Jonathan Pasternak

Jonathan Pasternak has built one of the largest debtor bankruptcy practices in the nation by volume, supported by more than three decades of experience in bankruptcy and restructuring. As a bankruptcy attorney and restructuring consultant, he has guided companies and stakeholders through complex financial transactions and distressed debt situations. His work in both legal and advisory roles has focused on helping clients stabilize operations, manage obligations, and move through insolvency proceedings with clarity and structure.

Over a 36-year career in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, Jonathan has represented clients across a wide range of industries. His primary concentration has been the reorganization of private and public companies facing financial pressure. He has counseled hundreds of individual and corporate clients, assisting them with corporate reorganization strategies and formal Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

His experience includes debtor and creditor representation, negotiated workouts, recapitalizations, asset sales, and court-supervised restructuring. Pasternak has advised business owners, institutional stakeholders, and court-appointed fiduciaries responsible for distressed entities. In each engagement, he has applied detailed financial analysis and disciplined legal planning, while remaining attentive to business objectives and operational realities.

Beyond traditional insolvency matters, Jonathan has handled commercial real estate and finance-related restructuring. He has addressed distressed property portfolios, real estate-related debt, and transaction-based reorganizations. Whether guiding negotiated settlements or navigating court proceedings, he has maintained a steady and practical approach.

For more than 20 years, Pasternak managed his own boutique bankruptcy law firm. Under his leadership, the firm became one of the leading Chapter 11 debtor practices in the country by case volume. He directed firm operations while maintaining a substantial caseload, working closely with clients, professionals, and court institutions throughout complex bankruptcy and restructuring matters.

His efforts earned recognition within the bankruptcy and restructuring community. In 2017, he was named YJP Professional of the Year for his long-standing contributions to insolvency initiatives. Jonathan was consistently cited among the top 20 bankruptcy lawyers in the nation by volume and was recognized as a Super Lawyer for more than 15 consecutive years. He has lectured at insolvency conferences and at his former secondary and law schools, and he has appeared on radio and television to discuss major bankruptcy cases.

Pasternak graduated cum laude from The Pingry School in 1981 and from Brown University in 1985, where he majored in American History and Literature. He served as a class representative for both institutions and remains involved in alumni activities. His spouse and two of his three children are graduates of Brown University, reflecting a continued family connection.

Jonathan supports charitable and educational initiatives, including food and clothing drives and community programs in Tenafly, New Jersey, where he resides. For 11 years, he served on the Board of Trustees of Temple Sinai of Bergen County, overseeing governance and fiduciary responsibilities. He has also provided pro bono legal services to individuals, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations.