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J. Scott Bovitz (bovitz@bovitz-spitzer.com) is a bankruptcy lawyer in Los Angeles, California.
J. Scott Bovitz

Certifications, AV rating, and Super Lawyer selection

Certified Specialist -- Bankruptcy Law -- California Board of Legal Specialization (1994-present)

Board Certified -- Business Bankruptcy Law -- American Board of Certification (1993-present)

Rated "AV" (top rating) -- Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory (1991-present)

Joint selection by Los Angeles Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine as a Southern California "Super Lawyer" (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008-- presented to top 5% of local attorneys)

Adjunct professor of law

Adjunct Professor of Law, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (taught courses in bankruptcy law, debtor-creditor law, and the Uniform Commercial Code, 1982-1987)

Publications

Would you like to order Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice in California?

Executive editor of two-volume book, "Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice in California" (CEB Continuing Education of the Bar, 2003; updated spring 2004, spring 2005, fall 2005, fall 2006, fall 2007)

Chapter updates editor (11 U.S.C. § 109), Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice (2008-present)

Columnist on technology, California Legal Specialization Digest, "Technical Notes from bovitz.com" (2000-present)

Columnist, California Legal Specialization Digest, "View from the Chair" (2005-2006)

Co-author, with Hon. Elihu M. Berle, Los Angeles Superior Court, "Impact of Bankruptcy on State Court Litigation" for California Superior Courts (2005, 2007)

Co-author, with Hon. Elihu M. Berle, Los Angeles Superior Court, "Bankruptcy Primer for California Judges" for California Superior Courts (2004)

Co-author, with Hon. Elihu M. Berle, Los Angeles Superior Court, "Automatic Stay Primer" for California Education Division/Center for Judicial Education and Research of the Administrative Office of the Courts (2004)

Author, "Valuation Issues in Fraudulent Transfer Litigation," Sanli Pastore & Hill newsletter (2004)

Author, "Perspectives and Tools of the United States Bankruptcy Trustee," Shore to Shore magazine (Winter 2000)

Co-author, "The Central District Bankruptcy Court Goes Online," Los Angeles Lawyer (2000)

Bankruptcy mediator

Mediator, Bankruptcy Mediation Program, United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California (1995-present; tied for most frequently selected mediator, Los Angeles Division, 1999-2000 term)

Professional matters

Speaker, American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants, "Asset Protection Meets Bankruptcy Law and Bankruptcy Courts" (scheduled 2009)

Speaker, Federal Bar Association, "Discovery Ethics" (scheduled 2008)

Speaker, South Bay Estate Planning Council, "How to Live Up to Client Confidentiality Responsibilities" (2008)

Speaker, Beverly Hills Bar Association, "Hot Topics in Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice" (2008)

Speaker, Financial Lawyers Conference, "Evidentiary Potpourri -- Finding and Getting your Documents into Evidence" (2008)

Speaker, California State Bar Convention, "Protecting the Clients' Interests, the Survivors’ Interests, and Attorney's Interests after an Attorney's Disability, Retirement or Death" (2008)

Speaker, California State Bar Convention, Board of Legal Specialization, "Foreclosures and Bankruptcy" (2008)

Speaker, Sacramento County Bar Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section, "Getting Your Facts into Evidence in Bankruptcy Court" (2008)

Speaker, California Bankruptcy Forum, "Consumer Bankruptcy Developments" (2008)

Speaker, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Specialization, Annual National Roundtable on Lawyer Specialty Certification, "Developing New Certified Legal Specialties" (2008)

Speaker, Los Angeles Paralegal Association, "Understanding the 2005 Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code and Current Bankruptcy Developments" (2008)

Speaker, Federal Bar Association, "Appellate Ethics and Frivolous Appeals" (2007)

Speaker, Beverly Hills Bar Association, "Critical Developments of 2007 in Consumer and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice -- Views from the United States Trustee and the Trenches" (2007)

Speaker, Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum "Optimal Strategies to Defend and Insulate Preferential Transfers from Avoidance" (2007)

Speaker, International Forum on Asset Protection Planning, "Bankruptcy and Asset Protection" (2007)

Speaker, International Forum on Asset Protection Planning, "Ethical, Civil, and Criminal Issues for the Asset Protection Planner" (2007)

Speaker, Central California Bankruptcy Association Institute, "Practical, Ethical and Uncomfortable Aspects of Asset Protection and Pre-Bankruptcy Planning after BAPCPA" (2007)

Speaker, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Specialization, Annual National Roundtable on Lawyer Specialty Certification, "Lawyer Advertising, Attorney Marketing, and Beyond the Super Lawyer" (2007)

Speaker, Los Angeles County Bar Association, "Representing Trade Creditors Under the New Bankruptcy Reform Act" (2007)

Speaker, Sacramento County Bar Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section, "Practical, Ethical, and Uncomfortable Aspects of Asset Protection and Pre-Bankruptcy Planning after BAPCPA" (2007)

Speaker, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, "Traps for the Unwary: To File or Not to File a Proof of Claim; Litigating Objections to Claims and Estate Causes of Action; Abstention, Removal and Remand; Withdrawal of the Reference; Waiver" (2006)

Speaker, Beverly Hills Bar Association, "The First Year under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act" (2006)

Speaker, Rochdale Offshore Investment Management seminar, "Asset Protection Planning and Fraudulent Transfer Issues" (2006)

Speaker, Federal Bar Association, Bankruptcy Ethics Symposium, "The New Ethics of Prepetition Bankruptcy Planning" (2006)

Speaker, South Bay Estate Planning Council, "What Every Estate Planner Needs to Know about the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005" (2006)

Speaker, Loyola Law School (Bankruptcy Law Seminar), "Automatic Stay" (2006)

Speaker, Sacramento County Bar, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section, "Avoiding Powers Update (Preferences, Fraudulent Transfers, and More)" (2005)

Moderator and panelist on California tour, CEB Continuing Education of the Bar, "Bankruptcy Reform: Changing the Grounds Rules for Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Practice" addressing changes under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (2005)

Speaker, Federal Bar Association, Bankruptcy Law Section, "Ethical Issues arising in Electronic Discovery" (2005)

Panelist, Beverly Hills Bar Association, "The October 17, 2005 Consumer Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code: Chance, Community Chest, Park Place or Debtors' Prison?" (2005)

Member, Blue Ribbon Panel, Los Angeles Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine (Panel assisted in selection of 2006 "Southern California Super Lawyers" in field of bankruptcy)

Speaker, Insolvency Law Committee, Business Law Section, State Bar of California, "Board Certification and Legal Specialization" (2005)

Speaker, Los Angeles County Bar Association (Family Law Section) and Los Angeles Superior Court, 37th Annual Family Law Symposium, "Significant Crossover Issues: Bankruptcy and Family Law" (2005)

Speaker, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, "Catch Me If You Can: Understanding, Prosecuting and Defending Fraudulent Transfers" (2005)

Speaker, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Specialization, Annual National Roundtable on Lawyer Specialty Certification, "Publicity for Legal Specialization Programs" (2005)

Speaker, American Bankruptcy Institute, Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, "Business Reorganization under Chapter 13" (2004)

Speaker, Joint Presentation of the Office of United States Trustee and Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, "Basics of Litigating Claims under 11 U.S.C. § 727" (2004)

Speaker, Fulbright & Jaworski, "Ten Things Every Lawyer Should Know About Bankruptcy" (2004)

Speaker, Chapman University School of Law (Advanced Bankruptcy Law Seminar), "Chapter 11 Confirmation Standards" (2004)

Speaker, Selman Breitman, "Recent Developments in Nondischargeability Litigation" (2004)

Speaker, Commercial Law League of America, Western Region Meeting, "Hot and Emerging Commercial and Bankruptcy Topics" (2004)

Speaker, Sacramento County Bar, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section, "Recent Developments under 11 U.S.C. § 523" (2003)

Speaker, Central California Bankruptcy Forum Institute, "Nondischargeability Update" (2003)

Speaker, Joint Presentation of the Office of United States Trustee and Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, "Basics of Litigating Nondischargeability Claims" (2003)

Panelist, Lorman Education Services, "Bankruptcy in California" (2003)

Speaker, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Specialization, Annual National Roundtable on Lawyer Specialty Certification, "Video, Billboards, and Courthouse Graffiti" (2003)

