. Mr. Papas is a member of several local, specialty and national bar associations and is active in a variety of civic affairs. In addition to serving as a mediator for this court, Mr. Papas serves as an arbitrator and Judge Pro Tem for the San Joaquin County Superior Court.

Biography: Alan G. Perkins
Mr. Perkins has been a partner in Wilke, Fleury, Hoffelt, Gould & Birney since 1982. He received his Bachelor's Degree in 1970 from U.C.L.A. and a Juris Doctorate in 1973 from the University of California at Davis. For two years thereafter he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Marshall A. Neill, Chief Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington. In September 1975 he joined Wilke, Fleury, Hoffelt, Gould & Birney practicing in a variety of state and federal areas. These areas have included debtor/creditor law, secured transactions, construction law, real estate finance litigation, RICO securities fraud and common-law fraud cases, business litigation, and California administrative writ practice with an emphasis on health care litigation. Over the past fifteen years he has spent a significant amount of time in various types of commercial litigation including business and bankruptcy litigation. In most of these cases he has represented commercial lenders and bankruptcy trustees, although he occasionally represents debtors. Mr. Perkins has also developed a practice in alternative dispute resolution, serving as both an arbitrator, and a mediator, in a total of over fifty various binding and nonbinding arbitrations or mediations involving commercial and construction disputes.

Biography: Thomas R. Phinney
A member of Weintraub Genshlea & Sproul Law Corporation since 1997, Mr. Phinney represents bankruptcy trustees, creditors, and debtors in all aspects of bankruptcy administration and litigation. He also represents clients in business and commercial litigation matters in state court. From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Phinney worked for the Law Offices of Michael Flaherty, representing clients in business litigation and bankruptcy. From 1991 to 1992, he clerked for the Honorable Christopher M. Klein, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, E.D.C.A. Education: UC Davis School of Law, J.D., Spring 1991; Member, Law Review, Moot Court, Am. Jur. Award, Admin. Law. U.C. Santa Barbara, B.A., 1986, English and Environmental Studies, with Honors. Faculty member, Lorman Education Services; case reporter for the Sacramento County Bar Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section; member of the Sacramento Valley Bankruptcy Forum.

Biography: Ben M. Rishwain
Educated at the University of the Pacific, Mr. Rishwain received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964, undertook graduate studies in Economics, at San Jose State College, before entering the University of Santa Clara Law School in 1965, graduating in June 1968, with a Juris Doctor degree. His law practice areas of experience were in land use, real estate development and construction and business. He has first-hand experience as developer, owner and manager of real estate projects and related businesses. Other areas of experience are zoning, environmental, financing, lender relations and litigation, foreclosures, personal guarantees, deficiency judgments and the like. He welcomes complex matters and will act in other third-party capacities such as receiver, special master, etc.

Biography: John R. Roberts
John R. Roberts has been practicing Bankruptcy Law for over 21 years, and has currently limited his practice exclusively to Bankruptcy Law. He is admitted to the Bar of the State of California, and all four Federal Districts in California. Mr. Roberts has been certified as a Bankruptcy Specialist by the State Bar of California, is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (past member of the Board of Directors), the Sacramento Valley Bankruptcy Forum and the Sacramento County Bar Association. Mr. Roberts has been a Bankruptcy Trustee since 1986 and has administered thousands of cases as a trustee. He is currently the senior trustee for the Sacramento region. Mr. Roberts has been a member of the Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution Program as a Resolution Advocate since its inception and has been a Judge pro-tem in El Dorado County.

Biography: Kenneth R. Sanders
1975-1991: Assistant to the Chapter 13 Trustee – legal analyst, debtor counselor, systems analyst, statistician, and data processor. 1991-present: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee-administering 75-150 new Bankruptcy cases per month. Responsible for the seizure and liquidation of non-exempt assets of the Bankruptcy estates and the proceeds of sale; conducting the Meeting of Creditors on each case; performing and supervising data processing, correspondence and litigation; monitoring banking, liquidation, and business shutdowns; meeting the semi-annual reporting requirements. 1998-present: Consultant to SCB Financial Software in the design, marketing and training of computer software for Trustees in administering Bankruptcy cases.

Biography: Ken R. Whittall-Scherfee
McGeorge School of Law, J.D. 1988; Pomona College, B.A. in History 1979. Admitted in California 1988. Certified Specialist, Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Law 1995 by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Past President (1995) of Sacramento County Bar Association, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section. Representative clients include Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees, and financial institutions. Business background in sales and marketing. Avocations include cycling and mountaineering.

Biography: Clifford W. Stevens
Born Arcadia, California, May 10, 1961; admitted to bar, 1990, California. Education: California State University, Fullerton (B.A., 1987); McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific (J.D., 1990). Member: Order of Barristers; Legislative Staff Writer, 1988-1989, and Legislation Editor/Board of Editors, 1989-1990, Pacific Law Journal. Member: American Bankruptcy Institute; National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees; Central California Bankruptcy Association; Federal Bar; American Bar; San Joaquin County and Sacramento County Bar Associations; State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy; Homeowners Association Law; Collections; Foreclosures; Landlord and Tenant Law; Insurance Law; Personal Injury; Agricultural Law.

