Donald A. Bailey; Thomas Buford; Michael (“Mike”) DeLeo; Russell D. Garrett; Jay Kornfeld; Ann T. Marshall; Thomas D. Neeleman; John Rizzardi; Alan J Wenokur
Hon. List of Panel Mediators · U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington
Hon. List of Panel Mediators · U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington
=== Donald A. Bailey ===
Donald A. Bailey Donald has prac�ced bankruptcy law in the Seatle area since 1983, represen�ng debtors, creditors, and trustees in Chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13. He has extensive experience in li�ga�on, including avoidance ac�ons, dischargeability cases, and plan confirma�on. He believes that bankruptcy cases are par�cularly appropriate for nego�ated resolu�ons. Yale BA 1973; Cornell JD 1978.
=== Thomas Buford ===
Thomas Buford Thomas Buford is an attorney at Bush Kornfeld LLP, where he represents clients in all aspects of commercial insolvency, including debtors, committees, trustees, and receivers in Washington and Alaska. Prior to joining Bush Kornfeld, Thomas was the Assistant United States Trustee in the Seattle and Anchorage Offices of the United States Trustee and he clerked for Chief Bankruptcy Judge Catharine Aron in the Middle District of North Carolina. Thomas attended the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, and Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.
=== Russell D. Garrett ===
You are looking for a solution to a dispute. Mediation is one solution. Two or more parties meet with a professional mediator to talk about solving an impasse. A mediator doesn’t make decisions, but helps the parties find a solution themselves. Why choose Russ Garrett as your mediator? Russ is both an attorney and trained mediator with over 30 years of experience resolving bankruptcy matters and other complex commercial litigation. His knowledge of the intricacies of Chapters 7, 11 and 13 is extremely helpful as organizations seek best-case outcomes in distressed situations. Russ has practiced bankruptcy law with the highest code of conduct and standards of ethics. Although Russ been a litigator his entire career, his early practice was devoted to general business and transactional work. Russ was admitted to the bar in Oregon in 1988 and 1989 in Washington. Russ began representing Chapter 7 Trustees in 1995, became a Chapter 7 Trustee in 1998 and has represented creditor committees, Chapter 7, 12 and 13 Trustees, and debtors (post filing) in all aspects of bankruptcy settlements. Russ completed mediation training at the top-ranked Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law; however, his formal training and experience in negotiation and strategy began before he attended law school. Russ can facilitate the entire meeting for both parties by providing office space as a neutral third-party location to meet to discuss their dispute. Russ is available to schedule other locations or accommodate any reasonable need for parties in Oregon and SW Washington. Russ can help with a wide range of bankruptcy and other disputes in mediation: Breach of Contract Dischargeability Multiple Litigations Employment of Trustee of Examiner Construction Issues Lien Avoidance or Lien Validity Preference/Fraudulent Conveyance Objection to Plan Confirmation Violation of Stay Compensation of Professionals Classification of Claims Compensation of Trustee or Injunctive or Declaratory Relief Real Estate Issues Employment of Professionals Examiner Partnership and Shareholder Disputes Contact Russ Garrett Jordan Ramis PC 1211 SW Fifth Ave., 27th Floor Portland, OR 97204 503-598-7070 [email protected] www.jordanramis.com/mediation
=== Jay Kornfeld ===
Jay Kornfeld is a partner at Bush Strout & Kornfeld. He represents companies and individuals in commercial creditor and debtor matters, emphasizing out-of-court workouts, restructurings, and Chapter 11 reorganizations. Over the years, he has also represented a number of unsecured creditor committees in Chapter 11 cases. His practice includes handling litigation matters, both in and out of bankruptcy court, appeals, and receiverships. Over the last 25 years, Jay has represented clients in diverse industries including publishing/media, retail, agricultural, food processing, grocery, manufacturing, high-tech, telecom, wood products, biotech, construction, commercial and residential real estate, and commercial fishing. Every year since 2001, he has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America and as a Washington Super Lawyer, including being named several times as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Washington. Since 2005, Chambers USA has named him as one of the Best Bankruptcy Attorneys in Washington. He is AV-rated and is the former Chair of the Seattle-King County Bar Association Creditor-Debtor Section. Jay earned a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, at University of Notre Dame in 1982. He went on to study law at the University of Washington graduating with high honors and Order of the Coif in 1987.