Instructor, McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, LLP, "Bankruptcy Law in One Day" (2002)

Panelist, PESI California program, “Asset Protection and Family Security Planning through Going Offshore” (San Francisco and Los Angeles, 2002)

Panelist, PESI Sixth Annual Conference on Offshore Practice & Procedure, "Impact of U.S. Bankruptcy Laws on Offshore Planning" (2001)

Panelist, CEB Continuing Education of the Bar program, "The 21st Century Law Office: Running A Successful Law Practice in the New Economy" (Los Angeles, Garden Grove and San Diego, 2001)

Lecturer, Los Angeles County Superior Court, "Bankruptcy Primer for California Judges" (2000)

Panelist, PESI Fifth Annual Conference on Offshore Practice and Procedure, "Principles of Bankruptcy in Domestic and International Settings for the International and Offshore Practitioner" (2000)

Panelist, PESI Advanced Seminar on Integrated Estate Planning and Asset Protection, "Attorney-Client Privilege" (2000)

Panelist, Beverly Hills Bar Association, "Becoming a Certified Legal Specialist" (2000)

Moderator, Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, "Integrated Estate Planning and Asset Protection for Bankruptcy Lawyers: What Asset Protection Is and What Asset Protection Is Not" (2000)

Speaker, Central California Bankruptcy Association Institute, "It's Amazing! Internet Resources for the Bankruptcy Practitioner" (2000)

Virtual panelist, PricewaterhouseCoopers 1999 Women Litigators Conference, "Law, Technology & Change" (1999)

Panelist, PESI Fourth Annual Conference on Offshore Practice and Procedure, "The Bankruptcy Trustee's Perspective on Going Offshore and Enforceability/Recognition of Choice of Law Elections" (1999)

Panelist (cameo role), Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, "Bias in Bankruptcy Court" (1999)

Panelist, American Lawyer Media, "Doing Business on the Web: Identifying Legal Issues and Avoiding Liability" (1999)

Panelist, Association of Insolvency Accountants, 15th Annual Bankruptcy and Reorganization Conference, "Internet Resources: Treasure Troves and Minefields" (1999)

Panelist, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, Spring Education Seminar, "Internet Tools for Bankruptcy Trustees and the NABT Web Page" (1999)

Panelist, Financial Lawyers Conference, "The Internet is Your Friend: How to Use the Internet in Your Commercial and Bankruptcy Practice" (1998)

Panelist, Joint Program of the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum and Orange County Bar Association -- Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section, "New Local Bankruptcy Rules" (1998)

Panelist, Education Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California, 20th Annual Spring Program: "Technology and the Practice of Law: How Going Online Can Improve Your Productivity" (1998 in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego)

Panelist and co-author of mock trial script, California Bankruptcy Forum, "Bankruptcy Litigation Skills" (1998)

Panelist, Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, "The Electronic Bankruptcy Professional" (1997)

Panelist and Committee Member, Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum State Court Judges Committee, "Impact of Bankruptcy on State Court Actions" (1996)

Speaker, Harrington, Foxx, Dubrow & Canter, "What Every Litigator Needs To Know About Bankruptcy" (1996)

Speaker, Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, "What Every Lawyer Needs To Know About Bankruptcy" (1996)

Panelist, Mainsail Financial Group, "Advanced Estate Planning With An Emphasis On Asset Protection Planning" (1996)

Panelist, Orange County Bankruptcy Forum Special Projects Committee, "Workshop On Trial Strategy And Techniques" (1995)

Speaker, Professional Education Seminar at law firm of Demetriou, Del Guercio, Springer & Moyer, "The Intersection Of Environmental and Bankruptcy Law" (1995)

Speaker, Credit Managers Association of California -- Print Group, "The 1994 Amendments To The Bankruptcy Code" (1995)

Panelist, California State Bar Convention, "Bankruptcy Litigation Skills" (1994)

Speaker, Pasadena Organization of Certified Public Accountants, "What Every Accountant Should Know About Bankruptcy" (1994)

Panelist, American Bankruptcy Institute -- Second Annual Bankruptcy Battleground West, "Alternative Dispute Resolution in Bankruptcy" (1994)

Speaker, Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, "Get Yourself Ready to be a Bar Certified Bankruptcy Specialist" (1993)

Panelist, American Bankruptcy Institute -- First Annual Bankruptcy Battleground West, "Latest Weapons for the Battlefield: Current Developments" (1993)

Speaker, National Business Institute, "Treatment of Secured Claims in Bankruptcy in California" (1993)

Moderator and Speaker, California State Bar Convention, "Recent Developments in Bankruptcy Law" (1984, 1986-1989, and 1991-1992)

Speaker, Bankers' Compliance Group Seminar, "Loan Workouts and Collections" (1992)

Speaker, BEST Seminar, "Real Estate in Bankruptcy" (1992)

Speaker, Braverman, Codron & Co., "What Every Accountant Should Know About Bankruptcy" (1992)

Speaker, McClintock, Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava & MacCuish, "The Conflict Between Environmental and Bankruptcy Laws" (1992)

Speaker, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, Bankruptcy Litigation Subcommittee Meeting, "Current Issues in Bankruptcy Litigation from the Ninth Circuit Perspective" (1991)

Panelist, Infocast, "Bankruptcy Cases and Lending Institutions" (1991)

Panelist, Infocast, "Chapter 11" (1991)

Speaker, Coopers & Lybrand, Business Investigation Services Meeting, "Protecting Professional Fees from Recovery by the Bankruptcy Trustee" (1991)

Speaker, Poms, Smith, Lande & Rose, "The Impact of Bankruptcy on Licensors and Licensees of Intellectual Property" (1991)

Panelist, Infocast, "Lender Liability" (1990)

Speaker, South Bay Bar Association, "Chapter 7" (1984)

Writer and moderator of cable television talk show, "Lex Loci: The Law of the Land" (1982-1983, Melanie Savage, producer)

Media

Occasional guest, Bob McCormick, "Money 101" (KNX, 1070 AM, Los Angeles) (2008)

Director, videographer and editor of Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum film for Hon. Arthur M. Greenwald retirement dinner (2005)

Extensively quoted by business and finance reporter Kathy Kristof in the Los Angeles Times regarding impact of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (August 29, 2005)

Interview with J. Scott Bovitz, "Case n' Point Newsletter" (CEB, 2003)

Director, videographer and editor of Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum film for Hon. Geraldine Mund, "The Passing of the Gavel" (2003)

Guest, National Public Radio (affiliate KALW, 91.7 FM, San Francisco), "Your Legal Rights" talk show with Chuck Finney (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)

Extensively quoted by business and finance reporter Liz Pulliam Weston in the Los Angeles Times regarding proposed changes to bankruptcy law (June 9, 2000)

Quoted in the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the Recorder, the Los Angeles Business Journal, the New York Times, the Seattle Times, the Charlotte Observer, the Dow Jones Daily Bankruptcy Review, Business Week, legalweek.com, law360.com, and abajournal.com (ABA Journal -- Legal News Now publication)

Legal organizations

Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum: Secretary (1997-1998);  Program Chair (1998-1999); Vice-President (1999-2000); President (2000-2001); Director (1994-2001); ex officio Director (2001-present); Webmaster of http://labankruptcyforum.org (1998-present); Webmaster, http://bankruptcydog.com (2007-2008)

California Bankruptcy Forum: Director (1998-2001); Conference Education co-Chair (2001); Conference co-Chair (2004); CBF director from Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum (2008-2009)

State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization: Commissioner (2001-2004); Chair, Publicity/Public Awareness subcommittee (2001-2004); Chair, Rules subcommittee (2004-2005); Vice-Chair (2004-2005); Chair (2005-2006); Member, California State Bar Affinity Administrator Evaluation Working Group (2006); Advisor (2006-2007); Council of Past Chairs (2007-2009)

Personal and Small Business Bankruptcy Law Advisory Commission: Commissioner (1997-2001); Vice-Chair (1999-2000); and Chair (2000-2001)

Financial Lawyers Conference: Board of Governors (2003-2006); recording engineer for selected dinner programs (2006)

CEB Continuing Education of the Bar: Member, CEB Business and Intellectual Property Law Advisory Committee (2004-2008)

Los Angeles County Bar Association, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section: Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Proposed Official Revisions to Local Bankruptcy Rules (1997-1998)

