Cole Schotz P.C. announced that retiring U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Donald H. Steckroth is joining the firm as member, effective March 1. Judge Steckroth, who retired as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey on February 1, will be based in Cole Schotz’s New York and New Jersey offices.

During his 14-year tenure, Judge Steckroth presided over bankruptcy proceedings and related litigation that have drawn national attention across many industries. In the past year alone he presided over some of the largest Chapter 11 proceedings in the metropolitan area in the areas of healthcare, retail, real estate, chemical, medical equipment and insurance industries.

“Judge Steckroth was the quintessential bankruptcy judge who dispensed justice fairly before all that appeared before him. His superior intellect, even temperament and respect for attorneys added luster to the United States Bankruptcy Court and federal court system,” said Michael D. Sirota, co-managing shareholder of the firm and co-chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring group. “We are honored that Judge Steckroth elected to join our firm which will allow our attorneys and clients to benefit from his exceptional experience and unparalleled knowledge.”

Judge Steckroth joins Cole Schotz’s Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring practice, bolstering the already robust team. The nationally renowned, full-service group delivers innovative strategies and winning solutions for complex in and out-of-court corporate restructurings, state and federal insolvency proceedings and high stakes bankruptcy litigation.

“Cole Schotz has earned a reputation for professionalism, technical prowess and efficiency in the bankruptcy field both inside and outside the courtroom,” said Judge Steckroth. “I look forward to beginning the next chapter of my career in the company of attorneys who set the bar in the practice of bankruptcy law.”

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Steckroth was an attorney at Gibbons P.C. for 28 years. He graduated cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Cole Schotz serves clients nationally throughout the United States with offices in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Texas. The firm represents hundreds of closely-held businesses and individuals – many for decades – as well as Fortune 500 companies.