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Specializing in insolvency and complex commercial matters since 1974

Attorneys

Photo
Position
Founder, Of Counsel
Education

Colgate University, B.A. 1951

  • University of Wisconsin College of Law, LL.B., 1957 with high honors
  • Member of the Editorial Board of the University of Wisconsin Law Review
  • Order of the Coif
Bar Admissions
  • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • The Florida Bar (all state courts)
  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
News

Photo
Position
Founder, Of Counsel
Education

Colgate University, B.A. 1951

  • University of Wisconsin College of Law, LL.B., 1957 with high honors
  • Member of the Editorial Board of the University of Wisconsin Law Review
  • Order of the Coif
Bar Admissions
  • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • The Florida Bar (all state courts)
  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
News

Attorney Name
Don M. Stichter
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Biography

Don M. Stichter is the founder of the firm and served as its Managing or Co-Managing Shareholder for over forty-one years and now serves in an Of Counsel capacity.  Prior to specializing in insolvency law, Mr. Stichter had significant experience in representing parties in non-bankruptcy matters in federal and state courts, first with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa and then in private practice. Mr. Stichter represented the debtors in possession in the Hillsborough Holdings (Jim Walter Homes) cases, among the largest Chapter 11 cases ever filed in the State of Florida and involving more than $3 billion in assets and liabilities.

"a masterful job" 

- Chambers USA (2017)
Honors and Distinctions
  • First recipient, Douglas P. McClurg Professionalism Award, presented by the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association in May 2004 for outstanding effectiveness in the presentation of matters to the Bankruptcy Court, thorough preparation, civility and courtesy, ethical conduct, and professionalism at the highest level
  • One of the first three Florida lawyers or judges selected as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy (inducted 1990)
  • Named Outstanding Lawyer in Hillsborough County by the Hillsborough County Bar Association (2001)
  • Listed in the 1989-90 and all subsequent editions of the "Best Lawyers in America," in the area of Bankruptcy and Business Reorganization
  • Listed all editions of "Chambers & Partners", "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" in the area of Insolvency Practice in Florida (2003 to date)
  • Repeatedly listed "Florida Trend's" “Florida Legal Elite”
  • Listed as a Florida “Super Lawyer” in the area of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Practice in all editions of "Florida Super Lawyers” (inception to date). Also listed as one of the top 100 lawyers in the State of Florida in all practice areas (2008 & 2009)
  • Listed, Tampa Bay's Best Lawyers
  • Listed, “Who's Who Legal U.S.A. – Insolvency” (one of only six Tampa-based lawyers, including Harley Riedel and Russ Blain, listed)
  • Listed, Outstanding Insolvency and Restructuring lawyer, by "Expert Guides" (one of only three Tampa based lawyers, including Harley Riedel, listed)
  • Rated “AV” in Martindale-Hubbell for more than 30 years
  • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Recipient, Florida Bar award for Local Outstanding Bar President (1973)
  • Prior to entering private practice, served with the United States Department of Justice in the Antitrust Division in Washington, DC and as an Assistant United States Attorney in Tampa
Memberships and Community Involvement
  • Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (founder, past director, President and Chairman)
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association (President 1972-73)
  • American Bar Association
  • Chairman of the Thirteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Committee
  • Chairman of the Hillsborough County Law Library Board
  • Member of Bay Area Legal Services, Development Committee, Chairman of the Planned Giving Committee
Government Service
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Publications and Speaking Engagements

Mr. Stichter has co-authored publications on bankruptcy law for The Florida Bar and has spoken on bankruptcy law topics at seminars and programs sponsored by The Florida Bar and other legal and business groups.

Representation

Mr. Stichter has headed up the firm's representation in numerous cases, including:

  • Hillsborough Holdings
  • Anthony Distributors
  • Anthony Distributing Company
  • Silk Greenhouse
  • Frank Morsani
  • Uiterwyk
  • Gulf Tampa Drydock
  • Irwin Yacht
  • The Shell Factory
  • Sunstate Dairy
  • Trident Shipworks
  • Electric Machinery Enterprises
Mediation
Reported Decisions

Mr. Stichter has served as lead counsel in numerous reported decisions.

  • In re Winn-Dixie, Inc., 286 F. Appx. 619 (11th Cir. 2008)
  • United States v. Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 116 F.3d 1391
  • In re Hillsborough Holdings, Inc., 176 B.R. 223 (M.D. Fla. 1994)
  • Hillsborough Holdings Corp. v. Celotex Corp., 123 B.R. 1018 (M.D. Fla. 1990)
  • In re Celotex Corp., 380 B.R. 893 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2009)
  • In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 295 B.R. 679 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2003)
  • In re Venice-Oxford Associates, Ltd. Partnership, 236 B.R. 805
  • In re W.G. Wade Shows, Inc., 218 B.R. 625 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1998)
  • In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 218 B.R. 617 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1991)
  • Walter Industries, Inc. v. Celotex Corp., 203 B.R. 1000 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1996)
  • In re Jim Walter Resources, Inc., 190 B.R. 676 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1995)
  • In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 187 B.R. 763 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1995)
  • In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 179 B.R. 728 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1995)
  • In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 166 B.R. 461 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1994)
  • In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 144 B.R. 920 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1992)
  • In re Jim Walter Resources, 126 B.R. 895 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1991)
  • In re One Fourth Street North, Ltd., 103 B.R. 320 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1989)
  • In re N.R.G. Investments, Inc., 99 B.R. 475 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1989)
  • In re Mickler, 50 B.R. 818 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1985)
  • Matter of R.S. Pinellas Motel Partnership, 2 B.R. 113 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1979)