Team Members

R. PATRICK VANCE, Esq.

Link to Firm Bio R. Patrick Vance began his legal career at the Jones Walker LLP firm upon graduation from law school in 1975. The firm has grown to 17 offices in eight states and the District of Columbia and has over 390 lawyers. Mr. Vance served as the chairman of the firm for a … Continued

J. RONALD TROST, Esq.

J. Ronald Trost was Chair of the National Bankruptcy Conference from 1996 through 2004. From 1980 through 2002 he was a member of Sidley & Austin, Managing Partner of its Los Angeles office, chair of its national practice Bankruptcy and Reorganization Group and served on its Management Committee for 20 years. He taught at the … Continued

JAMES H.M. SPRAYREGEN, Esq.

  James H.M. Sprayregen is Vice Chairman at Hilco Global. Mr. Sprayregen is recognized as one of the country’s outstanding restructuring lawyers. Mr. Sprayregen has extensive experience representing major U.S. and international companies in and out of court as well as buyers and sellers of assets in distressed situations. He also has extensive experience advising … Continued

HENRY J. SOMMER, Esq.

Henry J. Sommer is President of the National Consumer Bankruptcy Rights Center. He has litigated many major cases involving bankruptcy, consumer law, civil rights and other issues. Previously, he was the head of the Consumer Law Project at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, where he worked for over 21 years and Supervising Attorney at the … Continued

EDWIN E. SMITH, Esq.

Link to Firm Bio Edwin E. Smith is a Partner in the Boston, Massachusetts, office of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP where he chairs the firm’s Finance Area. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Smith was a Partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP where he concentrated his practice in general corporate and commercial law, debt financings, structured financings, workouts, … Continued

HON. BRENDAN L. SHANNON

Link to Judicial Bio Brendan Linehan Shannon is a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Delaware. Judge Shannon received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University, and his law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. In addition to his Chapter 11 business reorganization … Continued

K. JOHN SHAFFER, Esq.

Link to Firm Bio John Shaffer is a senior shareholder of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Shaffer attended Stanford University where he received his A.B. with honors and distinction in 1986. He received his J.D. degree from Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California in 1989, where he served … Continued

JOHN RAO, Esq.

Link to Firm Bio EDUCATION J.D., Hastings College of Law – University of California, 1982 B.A., Boston University, 1978 ASSOCIATIONS/AFFILIATIONS Conferee, National Bankruptcy Conference Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy Vice-President, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Member, Board of Editors, Collier on Bankruptcy Member, Board of Directors, National Consumer Bankruptcy Rights Center Member, Judicial Conference … Continued

PROF. RANDAL C. PICKER

Link to Academic Bio Randy Picker graduated from the College of the University in 1980, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then spent two years in the Department of Economics, where he was a Friedman Fellow, completing his doctoral course work and exams. He … Continued

ISAAC M. PACHULSKI, Esq.

Link to Firm Bio Isaac M. Pachulski is currently a partner at Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones (“PSZJ”) in Los Angeles.  Prior to joining PSZJ, he was a shareholder at Stutman, Treister & Glatt.  Mr. Pachulski was admitted to private practice in 1974 before the State Bar of California. Throughout his legal career, Mr. Pachulski … Continued