Partner
412.391.8510
rroteman@stonecipherlaw.com
VCard

University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1992

University of Pittsburgh, Katz Graduate School of Business, M.B.A., 1989

Penn State University, B.A. 1984

For my entire career as a lawyer, I have concentrated my practice in the areas of debtors’ and creditors’ rights (emphasizing both business and individual financial restructuring matters), and general corporate matters. I am board-certified in both Business Bankruptcy and Consumer Bankruptcy, listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2008, and have been named as a top-50 bankruptcy lawyer in Pittsburgh in 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2018. My practice includes the representation of both debtors and creditors, including privately-held businesses and their principals, as well as individual consumers, in all facets of insolvency matters whether in
Chapters 7, 11, 12, or 13 bankruptcy cases or out-of-court workouts, as well as any attendant litigation and transactional matters. These engagements range in complexity from the most complicated, and often delicate business reorganizations, debt restructurings, and shareholder disputes, to the more focused and streamlined, yet equally important, consumer workout. Businesses and individuals also rely upon my counsel in numerous other commercial situations, including business acquisitions, formation, transactions and dispute resolution, collections, mechanic’s liens, and a variety of other general business situations. I have represented clients in bankruptcy-related matters pending in courts throughout Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New York and Delaware, and maintain ongoing business clients in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Florida.

My client representations have included contractors, sub-contractors, professional athletes, executives, commercial and residential landlords, financial institutions, real estate developers, licensed professionals, food service suppliers and restaurants, and many others.

SEE ME FOR:

  • Day-to-day business contractual work
  • Buying and selling entire businesses or specific assets of those businesses
  • Negotiating financing arrangements with banks and other lenders
  • Representing family-owned and closely held businesses
  • Loan default workout and restructuring
  • Receiverships
  • Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Cases
  • Business reorganizations, 363 sales, and liquidations
  • Commercial contract disputes
  • Preference lawsuits
  • Fraudulent conveyance lawsuits
  • Adversary proceedings, including determining priority, extent and validity of claims, and discharge objections
  • Claim objections
  • Plan objections
  • Bankruptcy mediation and appeals
  • Shareholder disputes and business litigation

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST:

  • Partner, Mid-size regional firm, September 1994 through December 2008
  • Clerkship with the Honorable L. Edward Friend, II, Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, August 1992-August 1994
  • Pennsylvania State Courts
  • West Virginia State Courts
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Courts, Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals, Third and Fourth Circuits
  • American Board of Certification – Certified Business Bankruptcy Specialist, since 2006
  • American Board of Certification – Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist, since 2006
  • Certified Public Accountant, licensure currently inactive
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2010
  • Top 50 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2018.
  • Woodward White, The Best Lawyers in America – Bankruptcy and Creditor – Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law, since 2008
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV peer-review rated
  • Current member and immediate Past Chair of the board of the Turnaround Management Association, Pittsburgh Chapter (other roles included treasurer, VP – pr and publicity,)
  • Member of the Ethics Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association
  • Past Chair of the Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section Council of the Allegheny County Bar Association (other roles included, vice chair, treasurer, and secretary)
  • American Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Allegheny County Bar Association
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Mediation Panel for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
  • Mediation Panel for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
  • Volunteer – Neighborhood Legal Services Pro Bono Bankruptcy Law Clinic
  • Throughout my career, I have spoken on numerous occasions at one or more of the (i) Allegheny County Bar Association Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section’s Annual Bankruptcy Symposium; (ii) Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Annual Bankruptcy Institute; (iii) programs sponsored by the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Tax Section; (iv) West Virginia Bar Association Annual Mountaineer CLE Series on Bankruptcy Law; and (v) Pittsburgh Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association.
  • Past member of the board of directors of Southwinds, Inc., a charitable nonprofit organization serving adults with developmental challenges
  • Member of the bylaws committee of the Temple Emanuel of the South Hills