Ross J. Switkes
Sherman, Silverstein, Kohl, Rose & Podolsky, P.A.
Ross J. Switkes
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania & District of Columbia
Ross Switkes is a shareholder in the Firm’s Bankruptcy & Restructuring group.
Ross focuses his practice on bankruptcy, debtor/creditor rights, corporate restructuring, and commercial litigation. He has significant experience appearing in federal and state courts on behalf of a variety of clients, including, chapter 7, 11, and 12 trustees, debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, committees, purchasers of assets and stalking horse bidders, officers and directors, non-debtor spouses, landlords, defendants in avoidance actions, insurance companies, distressed companies, and municipalities.
Ross has served as counsel to major constituents in several recent prominent chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, including representing the Official Committee of Tort Claimants in Rite Aid Corporation, et. al., the Official Committee of Talc Claimants II in LTL Management, LLC, Official Committee of Talc Claimants in Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, et. al., and certain parishes, schools, and missions in the Diocese of Camden chapter 11 proceedings. Ross also currently advises the owner of the former headquarters of WeWork, Inc. in WeWork’s chapter 11 proceedings.
Ross is active in the legal community, having held multiple leadership roles in local bar associations and industry groups both currently and over the past decade. Among other leadership positions, he currently serves as the Chair of the Lawyers Advisory Committee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey, a committee that has served as a two-way conduit between the bankruptcy bar and the Board of Bankruptcy Judges for approximately 25 years.
Ross was also recently appointed to the Chapter 11 Rules Committee by the Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey, which was established to review and recommend changes to existing procedures in complex chapter 11 cases, and is comprised of bankruptcy practitioners from New Jersey and throughout the United States. Ross also serves on a committee established by the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey to address bankruptcy appellate procedures and related issues.
Ross also currently serves as the Vice President of the Mercer County Bar Association and Co-Chair of the Association’s Bankruptcy, Budget, and Golf Committees. Ross previously served two terms as a Trustee of the Association.
Ross frequently writes and speaks on a variety of bankruptcy topics and addresses how bankruptcy proceedings can impact a variety of constituents, including businesses and individuals. He has written articles that appeared in the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal and American Bankruptcy Trustee Journal, among others. Ross has served as a speaker on educational panels conducted by the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation, International Council of Shopping Centers, Mercer County Bar Association, and Essex County Bar Association.
Ross was selected for inclusion in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 list of the Best Lawyers in America in the area of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Selection methodology for this award can be found here. He was also recognized by the Mercer County Bar Association as “Young Lawyer of the Year.”
No Aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Practice Areas
Education & Bar Admission
- J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law, 2010
- B.A., Ramapo College of New Jersey, 2007 Cum Laude
- Lawyers Advisory Committee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey – Chair
- Chapter 11 Rules Committee, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey
- Mercer County Bar Association – Vice President and Co-Chair, Bankruptcy, Budget, and Golf Committees
- Turnaround Management Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- New York State Bar Association
- New Jersey State Bar Association
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- United States District Court, District of New Jersey
- United States District Court, Southern District of New York
- United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
- New Jersey
- New York
- District of Columbia
- Pennsylvania
Speaking Engagements
- Navigating Automatic Stay and Related State Court Issues,” Mercer County Bar Association, 2023
- “New Jersey Bankruptcy Court Procedural and Practical Tips,” Mercer County Bar Association, October 2022
- “There Will Always Be New Rules,” Honorable William H. Gindin Beach Bar Conference, April 2022
- “Intersection of Bankruptcy and Family Law,” Mercer County Bar Association, October 2021
- “General Practitioners Guide to Bankruptcy, Contested Matters, and Adversary Proceedings,” Mercer County Bar Association, October 2020
- “Keeping it in the Family – Intersection of Bankruptcy and Divorce,” Mercer County Bar Association, October 2019
- “Small Business and Individual Chapter 11 Cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey,” Mercer County Bar Association and IWIRC, March 2019
- “Real Estate Issues in Bankruptcy Cases,” Mercer County Bar Association, October 2018
- “Stay InFORMed: Local Forms and Best Practices for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey,” Mercer County Bar Association and IWIRC, February 2018
- “Bankruptcy Basics,” Mercer County Bar Association, November 2015-2017
- “Leasing Issues,” International Council of Shopping Centers PA/NJ/DE Conference, September 2017
- “Bankruptcy and Taxes: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know and a Few Things You Didn’t,” Mercer County Bar Association and IWIRC, October 2016
- “New Local Rules of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey,” Mercer County Bar Association and IWIRC, October 2015
- “Effects of Bankruptcy on Real Estate Matters,” Mercer County Bar Association, June 2015
- “New Jersey Landlord/Tenant Practice,” Essex County Bar Association, January 2013
Publications
- “An Overview of a § 363 Sale Involving a Stalking- Horse Bidder,” American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, January 2023
- “A Discussion with Judge Rosemary Gambardella,” The Absolute Priority, March 2019
- “Interview with Judge Michael B. Kaplan,” The Absolute Priority, December 2017
- “Interview with Jim Waldron,” The Absolute Priority, March 2017
- “A Discussion with Judge Vincent F. Papalia,” The Absolute Priority, October 2016
- “Recovering Under § 549,” American Bankruptcy Trustee Journal, Spring 2016
- “A Discussion with Chief Judge Ferguson,” The Absolute Priority, March 2016
- “A Discussion with Judge Andrew B. Altenburg,” The Absolute Priority, October 2015
- “Practicing Bankruptcy Law in New Jersey, a Young Lawyer’s View,” Mercer County Lawyer, June-July 2015
- “Chapter 7 Monopoly: To Pass Go, Trustee Must Pay ‘Meaningful’ Toll to Unsecured Creditors,” American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, January 2015