=== Ann T. Marshall ===
ANN T. MARSHALL CO N TA CT ANN T. MARSHALL MEDIATION 600 Stewart St., Suite 400 Seattle, WA 98101 Cell/Text: 206.619.8043 [email protected] www.anntmarshall.com P RO F I L E Ann T. Marshall is known for her ability to work productively in entrenched disputes from focused, positional bargaining to negotiations steeped in strong emotions. In addition to analyzing legal positions—built on 27 years as a trial lawyer and 14 years as mediator—she pays close attention to the underlying drivers of disputes and the practical consequences people face. Her approach reflects an understanding that dispute resolution operates at an intersection of law and lived experience, where helping parties create solutions often requires more than legal analysis alone. E D U CA TI O N E X P E RI E N CE J.D. WITH HONORS Florida State University College of Law OWNER/MEDIATOR • JUNE 2024 — CURRENT ANN T. MARSHALL MEDIATION • Seattle, WA A.B. PHILOSOPHY University of Michigan K E Y S K I L L S Complex Risk Analysis Creative Problem Solving Creditor/Debtor Dispute Resolution Empathy Mediation Negotiation Strategy Neutral Analysis E XP E RI E N CE Bankruptcy Business/Commercial Construction Consumer Protection Creditor/Debtor Employment Financial Services Insurance Professional Liability Real Property Title Insurance Trust & Estates Skilled mediator offering dispute resolution services in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, in-person and virtually. Practice areas and experience include Bankruptcy, Business/Commercial, Construction, Consumer Protection, Creditor/Debtor, Employment, Financial Services, Insurance, Professional Liability, Real Property, Title Insurance, and Trust & Estates. NEUTRAL • JAN 2020—JUNE 2024 JAMS • Seattle, WA Joined JAMS to practice dispute resolution exclusively. With singular focus on dispute resolution, continued the growth and development of mediation practice serving as mediator primarily in commercial, litigated cases. Frequent speaker on negotiation, mediation, and ethics at numerous continuing legal education events. MANAGING PARTNER PNW • JAN 2016—DEC 2019 ANGLIN FLEWELLING & RASMUSSEN (nka Lagerlof) • Seattle, WA Led firm’s litigation team to join California firm, opening the Pacific Northwest location for West Coast service to client base. Managed litigation in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Represented clients such as title insurance companies and insureds in complex, multi-party real property cases, and financial institutions and creditors. Clients included Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, and individuals. Continued serving as mediator alongside litigation practice. RE CO G N I TI O N & M E M BE RS H I P S Bar Admissions (Currently Inactive): Washington Oregon Western WA U.S. District Court Western WA U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern WA U.S. District Court Eastern WA U.S. Bankruptcy Court Oregon U.S. District Court Oregon U.S. Bankruptcy Court Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 20 years Diplomate Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals Member, Society of Judgment and Decision Making Past Chair Executive Committee & Current Panel Mediator, Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program, Western Washington U.S. Bankruptcy Court Approved Mediator, Western Washington U.S. District Court, 39.1 Program “Top Rated,” Super Lawyers SHAREHOLDER • AUG 1997—JAN 2016 MARSHALL & WEIBEL, P.S. (fka Bishop & Lynch, P.S.) • Seattle, WA Joined the boutique Seattle law firm Bishop & Lynch and grew to be a trusted partner. Represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil ligation in state and federal courts—from thorny discovery disputes to appellate practice. Managed teams and workplace issues. Acquired deep experience in real property, commercial finance, consumer lending, bankruptcy, and insurance. Represented parties including title insurance companies and their insureds in complex, multi-party litigation in a wide spectrum of real property matters. Represented both insurers and policyholders in coverage disputes under ALTA policies. Represented a variety of financial institutions in loan origination and servicing matters. In 2012, began mediating alongside litigation practice. INTERN/ATTORNEY • 1993—1996 CRIMINAL DEFENSE, Charleston, SC & Seattle, WA Criminal defense intern in Charleston, South Carolina and attorney in Port Orchard, Washington. Handled defense of misdemeanor and felony criminal charges. Gained substantial courtroom and trial experience. DISPUTE RESOLUTION TRAINING & RELATED CONTINUING EDUCATION P U BL I CA T I O N S Author, 1 WASHINGTON REAL PROPERTY DESKBOOK CH. 6, Recording and Constructive Notice (Wash. St. Bar Assoc. 5th Ed. 2024) 58th Annual Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Law Conference Planning Committee Member; King County Bar Association; April 24- 25, 2025 27th Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference University of Washington School of Law and Washington State Bar Association; Presenter and Attendee; 2025 Advanced Mediation Training Retreat, Montréal, Québec The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals; August 15-17, 2024 WASHINGTON INSURANCE LAW UPDATE King County Bar Association Bar Bulletin, December 2022 IAM Spring Conference International Academy of Mediators Client-Centric Mediation: New Challenges, Perspectives, and Strategies; May 30-June 1, 2024 OPENING OFFERS IN NEGOTIATION JAMS ADR Insights, November 23, 2021 26th Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference University of Washington School of Law and Washington State Bar Association; Presenter and Attendee; 2024 MEDIATING (AND SETTLING) REAL PROPERTY CASES JAMS ADR Insights, July 23, 2021 A POT COMMITTED (NO, NOT THAT KIND) MINDSET AND WHY YOU SHOULD BET ON EARLY MEDIATION The American Lawyer, November 1, 2020 S P E A K I N G P RE S E N TA TI O N S IN THE WILD: DISCUSSING REAL- WORLD ETHICS CHALLENGES IN MEDIATION 27th Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference; University of Washington School of Law & Washington State Bar Ass’n March 27, 2025 PREPARING YOUR CLIENT FOR MEDIATION Washington State Bar Ass’n February 5, 2025 NAVIGATING MEDIATION’S ETHICAL TERRAIN 26th Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference; University of Washington School of Law & Washington State Bar Ass’n March 22, 2024 EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY: TIPS FOR MEDIATION AND TRIAL CLE JAMS & Washington State Bar Ass’n November 22, 2023 MEDIATION ETHICS Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program Panel Mediators for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington June 22, 2023 Tips and Tricks from Frequent Mediators U.S. Bankruptcy Court Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program CLE and Annual Meeting, 2024 Advanced Mediation & Advocacy Skills Institute ABA Dispute Resolution Section, 2023 Small Business Subchapter V Bankruptcy U.S. Bankruptcy Court Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program, 2022 Taking the Road Less Travelled in Your Mediation International Academy of Mediators, 2022 What They Really Want U.S. Bankruptcy Court Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program, 2022 Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training & Fall CLE Seminar Association of Attorney-Mediator, 2022 Society for Judgment and Decision Making Conference, 2022 Advanced Mediation and Advocacy Skills Institute ABA Dispute Resolution Section, 2021 The Power of Mediation U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 2021 Society for Judgment and Decision Making Conference, 2021 Remote Mediation Before, During, and After (hopefully!) the Pandemic: Lessons Applicable Even for Those Eccentrics Who Return to In Person Mediation U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 2021 Chasing Excellence in Mediation: Tactics, Strategies and Dialogue With Attorney Advocates and Mediators Pepperdine University School of Law, 2019 24th Annual Dispute Resolution Conference University of Washington School of Law, 2018 Six Principles You Can Use for Successful Mediation 2017 Implicit Bias for Attorneys and Dispute Resolution Professionals 2017 23rd Annual Dispute Resolution Conference University of Washington School of Law, 2017 Mindfulness for Mediators Workshop 2016 Asking the Right Questions, a Guide for Mediators King County Bar Association, 2015 Reality Testing: Micro and Macro King County Bar Association, 2015 Mediator Bootcamp Pepperdine University School of Law, 2014 Strategic Negotiation Skills Pepperdine University School of Law, 2013 Mediating the Litigated Case Pepperdine University School of Law, 2012 WAIT, WHAT!? ETHICS RULES APPLY IN MEDIATION? Multnomah Bar Ass’n May 2, 2023 ETHICAL CONSIDERATION IN LITIGATION AND ADR AND ETHICS UPDATE JAMS CLE December 14, 2022 EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY: TIPS FOR MEDIATION, ARBITRATION AND TRIAL King County Bar Ass’n November 2, 2022 TITLE INSURANCE: UNDERWRITING, CLAIMS AND RESOLUTION JAMS CLE/webinar September 15, 2021 MEDIATING IN THE PANDEMIC 34th Annual Northwest Bankruptcy Institute April 22-23, 2021 CANNABIS LEGAL AND INDUSTRY UPDATE JAMS CLE January 14, 2021 TIPS AND TECHNIQUES TO SUCCEED AT VIRTUAL ADR JAMS CLE April 30, 2020 UNDERNEATH THE HOOD: BK MEDIATION NUTS BOLTS AND A FEW WAR STORIES U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington, Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program March 19, 2020
=== John Rizzardi ===
