Attorney Russell M. Blain

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Russell M. Blain

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FAX 813-229-1811

Since joining Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Postler P.A. as a shareholder in 1985, Mr. Blain has led the firm’s representation of clients in numerous large Chapter 11 cases. His practice, which involves out-of-court workouts and consultation with and advice to clients, as well as litigation in bankruptcy courts, is statewide, and he has served as lead counsel in the representation of debtors in possession in the largest cases ever filed in the Northern District of Florida. He is the immediate past chair of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar and is a past president of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association.

Mr. Blain is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He is recognized by Super Lawyers magazine as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the State of Florida. He is also listed in the bankruptcy and insolvency category by “Best Lawyers in America,” by Chambers & Partners “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business,” by Florida Trend magazine’s “Florida Legal Elite,” and by “Who’s Who – Legal.” He has spoken on bankruptcy topics for The Florida Bar and various other seminar sponsors.

Mr. Blain was born in Tampa, Florida, and was educated at Vanderbilt University, where he received his B.A. magna cum laude in 1974, and at the University of Florida, where he received his J.D. in 1977. He served as Senior Executive Editor of the University of Florida Law Review, and his law review note was selected for publication and received the Gertrude Brick Law Apprentice Award. He is a member of Phi Delta Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa. Mr. Blain was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1977.

EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Arts, 1974, Vanderbilt University (magna cum laude)
- Juris Doctor 1977, University of Florida College of Law
- Senior Executive Editor of the University of Florida Law Review
BAR ADMISSIONS
- The Florida Bar (all state courts)
- United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
- United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
- Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS
- Recipient, Douglas P. McClurg Professionalism Award, presented by the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association in May 2018
- Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America, 2006-2021
- Listed, Tampa Bay’s Best Lawyers, 2006-2021
- Listed, Florida’s Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine
- Listed, Chambers & Partners, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” in the area of Insolvency Practice in Florida, 2004-2021
- Listed, Florida Super Lawyers (Top 100 Lawyers), 2006-2021
- Listed, Who’s Who – Legal
- Rated “AV” (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Recipient, Gertrude Brick Award presented by the University of Florida Law Review, for the best Law Review case comment
MEMBERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Florida Bar/Business Law Section (Chair 2008-09)
  - Florida Bar/Business Law Section (Secretary/Treasurer 2006-07
  - Member, Executive Council (1997 – present)
  - Vice Chair, Publications (1997)
  - Vice Chair, Bankruptcy-UCC Committee (2001)
  - Vice Chair, Legislative Committee (2003)
  - Chair, Bankruptcy Practice and Procedure Seminar (January 1997)
  - Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee (1998)
  - Chair, Bankruptcy/UCC Committee (2002)
  - Chair, Legislative Committee (2005)
- Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association
  - Continuing Legal Education/Programs Committee (1998-2002); Chair (2001-2002)
  - Member, Board of Directors (1995 – 2001)
  - Secretary (1997-1998)
  - President (1999 – 2000)
  - Chair (2000-2001)
- ABA section on Corporation, Banking and Business Law
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Commercial Law League of America
- Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida Mediation Committee
- Ferguson White Inn, American Inns of Court – Treasurer (1995 – present)
- Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Fraternity
- Member, Faculty and Steering Committee, Initial Seminar in Florida on the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (“BAPCPA”) held in Tampa in June 2005 and Miami in August 2005, co-sponsored by the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar and Stetson University College of Law
- Faculty of the Fifth Annual International Bankruptcy Symposium held in Freiburg, German, in June 2005
- Alumni Council, University of Florida College of Law (1994-present)
- Board of Counselors, University of Tampa (1985 – present)
- Board of Fellows, University of Tampa (2001 – present)
- Board of Trustees, Hillsborough County Bar Foundation (2005-present)
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Lecturer, Thirty-ninth annual Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute in Atlanta on the topics “Single Asset Real Estate Cases” and “Individual Chapter 11 Cases” (March 21-23, 2013)
- The Florida Bar Business Law Section, ” Handling the Über Case in Bankruptcy Court: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Instead Came To Love Organized Chaos” (September 2012)
- Lecturer, University of Florida College of Law, course in Advanced Bankruptcy Law and Practice (2005-2009)
- Faculty Member and Steering Committee Member for the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar and Stetson University College of Law initial seminars on the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 held in Tampa in June 2005 and Miami in August 2005. At the Tampa program, Mr. Blain moderated the panel on business bankruptcy and Chapter 11 issues under BAPCPA.
- Faculty Member, Fifth Annual International Bankruptcy Symposium held in Freiburg, Germany, in June 2005. The faculty comprised lawyers, judges, trustees, and insolvency managers from Germany and the United States. At the symposium, Mr. Blain presented a paper and spoke on the topic of court-to-court communications in insolvency cases, focusing on the Parmalat case as a case study.
- Guest Lecturer, Advanced Bankruptcy Course, Stetson University College of Law (2008-2009)
PUBLICATIONS
- Published, “Lien Rights and Construction Lending: Responsibilities and Liabilities in Florida,” 29 U. Fla. L. Rev. 411 (1977)
REPRESENTATION
Mr. Blain has served as lead or co-counsel for numerous debtors in complicated and successful Chapter 11 cases. Some of these are listed below:
- In re Barret Home Corp. f/k/a Arthur Rutenburg Corp. (one of Florida’s largest home builders and developers during the 1980s; total debts in excess of $40 million; debtor spun off homebuilding entities to non-filing subsidiaries prior to filing to avoid disruption in completion of residential construction contracts; plan of reorganization confirmed)
- In re Centurion Health of Carrollwood, Inc. (hospital facility; Chapter 11 plan confirmed)
- In re CHC Industries, Inc. (the largest manufacturer of hangers in the United States; liquidating plan was confirmed which paid creditors in full with interest)
- In re College Harbor, Inc. (adult congregate living facility; plan of reorganization confirmed)