Bankruptcy Nuts n Bolts Faculty Biographies Faculty Biographies Page 1
FACULTY CHAIRS GLORIA Z. NAGLER Nagler Law Group 206.224.3462 Gloria@naglerlaw.com GLORIA Z. NAGLER is the managing shareholder in the law firm of Nagler Law Group P.S., where she practices with the able and amiable Michael Sperry. She has finished serving as Past Chair of the Creditor- Debtor Section s Executive Committee. Gloria was recently elected by her peers to be a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy, and was awarded the Sidney Volinn Award of Merit by her fellow bankruptcy lawyers in 2013. Her creditor-debtor practice includes Chapter 11 business reorganizations, Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 work, and individual creditor representation in bankruptcy matters. Her practice especially emphasizes clients with tax issues, small businesses in distress, and clients caught in complex divorce situations. Gloria served for five years as the Plan Trustee in the Spokane Catholic Diocese bankruptcy case and found that work novel and interesting. During the Recession, NPR s Morning Edition featured parts of an interview with Gloria on bankruptcy in the current economy. Gloria clerked in the mid-1980's for the now retired Honorable Robert W. Skidmore, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma. She received her B.A. with distinction from the University of California at Berkeley and her J.D. from the University of Washington MICHAEL M. SPERRY Nagler Law Group 206.224.3460 michael@naglerlaw.com MICHAEL SPERRY graduated from Willamette University College of Law as a member of the Order of the Barrister. His practice focuses on Creditor-Debtor work including representation of debtors in out of court settlements, chapter 7 filings, chapter 13 filings, and representing parties in interest in Bankruptcy Court proceedings. He is licensed in Washington State Court as well as the Federal Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington. Prior to joining Nagler Law Group, P.S. his practice focused on representing both consumer and business debtors in chapter 7 liquidations and chapter 13 reorganizations in both the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington. Faculty Biographies Page 2
Distinguished Faculty THOMAS BUFORD United States Department of Justice Office of the United States Trustee 700 Stewart Street, Suite 5103 206.553.2000 x229 Thomas.A.Buford@usdoj.gov THOMAS BUFORD is the Assistant United States Trustee in the Seattle Office of the United States Trustee. Previously, Thomas served as a Trial Attorney in the same office for eight years. Before joining the United States Trustee Program, Thomas clerked for Judge Catharine Aron in the Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Thomas graduated from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. VIRGINIA BURDETTE Andrews Burdette 600 Stewart St, Ste 620 206.441.0203 vlaburdette@seanet.com VIRGINIA ANDREWS BURDETTE, was appointed as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee in 1997. She has also served as a Chapter 11 Trustee and was appointed Standing Chapter 12 Trustee for the District of Oregon and Western District of Washington in 2010. Prior to her appointment as trustee, Ms. Burdette s practice was devoted exclusively to representing debtors in consumer bankruptcy cases, with an emphasis on Chapter 13. She is a frequent speaker on consumer bankruptcy issues, including the National Association of Chapter 12 Trustees, National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, Northwest Bankruptcy Institute, and the U.S. Trustee National Training at the NAC. Ms. Burdette has also taught Consumer Bankruptcy at the University of Washington Law School. Faculty Biographies Page 3
THOMAS S. LINDE Schweet Linde & Coulson, PLLC 575 S. Michigan Street Seattle, Washington 98108 206.381.0125 tomlinde@schweetlaw.com THOMAS S. LINDE is a member of Schweet Linde & Coulson, PLLC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate law and creditors' rights and remedies, including real estate transactions and financing, judicial and non-judicial real property foreclosures, real estate contract forfeitures, evictions, and the representation of creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. Mr. Linde received his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Washington and his J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Washington School of Law. He is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars relating to creditors' rights and remedies. Mr. Linde is a member of the King County, Washington State and American Bar Associations and the American Bankruptcy Institute. He is a past chair of the CLE Committee for the Washington State Bar Association, a past chair of the Bankruptcy Section for the King County Bar Association, a current executive board member of the Creditor-Debtor Section of the Washington State Bar Association, and a current co-chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington. STEVEN J. REILLY The Tracy Law Group PLLC Phone: (206) 624-9894 Email: steven@thetracylawgroup.com STEVEN J. REILLY is an Associate at The Tracy Law Group PLLC. His practice focuses on state court receiverships, turnaround management, and debtor/creditor rights. Prior to joining The Tracy Law Group, Steven externed at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and The Snohomish County Prosecutor s Office Civil Division. Steven graduated from Rutgers School of Law in 2011 where he was awarded a Dean s Merit Scholarship and the Pro Bono Publico Award for his work as head of the Rutgers Municipal Mediation Program. Steven currently sits on the WSBA Business Law Section s Executive Board and is an active member of the KCBA Creditor/Debtor section. When he is not occupied providing his clients with exemplary legal services, Steven enjoys playing piano and saxophone, and producing and composing music. Faculty Biographies Page 4
J. TODD TRACY The Tracy Law Group 206.624-9894 todd@thetracylawgroup.com J. TODD TRACY is the founding Member of The Tracy Law Group PLLC. His practice currently concentrates on representing individual debtors and business entities in cases filed under all chapters of the Bankruptcy Code and under the Washington Receivership Statute. He also represents general receivers appointed in the State Courts. Mr. Tracy received his B.S. degree from Arizona State University and his J.D. degree from the University of Washington. He was a law clerk to the Honorable Samuel J. Steiner, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington, from 1987 to 1989. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, Washington State Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington. He is a Past President of the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington, the former Co-Chair of its Bankruptcy Committee, and has served as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. He also served on the Local Rules Committee for the United States Bankruptcy Court. He previously served on the Executive Committee of the Bankruptcy Section of the King County Bar Association for five years. ALAN J. WENOKUR Attorney at Law 600 Stewart St., Suite 1300 206.682-6224 ajw@seanet.com ALAN WENOKUR has been a Seattle bankruptcy attorney since 1988, and a sole practitioner since 1991. He regularly represents debtors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, typically in more challenging cases involving business debt or complex financial affairs. He represents creditors in all chapter proceedings. He also focuses on representation of Chapter 7 trustees in matters including undisclosed assets, fraudulent behavior, recovery of more speculative assets, and bankruptcy litigation. Mr. Wenokur is a member of the Washington State Bar creditor/debtor section, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the US Bankruptcy Court local rules committee. He is AV-rated, and since 2012 has been regularly selected by his peers as a bankruptcy SuperLawyer. He speaks frequently at professional seminars, particularly on the role and responsibilities of debtor s counsel in Chapter 7 cases Faculty Biographies Page 5