Biography: Michael G. Ueltzen
CPA, CFE; Partner with Ueltzen & Company, LLP, Consultants and Accountants to Management and Counsel. Member of the American Institute of CPA’s including service as member of AICPA Council, Committees on Regulation of the Profession, Litigation Services and Relations with the Judiciary. Member of the California Society of CPA’s including President (1996-1997) and prior chair of Litigation Services, Government Relations, and Accounting Principles and Auditing Standards committees. Faculty member – National Judicial College and Federal Judicial Center. Scope of practice includes the normal accounting services provided by a CPA firm and forensic accounting services including (1) analysis and presentation of economic damages, (2) CPA professional standards, and (3) special accountings. Prior testimony in Federal, State and arbitration proceedings. Prior service as an arbitrator, appraiser, umpire, and court-appointed expert. MBA and BS degree in Accounting from California State University at Sacramento (1970 and 1969).

Biography: Gerald D. Vinnard
Gerald D. Vinnard is a member of the firm of Gilmore, Wood, Vinnard & Magness, a Professional Corporation. His practice includes bankruptcy, as well as debtor/creditor law, workouts, problem loan restructuring and business litigation. Mr. Vinnard received a B.S. degree from California State University, Fresno in 1966 and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1969. From 1970 to 1974 he served in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps, and has been in private practice since 1974. He has served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, the Fresno County Superior Court Judicial Arbitration program and the Fresno County Bar Association attorney fee arbitration program.

Biography: Riley C. Walter
Riley C. Walter is a Certified Business Bankruptcy Specialist by the American Board of Bankruptcy Certification. He generally represents debtors and Trustees in Chapter 11 and 12 cases but has handled cases under Chapter 7, 13 and 9. He has also represented creditors’ committees and secured creditors. He has a particular emphasis on agricultural cases. He is a former Chapter 7 Trustee.

Biography: Leonard K. Welsh
Leonard K. Welsh, born April 14, 1954; admitted to bar, 1981, California, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California and U.S. Tax Court. Employment: Partner at Klein, DeNatale, Goldner, Cooper, Rosenlieb & Kimball, Bakersfield, CA. Education: Brigham Young University (B.A. 1977); Washington & Lee University (J.D., 1980). Member American Bankruptcy Institute, Central California Bankruptcy Association, and Kern County Bankruptcy Forum. Adjunct Professor of Law at California State University. Delegate Conference for United States District Court for Eastern District of California. Mr. Welsh has represented debtors, creditors, and trustees in cases filed under Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 of Bankruptcy Code and serves as an attorney-advocate in the Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution Program for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California.

Biography: Robert S. Williams
I have been a Resolution Advocate in the Eastern District of California Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution program since the program went into effect in May, 1995. I am also an arbitrator in the Kern County Bar Association Fee Dispute program. I have been a Certified Specialist in Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy for the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization since its inception. I practice with the law firm of Williams & Williams, Inc., with my father, Robert L. Williams, who was a Chapter 7 Trustee for many years. Currently my practice focuses on debtors' rights, filing primarily Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.

Biography: L. Kent Wyatt
L. Kent Wyatt is a shareholder with Hardy Erich Brown & Wilson in Sacramento. Practice includes both transactional matters and litigation, emphasizing business, corporate, commercial, real estate and bankruptcy law. Received B.A. degree from Hamilton College in 1967 and J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1974. Active duty as an officer in the U. S. Navy from 1968-71, with service in Vietnam. Practiced as a prosecutor from 1974-1977, and in private practice thereafter. Bar admissions include Delaware, 1974; California, 1977; U.S. District Court for the Dist. of Delaware; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of CA; and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Serves as a judge pro tem and arbitrator for the Sacramento Co. Superior Court and as a mediator for the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of CA. Is a member of the Sacramento County Bar Association, the Sacramento Co. Bankruptcy Forum, the ABI and the Northern California VLSP.

Biography: Justin D. Harris
Justin D. Harris is a partner in the law firm of Motschiedler, Michaelides, Wishon, Brewer and Ryan, LLP. He has practiced law since 1998. He focuses his practice on bankruptcy and insolvency matters. He has represented debtors, creditors, trustees, and committees in connection with a myriad of bankruptcy proceedings under chapters 7, 9, 11, 12, and 13. Mr. Harris has represented parties in some of the largest and most complex bankruptcy cases in the Central Valley. Mr. Harris also has a substantial civil litigation practice, having represented parties and tried cases in the state, federal and bankruptcy courts. Mr. Harris' litigation practice emphasizes business and commercial disputes, as well as real estate matters. Mr. Harris is also considered expert at bankruptcy litigation, having filed and successfully resolved hundreds of adversary proceedings. Mr. Harris also represents receivers, assignees for the benefit of creditors and is the current president of the California Receivers Forum, Central California Chapter. Mr. Harris is a licensed real estate broker and the owner of a real estate brokerage and property management firm. Mr. Harris also holds a Federal Firearms License (“FFL”), which licenses him to sell firearms.