Overturning Adverse Bankruptcy Decisions: Bankruptcy Appellate Rules, Flexible Finality, Mootness and Jurisdiction

Mr. Miller is a member of the firm's Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice, where he handles corporate bankruptcy and restructuring matters for debtors (including under Subchapter V) and trustees. His representations also include official committees of unsecured creditors, asset purchasers, vendors and landlords. Clients in industries including blockchain/cryptocurrency, technology, insurance, restaurants, retail, health care and aviation look to Mr. Miller to counsel them regarding corporate restructurings, both in and out of court. His work with cryptocurrency/blockchain matters includes advice on the treatment of digital assets in bankruptcy, including Bitcoin and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Mr. Smelko brings more than thirty-five years of experience to his representation of clients in litigation, with an emphasis on business bankruptcy, restructuring and corporate governance disputes. He has successfully litigated all aspects of bankruptcy matters from both the creditor’s and debtor’s perspective. Mr. Smelko's practice also involves advising banks, credit unions and other financial institutions on a variety of bankruptcy related matters, including plan confirmation objections, asset disposition and use motions, stay relief litigation, lease disputes and the prosecution and defense of discharge objections and nondischargeability complaints. He has successfully argued a number of appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and California's Fourth District Court of Appeal. Mr. Smelko teaches Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Procedure and Workouts, Collections & Foreclosures at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law while also coaching Thomas Jefferson's Bankruptcy Law Moot Court and Negotiation Teams.