Central District of California Bankruptcy Bench/Bar Judicial Variance Committee: Member (1994-1997)

Los Angeles County Bar Association: Commercial and Bankruptcy Law Section

American Bankruptcy Institute

World Wide Web

Speaker, Central California Bankruptcy Association, "Bankruptcy Law Firm Web Sites" (2001) 

Speaker, Legal Tech 2001, "Web Sites for Solos and Small Firms" (2001)

Speaker, American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Specialization, National Roundtable on Lawyer Specialty Certification, "Using the Web to Market and Add Value to Your Legal Specialization Program" (2001)

Instructor, UCLA Extension, "Legal, Ethical and Design Aspects of Law Firm Web Sites" (2000)

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, College of the Extended University: "Webmaster Certificate, Web Design Specialist" (1999)

Speaker, PricewaterhouseCoopers FAS meeting, "Internet Resources for Professionals" (1999)

State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization: Chair, Internet Committee (1999-2001); co-webmaster of http://californiaspecialist.org  (1999-2004)

Author, Los Angeles County Bar Association Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section Newsletter, "Technical Notes for Bankruptcy Lawyers" (1997)

Webmaster of http://bovitz.com (photography and music portal), http://bovitz-spitzer.com (law firm site), http://n6mi.com (ham radio site), http://labankruptcyforum.org (Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum site), and http://bankruptcydog.com (Los Angeles bankruptcy calendar site).

Start-up consultant on http://financiallawyers.org (Financial Lawyers Conference site) (2000)

Ham radio

Transmitter hunting activities profiled, Los Angeles Times, Outdoor Section (March 30, 2004)

Volunteer Counsel (pro bono work), American Radio Relay League (1981-present)

Amateur Radio Extra Class license, N6MI (1969-present)

Member, United States National Radiosports Team, International Friendship Amateur Radio Games (silver team and personal bronze medals 1991, 1993)

Speaker on radio direction tracking (transmitter hunting), ham radio contests, audio, photography, and other amateur radio topics at:

South Bay Amateur Radio Club (2006)
Pasadena Amateur Radio Club (2005)
Amateur Radio Relay League-Southwest Division Convention (1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2007)
Fullerton Radio Club (1992, 1994 [banquet speaker], 2000)
TRW Amateur Radio Club (1996, 1998, 1999)
Southern California DX Club (1998)
Riverside County Amateur Radio Association (1998)
Pasadena Amateur Radio Club (1997, 1998)
Downey Amateur Radio Club (1997)
Edgewood Amateur Radio Society (1997)
Annual VHF/UHF Conferences (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 , 1994 , 1995, 1996)
Antelope Valley Amateur Radio Club (1992, 1995)
Anaheim Amateur Radio Association (1995)
Western Amateur Radio Association (1995)
Cal Tech Amateur Radio Club (1995)
Beach Cities Wireless Society (1995)
San Fernando Valley Radio Club (1994 [banquet speaker])
Moreno Valley Radio Club (1994)
Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach (1994)
San Gabriel Valley Radio Club (1991, 1994)
Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (1993)
Orange County Amateur Radio Club (1993)
Amateur Radio Relay League-National Convention (1992)
Amateur Radio Relay League-Northwest Division Convention (1991)
Victor Valley Radio Association (1990)

Education

University of California, Santa Barbara (double major in economics and political science; Bachelor of Arts, 1977, with High Honors)

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (received American Jurisprudence and Hon. Benno M. Brink Memorial awards in bankruptcy; staff member, International and Comparative Law Annual; Juris Doctor, 1980)

University of San Diego (Diploma in Taxation, 1983)

Admissions

California, 1980
All California federal district courts, 1981
United States Tax Court, 1981
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1986

"Qui omne dicit nihil excludit"

J. Scott Bovitz has written, performed, recorded, mixed, mastered, and posted 232 songs on http://bovitz.biz. You can view hundreds of Bovitz' photographs on http://bovitz.com. You can see Bovitz' photos on: the CD jacket for "Sunsets and Silhouettes" (Planting Seeds Records, 2005); the book cover for "Protrepticul" by Aristotle (Humanitas, Bucharest, 2005); publications; and web sites. Framed photographs and photo products are available at http://bovitzstudios.com.

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