Estate and Succession Planning
Dean Mead’s Estate and Succession Planning Department is one of the largest and most respected groups of estate planning attorneys in Florida. We are frequently…
James A. Timko
About James A. Timko
An attorney with the firm’s Litigation Department, James is a recipient of the Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating, and has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America and in Marquis Who’s Who®. His practice is focused on matters involving creditors’ rights and bankruptcy, and commercial litigation. James’ clients include: assignees for the benefit of creditors, receivers, creditors, debtors, secured, lenders, mortgage companies, landlords, franchisors, bankruptcy trustees and other business enterprises in chapter 7 and chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, and assignment for the benefit of creditors’ cases, and receiverships. James also has significant experience resolving general commercial disputes. He has represented institutional lenders in connection with asset based lending and real estate transactions.
A national speaker and author on creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law, James is the former president of the Florida chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, the premier international professional organization dedicated to corporate renewal and turnaround management, and he is currently a Board Member for the Central Florida Bankruptcy Lawyers Association.
Experience Highlights
Represents the Receiver for the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, resulting in the return of millions of dollars to benefit certified domestic violence shelters in Florida.
Represented a Fortune 500 company owed over $15 million and was a member of the creditor's committee in one of the largest bankruptcy cases, pending in Delaware.
Represented a creditor/vendor in the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy case, resulting in a return of millions of dollars.
Represented a creditor in a chapter 7 bankruptcy case over $40 million and successfully objected to the debtor's exemptions, obtained a fraudulent transfer judgment on summary judgment and litigated the size of the debtor's homestead resulting in an over million dollar return to the estate.
Key Legal Services
Primary Industries
James A. Timko News & Insights
- American Bankruptcy Institute - Member
- Turnaround Management Association - 2015 and 2021 Chair of the Southeastern Regional Conference Sponsorship Committee, Past President of Florida Chapter - Florida Board Member
- The Florida Bar, Business Law Section/UCC 2015 Bench Bar Conference Participant - Committee Member
- Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association - Board of Directors
- Children's Home Society of Florida - Advisory Board Member
- Federalist Society - Member
- Leadership Orlando Class of '89 - Graduate
- Emory University School of Law, J.D. with honors, 2001
- Rutgers College, B.A. Communication, 1998
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent
- Marquis Who’s Who®, 2024
- Best Lawyers in America - Litigation and Bankruptcy, 2019-2023
- Best Lawyers in America - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2023
- Orlando Magazine, “The Best Lawyers in Orlando,” 2020 - 2023
- Craft Brewery Panel - Turnaround Management Association 2019 Southeast Regional Conference, June 2019 - Moderator
- "Utilizing Experts in Fraudulent Transfer Litigation," Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association 27th Annual Seminar & State of the District Event, June 2019 - Speaker
- "Steering Companies Through Troubled Waters" Seminar, presented by Rollins College Graduate School of Business and the Florida Chapter of Turnaround Management Association, November 2016 - Speaker
- "Turnaround Tricks for Start Up Companies," Turnaround Management Association Florida Chapter Winter Conference, February 2016
- Bankruptcy Development Panel, Turnaround Management Association Florida Chapter 2015 Conference, February 2015 - Moderator
- "Landlord/Tenant Issues in Bankruptcy," Orange County Bankruptcy Association, April 2014 - Speaker
- "Bankruptcy Developments Update," Turnaround Management Association in Orlando, Florida, 2016 - Moderator
- Educational Committee for the Turnaround Management Association's Western Regional Conference, July 2010 - Co-chair
- "Loss Mitigation Issues - Lessons Learned from the Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy," Client's Legal Conference, August 2009 - Speaker
- "Digging Out of a Troubled Real Estate Investment: How to Find, Create, and Preserve Value in Troubled Real Estate," Turnaround Management Association's Western Regional Conference, July 2009 - Moderator
- Quoted on FTX bankruptcy estate $320 million lawsuit, "Crypto.com was among dozens of potential suitors for FTX Europe. But the bankruptcy estate isn’t selling it," Fortune Magazine, August 4, 2023 (Article)
- Quoted on mediation progress for the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence Receivership, "State Judge Seeks Answers in Domestic Violence Agency Cases," Daily Business Review, July 27, 2021
- Quoted on financial stability for Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence Foundation in representation of receiver, "Florida coalition that paid CEO $7.5 million has its money taken over by receiver," Tampa Bay Times, May 21, 2020
- "Local business bankruptcy filings declined last year, despite Covid pandemic. Here's why.," Orlando Business Journal, January 29, 2021 - Guest Writer
- Quoted on his motion in representation for receive in action, "Receiver Seeks $1.5 Million from Domestic Violence Foundation, "Daily Business Review, April 22, 2020
- Aspatore Books "Inside the Minds" Series, "Representing Landlords of Non-Residential Real Property on Chapter 7 Cases, Chapter 7 Commercial Bankruptcy Strategies," 2012 ed.
- "Keep Your Lease a Lease - Seventh Circuit Finds the Severability of a Contract Defeats Recharacterization," LIN Equipment Leasing Newsletter, Vol. 25, No. 9, October 2006
- "When is a Lease a 'True Lease'? The Seventh Circuit Applies Substance Over Form in United Airlines v. HSBC Bank," The Bankruptcy Strategist, Vol. 23, No.1A, November/December 2005 and LJN Equipment Leasing Newsletter, Vol. 23, Number 11, December 2005
- "Be Careful What You Look For: It Could Be An Authenticated Record,: LJN Equipment Leasing Newsletter, Vol. 23, No. 7, August 2004
- "Section 525(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and Sovereign Immunity: The Supreme Court's Creation of a Super Creditor," Bankruptcy Journal, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2001
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