Home > Attorneys > Joseph A. Dworetzky

Biography

Mr. 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, Mr. Dworetzky served as City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia and was a member of Mayor Rendell's cabinet. Prior to joining the City, Mr. Dworetzky was a Managing Partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath in Philadelphia.

Mr. Dworetzky 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. Mr. Dworetzky 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, Mr. Dworetzky served as a law clerk for the Honorable Ellsworth A. Van Graafeiland of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Mr. Dworetzky is included in Best Lawyers in America (2009) and has been regularly recognized as a "Rank 1" bankruptcy attorney by Chambers USA (2004-09). He is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a member of the Board of Directors of that organization.  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.  LEADERSHIP Philadelphia recently named Mr. Dworetzky one of the 101 key "Connectors" in the Philadelphia area.

Education

Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 1977
J.D.
summa cum laude
Order of Coif

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 1972
B.A.
With Distinction
Major: Philosophy
Major: Writing

Clerkship

The Hon. Ellsworth A. Van Graafeiland, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Law Clerk, 1977 - 1978

Honors and Awards

Law Review: Villanova Law Review, 1975 - 1977
St. Ives Medal, Villanova University School of Law (Best Grades)
Pulling Award, Villanova University School of Law (Best Law Review Articles)
Coleman Award for outstanding contributions to the Arts community, 1997

Representative Cases

• Jones v. ABN Amro Mortgage Group, Inc., 551 F. Supp.2d 400 (E.D. PA 2008)
  
• JP Morgan Chase v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., et al., 189 F. Supp. 2d 24 ((S.D. NY) 2002)


• Public Advocate v. Philadelphia Gas Commission, 544 Pa. 129; 674 A.2d 1056 (1996)


• Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission v. Philadelphia School District, 681 A.2d 1366 (Pa. 1996)


• Mid-Atlantic Power Supply Ass'n v. Pennsylvania PUC, 755 A. 2d 723 (Cmmwlth 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. RRR 1993)


• Pennsylvania Department of Education v. Chester Upland School District Special Board of Control, 938 A.2d 1,000 (Pa. 2007)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American College of Bankruptcy, Board of Directors and Fellow
• Lawyers Advisory Committee of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Chair, 2007-Present
• Judicial Merit Selection Committee Bankruptcy Judges Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Chair, 2005, 2006, and 2009
• Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference, Chair, 2001
• Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference, Vice Chair, 2000
• Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference, Steering Committee, 1992 and 1999
• Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference, Co-Chair of Education Committee,1990-1991
• Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project, Board Member

Community

Philadelphia School Reform Commission, Member, 2009-Present
Task Force on Tax Policy and Economic Competitiveness, Vice Chair, 2009-Present
Parkway Council Foundation, Board of Directors, 2005-Present
Moore College of Art and Design, Board of Directors, 2003-2006
Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, Board of Directors, 2004-2008
William Penn Foundation, Board of Directors, 2001-2006
Nutter Mayoral Transition Team, Chair, Law Department Transition Committee, Co-Chair RDA Transition Committee, 2008
Rendell Gubernatorial Transition Team, Co-Chair, Energy and Telecommunications Committee, 2002
Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Advisory Board Member, 2001-2007
Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Vice President and Director, 1980-1985
Philadelphia Theatre Company, Board of Directors, 1998-1999
Committee on Vacant and Abandoned Property, Chair of Subcommittee (Vacant Land Acquisition), 1998-1999
Auto Insurance Reduction Task Force, Co-Chair, 1999-2000

Teaching / Lecturing

Temple University School of Law, Bankruptcy Law, 2005-2006
Rutgers-Camden Law School, Bankruptcy and Advanced Bankruptcy Law, 1986-1993
 

Pro Bono

Through the Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Mr. Dworetzky has represented writers, painters, dancers, theaters and other arts organizations in pro bono cases for more than 25 years.

He represented the Philadelphia Theatre Company in reorganizing after it canceled its season 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, PTC is one of the leading professional theatres in Philadelphia.

He 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.

He designed a program to facilitate the acquisition by residents of individual parcels of vacant land in Philadelphia.

He worked with then Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Timoney in developing strategies to reduce auto insurance rates in Philadelphia. 

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania, 1977
District of Columbia, 1978
United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1977
United States Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1978
United States Supreme Court