Jonathan Pasternak

Jonathan Pasternak has established one of the largest debtor bankruptcy practices in the nation by case volume. With more than 30 years of experience in bankruptcy and restructuring, he has served as both an attorney and a consultant on complex financial transactions. His practice has focused on helping businesses, lenders, and investors address financial distress through practical, lawful solutions. Through both advisory and legal roles, he has developed steady professional relationships with companies, fiduciaries, and court-appointed representatives involved in insolvency proceedings.

Over a 36-year career in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, Jonathan has represented clients across many industries. His primary focus has been the reorganization of private and public companies. He has guided hundreds of individual and corporate clients through stabilization efforts, debt restructuring, and formal insolvency proceedings.
His experience includes debtor and creditor representation, loan workouts, recapitalizations, asset sales, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Pasternak has advised business owners, institutional stakeholders, and fiduciaries responsible for distressed entities. In each engagement, he has applied detailed financial review and legal planning, while remaining attentive to business goals and operational realities.

In addition to bankruptcy matters, Jonathan has handled commercial real estate and finance-related issues. He has worked on distressed property concerns, debt tied to real estate portfolios, and transaction-based reorganizations. Whether through negotiated settlements or court-supervised restructuring, he has maintained a steady and disciplined approach.

For more than 20 years, Pasternak led his own boutique bankruptcy law firm. Under his direction, the firm became one of the leading Chapter 11 debtor practices in the country by volume. He managed firm operations while also maintaining an active caseload, working closely with clients, professionals, and court institutions during restructuring proceedings.

His work in bankruptcy and restructuring has earned recognition from peers and professional organizations. In 2017, he received the YJP Professional of the Year award for his contributions to insolvency initiatives. He was consistently cited among the top 20 bankruptcy lawyers in the nation by case volume and was recognized as a Super Lawyer for more than 15 consecutive years. He has lectured at insolvency conferences and at his former schools, and he has been interviewed on radio and television regarding major bankruptcy cases.

Jonathan 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.

Pasternak supports charitable efforts, including food and clothing drives and educational programs. In Tenafly, New Jersey, where he resides, he contributes time and resources to community initiatives. 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.

Outside of his legal work, he is an accomplished musician and performer within the bankruptcy community. Music remains an active pursuit that reflects discipline and preparation. He is also known as an archivist and field recorder of live music events. Throughout his career in bankruptcy, restructuring, commercial real estate, and distressed debt matters, Jonathan Pasternak has remained focused on careful judgment and steady leadership, qualities that continue to guide him.