I am currently a senior partner at the Seattle law firm of Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S. Since 1979, I have provided strategic and general business planning to a wide range of companies and their owners, as well as litigation and dispute resolution assistance, to clients in my business and litigation practice. From 1983 to 1987 I was a Chapter 7 Trustee in this District. Since 1983, I have focused much of my practice on providing commercial bankruptcy and creditors' rights advice to clients affected by potential or actual insolvency proceedings, including bankruptcy litigation. I work extensively with my law firm's tax, corporate finance, litigation and real estate attorneys, providing me exposure to a multitude of types of cases. Some of my awards and positions include: • Best Lawyers Award Recipient • Top Lawyer Award Recipient, Bankruptcy Practice, Seattle Magazine • Top Lawyer Award Recipient, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine • Super Lawyer Award Recipient, Bankruptcy Practice, Washington Law & Politics Magazine • Top Business Lawyer Award Recipient, Seattle Business Monthly Magazine • Honorary Hall of Fame Award Recipient, Turnaround Management Association • Martindale-Hubbell peer review rated AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 • Member, King County Bar Association • Executive Committee Member and Chair Elect, Washington State Bar Association Creditor/Debtor Section • Member, Board of Trustees of the King County Bar Foundation • Member, Turnaround Management Association, 1996-present • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute • Past Director, Officer, President and Chairman of the Turnaround Management Association, 1998-2006 • Member, Restructuring and Distressed Investing Hall of Fame • Frequent author and speaker on commercial bankruptcy topics I have participated in many mediations, arbitrations and trials during my 32 years of practice. I have worked in the courts of all of the Northwest States and British Columbia. I believe many people view me as a creative problem solver. I am very comfortable working with challenging situations or difficult inter-personal situations. For example, during the last four years, my practice has also involved assisting family law attorneys with resolving the financial issues in high wealth marriage dissolution cases. {01827065.DOC;1 } In the bankruptcy courts, I have acted as counsel for many debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, creditors’ committees, asset buyers and other interested parties. I have also served as a court appointed Examiner for Judge Dunn in Oregon. I am quite familiar with our local judiciary and how they might rule in most situations. With assistance from counsel providing thorough facts and briefing, I believe I would offer a sound and fair mediation experience for litigants, bringing to them a commitment to try to efficiently resolve their issues. Examples of recent and ongoing work include: • Assisted major national transportation firm with complex issues associated with insolvency of related party including valuation and claims resolution • Represented senior secured lender with debt realization needs on significant urban condominium tower project • Represented 75% equity owner of regional grocer as to all issues arising within grocer’s Chapter 11 • Assisted multi-family property management enterprise with total restructuring of over $200,000,000 of secured debt on 73 apartment buildings • Assisted regional investment advisory firm with services associated with involuntary bankruptcies of several related investment funds
=== Alan J Wenokur ===
WENOKUR RIORDAN PLLC ALAN J. WENOKUR (206) 682-6224 [email protected] 600 STEWART STREET, SUITE 1300 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 www.wrlawgroup.com NATHAN RIORDAN (206) 903-0401 [email protected] Alan Wenokur has been a Seattle bankruptcy attorney since 1988. He opened his solo practice in 1991, and recently formed the Wenokur Riordan law firm. Alan regularly assists both individuals and businesses in bankruptcy cases and out- of-court workouts. His practice emphasizes representation of debtors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, creditors in all bankruptcy proceedings, and bankruptcy litigation in all chapters. His debtor practice typically involves individuals with struggling businesses and complex financial affairs. Alan’s work includes representing a number of Chapter 7 panel trustees in cases involving recovery of assets. These matters often feature undisclosed assets, fraudulent behavior, litigation, and/or recovery of speculative assets. He enjoys matters involving complex fact patterns, unsettled legal issues, and litigation in the Bankruptcy Courts. Alan is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. He is a member of the Washington State Bar creditor/debtor section and the US Bankruptcy Court local rules committee. He is rated as AV-preeminent by Martindale Hubbell. Since 2012 he has been selected annually by his peers as a bankruptcy “SuperLawyer.” He speaks regularly at professional seminars, often on the role and responsibilities of debtor’s counsel in Chapter 7 cases. Alan has also volunteered his services with the King County Bar Association’s Debt Clinic for over 20 years.
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