Since 2001, I have focused on providing clients with practical advice and pragmatic strategies. Whether representing parties in adversary proceedings in Federal Bankruptcy Court or advising debtors and creditors in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, I focus on big picture solutions while still paying close attention to detail. After serving as a term law clerk to the Honorable Grace E. Robson, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Florida, and practicing with a national, full-service law firm for 10 years, I will bring my expertise, and the expertise of the exceptional team of attorneys at Shuker & Dorris, P.A., to provide first-class legal services to all of our clients.
Education
University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D. with honors
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A.
Representative Matters
• Plaintiff’s counsel for shareholder and inventor in lawsuit against medical device manufacturer commenced in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court for Orange County, Florida, for fraud and conversion. Lead attorney responsible for coordinating E-discovery document review teams and negotiating search terms with opposing counsel. Utilized Relativity. The matter was settled before trial and resulted in a net $3.3 million settlement in plaintiff’s favor.
• Handled the settlement of actual and constructive fraudulent transfer adversary proceedings on behalf of the Trustee, Irving Picard, in the Bernie L. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC bankruptcy cases resulting in multi-million-dollar settlements. Prepared search terms and conducted review of ESI on Relativity.
• Represented Bernard Edwards Co., LLC and Jess S. Morgan & Co., Inc. in an adversary proceeding brought by Debtor Bambi Edwards in Adv. P. No. 8:13-ap-641 in the Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. The matter involved the ownership of certain music royalties that were allegedly owned by the Debtor pursuant to a settlement agreement between Debtor’s six stepchildren and Debtor that was approved by a Connecticut Probate court in 1996 subsequent to the death of Debtor’s spouse, musician Bernie Edwards. Judge May ruled in favor of Defendants and the matter was appealed to the Middle District of Florida and the 11th Circuit. Judge May’s findings were affirmed in Herrera -Edwards v. Benard Edwards Co., LLC, Case No. 17-15353 (11th Cir. 2018). In addition to reviewing 20 years of traditional document production, the case involved the production and review of thousands of pages of electronically stored data (“ESI”). Served as lead attorney responsible for the document review team that conducted the ESI document review using Relativity.
• Served as co-counsel for Marubeni Specialty Chemicals, Inc. in federal court litigation. The lawsuit asserted successor liability, conversion, and actual fraud causes of action under Florida law. The case was commenced in the Middle District of Florida and then referred to the Middle District of Florida Bankruptcy Court as it was alleged Marubeni was in possession of assets belonging to the bankruptcy estate of a Chapter 11 debtor as a result of the conversion and fraud. The matter was settled prior to trial.
• Served as co-counsel for plaintiffs in adversary proceeding commenced in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, based on actual and constructive fraud under both the Bankruptcy Code and Florida Statutes. Matter involved issues related to the sale and purchase of securities. Drafted the complaint, the discovery, conducted all depositions and helped negotiate settlement. Matter settled in favor of plaintiffs prior to trial. Finwall v. Read, Adv. P. No. 6:12-ap-00007-KSJ.
• Extensive experience representing defendants in actual and constructive fraudulent transfer cases brought by Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees pursuant to both Federal Bankruptcy Law and Florida Statutes.
• Second chair in over 90 actual and constructive fraudulent transfer cases in the Ponzi scheme bankruptcy case known as Evergreen Security, Ltd. Case No. 01-bk-00533 (Main Case).
• Represented Stanley A. Murphy as Distribution Trustee for SendTec, Inc. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, in 11 U.S.C.
§ 547 preference action litigation.
Memberships
Florida Bar Association
Central Florida Bankruptcy Bar Association
The Maccabee Bar Association of Florida, Inc.
UNC General Alumni Association
Admissions
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Recognitions
2016 Super Lawyers: Rising Star
2010 Super Lawyers: Rising Star