Edward J. Peterson, III specializes in the representation of debtors and creditors in out-of-court workouts and bankruptcy cases and proceedings throughout the Southeast. Edward also has experience representing creditor committees. Moreover, Edward specializes in commercial litigation in all courts, including litigation involving directors and officers.
Edward is actively engaged in various representations in Alabama and Florida.
In addition, Edward has represented both assignors and assignees in assignments for the benefit of creditors.
Edward served as debtor’s counsel in the Chapter 11 case filed by Viper Ventures, LLC which owns 30 acres of commercial land in Tampa. The debtor was able to restructure approximately $17 million in debt to Wells Fargo Bank through a plan of reorganization. Edward served as lead debtor’s counsel in the Chapter 11 case of Boyd Brothers, Inc., a printing company in Panama City, Florida that employed approximately 110 employees. The company successfully reorganized. Additionally, Edward was lead counsel for several shopping centers that filed for Chapter 11 protection. Moreover, Edward served as lead counsel in the Chapter 11 case of South Bay Lube, which owns 23 Jiffy Lube stores and employs over 200 employees. The company successfully reorganized in March 2013.
Edward also appears regularly in state courts in connection with civil litigation arising out of loans secured by real estate in the Florida panhandle and elsewhere. He was president of the Turn Around Management Association of Florida, a past president of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, has published articles on bankruptcy issues, and has spoken on multiple occasions on insolvency issues in Florida and Alabama.
Over the past three years, Edward has also filed numerous cases under Subchapter V of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.
In addition, Edward has represented committees of unsecured creditors. Edward currently is representing the committee in the Diamond Scaffold bankruptcy case pending in the Southern District of Alabama, a case involving over $20 million in debt.
Education
- Kenyon College, Bachelor of Arts, Economics, 1995
- University of Alabama, Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, 1999
- Order of the Coif, University of Alabama
Bar Admissions
- 1999, Alabama (all state courts);
- United States District Court, Northern District of Alabama;
- United States District Court, Southern District of Alabama;
- United States District Court, Middle District of Alabama
- The Florida Bar (all state courts)
- United States District Court, Middle District of Florida;
- United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
- United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Honors And Distinctions
- Ranked a Top 100 Lawyer in Florida by Florida Super Lawyers
- Inducted as Fellow in American College of Bankruptcy 2020
- Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification
- Voted Number One in Bankruptcy Litigation by Tampa Magazine – 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2022
- Listed, Top 50 Lawyers in Tampa by Super Lawyers – 2019,2021,2022
- Listed, Florida Super Lawyers – 2013 through 2022
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America – since 2012
- Listed, Tampa Bay’s Best Lawyers – 2012 through 2022
- Listed as Florida “Rising Star,” in the area of bankruptcy/insolvency practice in “Florida Super Lawyers” 2009 through 2014 editions
- Listed, Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite” in the area of “Bankruptcy and Workout Law” 2013-2022
- Rated “AV” (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Listed, Chambers & Partners, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” in the area of Bankruptcy/Restructuring 2013 through 2022
Membership And Community Involvement
- President – Florida Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association (2018-2020)
- Advisory Board – Turnaround Management Association Southeast Seminar (2017-2021)
- Advisory Board – American Bankruptcy Institute, Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop (2014-2019)
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association
- Fellow, American Bar Association
- Board of Directors, Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (2007-2012)
- President, Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (2014-2015)
- Vice President, Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (2013-2014)
- Treasurer, Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (2011-2012)
- Member – American Bankruptcy Institute
- Board of Directors, Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter (2015-2017)
Edward J. Peterson III has headed up or had significant involvement in the firm’s representation of:
- Representation of Assignee in Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors filed by Laser Spine Institute and related entities
- AGF Equipment (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Joseph Brennick (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Dr. Ajay Goyal (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Dr. Raj Ambay (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Old Corkscrew Plantation, LLC (Unsecured Creditors Committee)
- Butler & Hosch, P.A., Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (Counsel to Assignee)
- Viper Ventures, LLC (Debtor’s counsel)
- Chamax, LLC (Debtor’s counsel)
- Traumatic Brain Education Adult Community Home, Inc. (representation of 100% shareholder)
- South Bay Lube, Inc. (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Ocala Funding, LLC (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Odyssey Properties III, LLC (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Keystone Grove, LLC (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Boyd Brothers, Inc. (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp. (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Anchor Glass Container Corporation (Unsecured Creditors Committee) Thomas Chevrolet, Inc. (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins restaurants (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Blue Stone Real Estate, Construction Company, Inc. (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Towers of Channelside, LLC. (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Jordyn Holdings IV, LLC. (Unsecured Creditors Committee)
- Wilkinson High Rise, LLC (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Mike Carter & Carter Construction (Debtor’s Counsel)
- Agri-Source Fuels, LLC (Debtor’s Counsel)
- “Un-Till We Get it Right: Applying Industry Standards to Cram-Down Rates” – American Bankruptcy Law Journal, March 2016, Richard Gaudet and Edward Peterson
- “Releases in Business Reorganizations: Officers, Directors & Other Principals can be Protected in Florida” — State to State, Winter 2007
- “Joint Check Agreements in Florida Bankruptcy Cases” – Cramdown, Spring 2007
- Practical Issues Surrounding Section 363 Sales by Harley E. Riedel and Edward J. Peterson, 19 U. Fla. J. of Law and Public Policy 75, April 2008
- Panelist – TMA Presentation on Distressed Debt Buying (2022)
- Panelist – “What Businesses and Leaders Need to Know in the COVID-19 Era” sponsored by Florida Turn Around Management Association
- Moderator – Winter Conference for Florida Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, March 2019, Issues Affecting the Automobile Industry
- Panelist on Shipping and Trucking Issues at American Bankruptcy Institute Southeast Workshop (2017)
- Moderator for Bankruptcy Judges Panel – TMA Southeast Conference (2017 and 2018)
- Panelist at annual seminar for Central Florida Bankruptcy Association (2015 and 2016)
- Speaker on bankruptcy issues for Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter (2015 and 2017)
- Guest Lecturer, Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Seminar, Stetson University College of Law (Fall 2014)
- Panelist on Bankruptcy Law Issues – Turn Around Management Association, Tampa, Florida 2014
- Moderator for Panel on Individual Chapter 11 Cases at American Bankruptcy Institute, Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop Seminar, 2014
- Speaker at seminars hosted by Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) – Topic: What Accountants Need to Know about Bankruptcy in Real Estate Cases
- Panelist on Auto Dealer Insolvency at American Bankruptcy Institute, Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop- Summer, 2009
- News From the War Zone: Bankruptcy Issues on the Front Lines of the Real Estate Crisis- The Cumberland School of Law Bankruptcy Law Seminar – October 3, 2008
- Consultant for Florida Auto Dealers Association – March 26, 2009
Practice Areas
