Don M. Stichter
Don M. Stichter is the founder of the firm and serves as its Co-Managing Shareholder. He has more than forty years of experience representing parties in complex insolvency matters. Prior to specializing in insolvency law, Mr. Stichter had significant experience in representing parties in non-bankruptcy matters in federal and state courts, first with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa and then in private practice. Mr. Stichter represented the debtors in possession in the Hillsborough Holdings (Jim Walter Homes) cases, among the largest Chapter 11 cases ever filed in the State of Florida and involving more than $3 billion in assets and liabilities.”
HONORS & DISTINCTIONS
• First recipient, Douglas P. McClurg Professionalism Award, presented by the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association in May 2004 for outstanding effectiveness in the presentation of matters to the Bankruptcy Court, thorough preparation, civility and courtesy, ethical conduct, and professionalism at the highest level
• One of the first three Florida lawyers or judges selected as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy (inducted 1990)
• Named Outstanding Lawyer in Hillsborough County by the Hillsborough County Bar Association (2001)
• Listed in the 1989-90 and all subsequent editions of the "Best Lawyers in America," in the area of Bankruptcy and Business Reorganization
• Listed all editions of "Chambers & Partners", "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" in the area of Insolvency Practice in Florida (2003 to date)
• Repeatedly listed "Florida Trend's" “Florida Legal Elite”
• Listed as a Florida “
Super Lawyer” in the area of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Practice in all editions of "Florida Super Lawyers” (inception to date). Also listed as one of the top 100 lawyers in the State of Florida in all practice areas (2008 & 2009)
• Listed, “Who's Who Legal U.S.A. – Insolvency” (one of only six Tampa-based lawyers, including Harley Riedel
and Russ Blain, listed)
• Listed,
Outstanding Insolvency and Restructuring lawyer, by "Expert Guides" (one of only three Tampa based lawyers, including Harley Riedel, listed)
• Rated “AV” in Martindale-Hubb
ell for more than 30 years
• Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
• Recipient, Florida Bar award for Local Outstanding Bar President (1973)
• Prior to entering private practice, served with the United States Department of Justice in the Antitrust Division in Washington, DC and as an Assistant United States Attorney in Tampa
MEMBERSHIPS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
• Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (founder, past director, President and Chairman)
• Hillsborough County Bar Association (President 1972-73)
• American Bar Association
• Chairman of the Thirteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Committee
• Chairman of the Hillsborough County Law Library Board
Member of Bay Area Legal Services, Development Committee, Chairman of the Planned Giving Committee
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Mr. Stichter has co-authored publications on bankruptcy law for The Florida Bar and has spoken on bankruptcy law topics at seminars and programs sponsored by The Florida Bar and other legal and business groups.
REPRESENTATION
Mr. Stichter has headed up the firm's representation in numerous cases, including:
• Hillsborough Holdings
• Anthony Distributors
• Anthony Distributing Company
• Silk Greenhouse
• Frank Morsani
• Uiterwyk
• Gulf Tampa Drydock
• Irwin Yacht
• The Shell Factory
• Sunstate Dairy
• Trident Shipworks
• Electric Machinery Enterprises
REPORTED DECISIONS
Mr. Stichter has served as lead counsel in numerous reported decisions.
In re Winn-Dixie, Inc., 286 F. Appx. 619 (11th Cir. 2008)
United States v. Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 116 F.3d 1391
In re Hillsborough Holdings, Inc., 176 B.R. 223 (M.D. Fla. 1994)
Hillsborough Holdings Corp. v. Celotex Corp., 123 B.R. 1018 (M.D. Fla. 1990)
In re Celotex Corp., 380 B.R. 893 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2009)
In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 295 B.R. 679 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2003)
In re Venice-Oxford Associates, Ltd. Partnership, 236 B.R. 805
In re W.G. Wade Shows, Inc., 218 B.R. 625 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1998)
In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 218 B.R. 617 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1991)
Walter Industries, Inc. v. Celotex Corp., 203 B.R. 1000 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1996)
In re Jim Walter Resources, Inc., 190 B.R. 676 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1995)
In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 187 B.R. 763 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1995)
In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 179 B.R. 728 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1995)
In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 166 B.R. 461 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1994)
In re Hillsborough Holdings Corp., 144 B.R. 920 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1992)
In re Jim Walter Resources, 126 B.R. 895 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1991)
In re One Fourth Street North, Ltd., 103 B.R. 320 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1989)
In re N.R.G. Investments, Inc., 99 B.R. 475 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1989)
In re Mickler, 50 B.R. 818 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1985)
Matter of R.S. Pinellas Motel Partnership, 2 B.R. 113 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1979)
Don M. Stichter  
Don M. Stichter
Position
Co-Managing Shareholder
Education
• Colgate University, B.A. 1951
• University of Wisconsin College of Law, LL.B., 1957 with high honors
• Member of the Editorial Board of the University of Wisconsin Law Review
• Order of the Coif
Bar Admissions
• United States District Court for the District of Columbia
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
• The Florida Bar (all state courts)
• Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

2005, 2007, 2008
2006-2015
PRESS RELEASES
Eight Firm Lawyers Recognized in 2015 Edition of Best Lawyers in America - August 2014
Don M. Stichter Named Tampa’s Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for 2013 by Best Lawyers in America - September 2012
Don M. Stichter And Harley E. Riedel Recognized By Expert Guides As Outstanding Insolvency And Restructuring Lawyers For 2012 – September 2012
Don M. Stichter Awarded Judge Don Castor Justice Award - September 13, 2012
Stichter Riedel Confirms Chapter 11 Cases For Owners of Property Being Developed In Georgia – November 2011
STICHTER, RIEDEL LEADS FLORIDA BANKRUPTCY AND WORKOUT FIRMS IN NUMBER OF LAWYERS RECOGNIZED BY FLORIDA TREND MAGAZINE - JULY 2011
DON M. STICHTER AND HARLEY E. RIEDEL RECOGNIZED BY EXPERT GUIDES AS OUTSTANDING INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING LAWYERS FOR 2011
SIX FIRM LAWYERS RECOGNIZED AS "BEST LAWYERS" IN THE 2011 EDITION OF BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA - 2011
STICHTER RIEDEL AGAIN RECEIVES HIGHEST RECOGNITION IN CHAMBERS USA 2010 GUIDE - JULY 1, 2010
ELEVEN FIRM LAWYERS RECOGNIZED AS "FLORIDA SUPER LAWYERS" OR “RISING STARS” - JUNE 2010
DON M. STICTER AND HARLEY E. RIEDEL RECOGNIZED BY EXPERT GUIDES AS OUTSTANDING INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING LAWYERS FOR 2009
TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION PRESENTED TO DON STICHTER - NOVEMBER 15, 2007
DON M. STICHTER RECEIVES FIRST DOUGLAS P. MCCLURG PROFESSIONALISM AWARD - JUNE 2004
DON M. STICHTER RECOGNIZED AS OUTSTANDING LAWYER IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY - JUNE 2002
  .