Winning at the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, the Do's and Don'ts for Success

Gary Spraker was sworn in as Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Alaska on October 4, 2012. Judge Spraker has served as a visiting judge for Nevada since July 2013, hearing cases and conducting settlement conferences.  In June 2017, he was appointed to the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. Prior to taking the bench he was a partner at Christianson & Spraker where he focused on both consumer and commercial bankruptcy, representing trustees, debtors, and creditors, in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 matters. Judge Spraker served for over a decade as chair of the Alaska Bankruptcy Section.  Prior to moving to Alaska, he worked as an associate for Morrison & Foerster in Denver, Colorado.  Judge Spraker received his undergraduate degree from Stetson University in Deland, Florida, and his J.D. from the University of Denver. He is a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy.  

J. Scott Bovitz is the senior partner of Bovitz & Spitzer in Los Angeles. Mr. Bovitz has been a federal court litigator for 45 years; most of his trials are in bankruptcy court. Mr. Bovitz is Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by The American Board of Certification. Bovitz is also a Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Bovitz is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell. Bovitz has been selected as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights every year since the program arrived in California. Bovitz is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. Bovitz is an active lecturer and writer. Bovitz has written or produced 762 original songs and is a member of both the Studio B Lockout Band and the Rick Hascobar Project.