Our People
Attorneys
Villanova University School of Law
One Logan Square
18th & Cherry Streets, 27th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6933
Fax: 215.568.0300
Biography
Joseph Dworetzky focuses his practice on insolvency matters and commercial and governmental litigation. He has represented clients in hundreds of cases under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. He has served as trial counsel in numerous high profile litigation matters in state and federal courts.
From 1993 to 1996, Joe served as City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia and was a member of Mayor Rendell’s cabinet. Prior to joining the City, he was a Managing Partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Philadelphia.
Joe graduated first in his class, summa cum laude, from Villanova University School of Law in 1977. He was also elected to the Order of Coif and was an associate editor of the Villanova Law Review. Joe received many honors, including the Saint Ives Medal for the best overall grade point average and the Pulling Award for best law review article. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Purdue University in 1972 with a double major in Philosophy and Writing. From 1977 to 1978, Joe served as a law clerk for the Honorable Ellsworth A. Van Graafeiland of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Joe has been regularly recognized as a Rank 1 bankruptcy attorney by Chambers USA (2004-2010). In 2010, Chambers ranked him as a "Star Individual," describing him as “one of the smartest lawyers in the country.” Joe has regularly been included in Best Lawyers in America and, in 2011, Best Lawyers named him the "2012 Lawyer of the Year" in Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights in Philadelphia. He is a Fellow and a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Bankruptcy. Leadership Philadelphia named him one of the "101 Connectors" in the Philadelphia area. In 2009, Governor Rendell appointed him to serve as one of five members of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, responsible for the oversight of the Philadelphia School District.
Education
Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 1977, JD, summa cum laude, Order of the Coif
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 1972, BA, with Distinction
Clerkship
The Honorable Ellsworth A. Van Graafeiland, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1977 – 1978
Honors and Awards
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2004 - 2011, Star Individual, 2010
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2009, 2011, 2012
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2012 Philadelphia Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law Lawyer of the Year
- Coleman Award for outstanding contributions to the arts community, 1997
- Villanova Law Review, Associate Editor
- Villanova University School of Law, St. Ives Medal
- Villanova University School of Law Pulling Award
Representative Cases
- In re Image Masters, Inc., 421 B.R.164 (Bankr. E.D. Pa., 2009)
- Jones v. ABN Amro Mortgage Group, Inc., 551 F. Supp. 2d 400 (E.D. Pa. 2008)
- Pennsylvania Department of Education v. Chester-Upland School District Special Board of Control, 938 A.2d 1 (Pa. 2007)
- JP Morgan Chase Bank v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 189 F. Supp. 2d 24 (S.D. N.Y. 2002)
- Public Advocate v. Philadelphia Gas Commission, 674 A.2d 1056 (Pa. 1996)
- Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission v. School District of Philadelphia, 681 A.2d 1366 (Pa. 1996)
- Mid-Atlantic Power Supply Ass’n v. Pennsylvania PUC, 755 A. 2d 723 (Commw. Ct. 2000)
- In re Penn Central Transp. Co., 944 F.2d 164 (3d Cir. 1991)
- In re Remington Rand Corp., 836 F. 2d 825 (3d Cir. 1988)
- Penn Central Corp. v. United States, 814 F. Supp. 1116 (Sp. Ct. R.R.R.A. 1993)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Board of Directors and Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy
- Chair, Judicial Merit Selection Committee, Bankruptcy Judges, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2005, 2006 and 2009
- Chair, Lawyers Advisory Committee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2007 – 2009
- Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference
- Chair, 2001
- Vice Chair, 2000
- Steering Committee, 1992 and 1999
- Co-Chair of Education Committee, 1990 – 1991
- Board Member, Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project
Community
- Commissioner, Philadelphia School Reform Commission, 2009 – Present
- Vice Chair, Task Force on Tax Policy and Economic Competitiveness, 2009
- Board of Directors, Parkway Council Foundation, 2005 – Present
- Board of Directors, Moore College of Art and Design, 2003 – 2006
- Board of Directors, Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, 2004 – Present
- Board of Directors, William Penn Foundation, 2001 – 2005
- Advisory Board, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, 2001 – 2007
- Vice President and Director, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, 1980 – 1985
- Board of Directors, Philadelphia Theatre Company, 1998 – 1999
- Chair, Vacant Land Acquisition Subcommittee, Committee on Vacant and Abandoned Property, 1998 – 1999
- Co-Chair, Auto Insurance Reduction Task Force, 1999 – 2000
Teaching / Lecturing
- "Bankruptcy Law," Temple University School of Law, 2005 – 2006
- Educational Summit, 1997 – 1998, Lecturer on School Funding in Pennsylvania
- "Bankruptcy and Advanced Bankruptcy Law," Rutgers School of Law – Camden, 1986 – 1993
Pro Bono
- Represented, through Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, numerous writers, painters, dancers, and art organizations in pro bono cases for more than 25 years
- Represented the Philadelphia Theatre Company in reorganizing after it canceled its season in 1988 due to financial problems. Over a two-year period, PTC eliminated most of its debt, renegotiated its lease, and raised enough funds to put on four productions. Today, the PTC is one of the leading professional theaters in Philadelphia.
- Represented the Pennsylvania Ballet in reorganizing after it was forced to terminate its season. Negotiated a consensual workout with five bank creditors that resulted in significant debt forgiveness and restructured the remaining debt (1983)
- Designed a program to facilitate the acquisition by residents of individual parcels of vacant land in Philadelphia (1998 and 1999)
- Worked with then-Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Timoney in developing strategies to reduce auto insurance rates in Philadelphia (1999 - 2000)
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania
- District of Columbia
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania