Jason M. Ebert
Akerman Senterfitt
401 East Jackson Street – Suite 1700
Tampa, FL 33602
Telephone: 813.223.7333
jason.ebert@akerman.com
Jason concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and creditors’ rights. He has represented lenders and other secured creditors in Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcies, as well as related state and federal litigation.
Jason is admitted to practice in Florida and New York. Jason earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001 and a J.D. from the University of Florida in 2008.
Elena Paras Ketchum
Stichter Riedel Blain & Prosser P.A.
110 East Madison Street – Suite 200
Tampa, FL 33602
Telephone: 813.229.0144
Fax: 813.229.1811
eketchum@srbp.com
Elena Paras Ketchum joined Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser, P. A. in 2001 and became a shareholder in 2007. While maintaining an active Chapter 11 debtor practice and regularly representing creditors, buyers, and other parties in bankruptcy cases and out-of-court workouts, she has headed up the firm’s practice under Chapter 727 of the Florida Statutes dealing with “General Assignments,” also referred to as “Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors” or “ABCs.” She has participated as lead counsel in more than twenty of such cases. She has participated extensively in documenting complicated commercial transactions such as workout and loan modification agreements and agreements related to asset sales.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Ketchum was an Assistant State Attorney with the State Attorney’s Office for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, assigned to the Felony division. She has continued to regularly appear in State Court in civil matters in defense of actions against borrowers and guarantors represented by Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Prosser. While in law school, Ms. Ketchum received book awards in Comparative Tort Litigation and Rules of Procedure. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Ms. Ketchum currently serves as Chair of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, having served as President of the Association in 2010 – 2011. She has received an “AV” rating in Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed as Florida “Rising Star,” in the area of bankruptcy/insolvency practice in “Florida Super Lawyers” 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions. She is also the Recipient of the 2006 James M. “Red” McEwen Memorial Award presented annually by the Hillsborough County Bar Association to the individuals who contributed the most to the HCBA during the year.
Jason L. Margolin
Akerman Senterfitt
401 E. Jackson Street – Suite 1700
Tampa, FL 33602
Dir: 813.209.5009
Main: 813.223.7333
Fax: 813.223.2837
jason.margolin@akerman.com
Jason L. Margolin is a commercial litigator who focuses his practice on representing businesses and individuals in resolving controversies through court proceedings, trials, alternative dispute resolutions, and administrative proceedings. He advocates for clients involved in both jury and non-jury actions, in both state and federal court cases, as well as in arbitrations.
Kerry F. McGucken
Michael Moecker & Associates
1409 West Swann Avenue
Tampa, FL 33606
Telephone: 813.258.4300
kmcgucken@moecker.com
Kerry is a Case Manager with Michael Moecker & Associates, a leading Florida firm specializing in providing clients with the successful resolution of insolvency, bankruptcy, and liquidation matters. Kerry has experience in the management of Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, Liquidating Trustee, and Receivership cases throughout the state. Kerry has been involved in the operation and/or liquidation of a variety of businesses in related fields including: real estate development, commercial real estate, hotel management, e-business, firearm sales, construction, and medical related businesses, to name a few.
Kerry earned a Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University and is a candidate for Masters of Arts at the University of South Florida.
Scott A. Underwood
Fowler White Boggs P.A.
501 E. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 1700
Tampa, Florida 33602
Direct: 813 222 1187
Cell: 954 806 8148
Fax: 813 384 2811
scott.underwood@fowlerwhite.com
Scott A. Underwood has experience in bankruptcy, distressed business situations, and business workouts, with a focus on Chapter 11 bankruptcies and related litigation. He has represented clients in bankruptcy cases, insolvency related litigation, director and officer liability litigation, assignments for the benefit of creditors, receiverships, and out of court workouts and restructurings. In that capacity, Mr. Underwood has represented distressed businesses, Chapter 11 debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, bankruptcy trustees, creditors’ committees, liquidating trustees, and parties acquiring assets from bankruptcy cases. Following law school, Mr. Underwood served as law clerk for the Honorable Maurice M. Paul, District Court Judge for the United States District Court, for the Northern District of Florida.
Scott is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Southern District of Florida, and the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar.
Maria Urruela
Puff ‘n Stuff Catering
3414 West Bay to Bay Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33629
Telephone: 813.712.7833
maria@puffnstuff.com
Maria is a Special Event Coordinator for Puff ‘n Stuff Catering, one of the largest and most recognized companies in the catering and special event industry. Headquartered in Central Florida, Puff ‘n Stuff Catering expanded its operations in 2010 to serve Tampa and Florida’s West Coast, and in 2011 the company acquired a leading Tampa competitor and opened a full-service sales office to best serve the local community. Maria’s work on the market-expansion team has included events for prestigious local companies, professional associations, private events, and weddings.
Prior to joining Puff ‘n Stuff Catering, Maria earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Event Management with a Minor in Hospitality Management from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. In addition, she obtained a Diploma in Event Management at a University in Guatemala, where she was born and raised. Maria is also an active member of the International Honor Society, Eta Sigma Delta, and holds a Wedding Planning Certificate from the Bridal Society of America.
Steven R. Wirth
Akerman Senterfitt
401 East Jackson Street – Suite 1700
Tampa, FL 33602
Dir: 813.209.5093
Main: 813.223.7333
Cell: 917.673.7812
steven.wirth@akerman.com
Steven Wirth is Chair of the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group of the Tampa office of Akerman Senterfitt and focuses his practice on bankruptcy matters, workouts, and commercial litigation, representing debtors, creditors, examiners, trustees, corporate monitors, committees, secured and unsecured creditors groups/individuals, state and federal court receivers, distressed investors and asset buyers, and parties to bankruptcy related litigation. He has participated in many of the largest bankruptcy cases in the United States, including the representation of creditors in the Lehman Brothers and Bernard Madoff Investment Securities cases, a vendor and reclamation claimant in the Lyondell Chemical Company bankruptcy, and the largest equity holder in the Winn Dixie bankruptcy.
