Topic: Ponzi Schemes
With over 41 years of legal experience, Chad P. Pugatch has made his mark in the legal community by being recognized as one of the leading attorneys in South Florida in the areas of bankruptcy and reorganization.
In 2002, Pugatch merged his firm, Pugatch & Associates, P.A. with Rice Robinson & Schiller to create Rice Pugatch Robinson & Schiller, P.A. The merger created a sophisticated midsized firm capable of handling a range of complex insolvency matters and related litigation.
Before joining Rice Pugatch Robinson & Schiller, P.A., Pugatch practiced with several Ft. Lauderdale firms, focusing on commercial litigation, bankruptcy and insolvency law. In 1987, he founded his own practice, Pugatch & Associates, P.A. in Ft. Lauderdale.
Pugatch has extensive experience in State and Federal courts, having represented debtors, trustees, committees, and creditors among many others. Notable cases over the years have included his representation of the bankruptcy trustees in the International Gold Bullion Exchange and First Fidelity Mortgage Fraud cases; the Chapter 11 reorganization of Commodore Cruise Lines and more recently his representation of the creditors’ committees in Green Isle Partners resulting in a one hundred percent distribution to the unsecured creditors in the reorganization of the San Juan Ritz Carlton Hotel. More recently he achieved confirmation in the reorganization of a large operating Chapter 11 case involving the multi state operations of Carpenter Contractors of America, Inc. He is licensed by the Florida Bar and maintains affiliations with the American Bar Association, the Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida, where he was a former director, and the American Bankruptcy Institute. Mr. Pugatch is also actively involved in the community as a member of Rotary International.
Originally a New Jersey native, Pugatch moved to South Florida in 1971 when he transferred from Syracuse University to the University of Miami. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973, he attended the University of Florida Levin College of Law where he graduated with honors in 1976 and currently returns annually as a guest lecturer on Chapter 11 issues.
Professional Licenses & Associations:
- Broward County and American Bar Association
- The Florida Bar
- The Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida (former Director)
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- United States District Courts, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
- 5th and 11th Circuit Courts of Appeal
Law Review Publication:
University of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy
Volume 19 April 2008 Number 1
The Lost Art of Chapter 11 Reorganization