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 law. As a seasoned bankruptcy attorney and restructuring consultant, he has advised clients through complex financial transactions, distressed debt situations, and corporate reorganization matters. Working in both legal and advisory roles, he has formed strong professional relationships with companies, lenders, investors, fiduciaries, and other parties involved in insolvency proceedings.
Over a 36-year36-year career in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, Jonathan has represented clients across a wide range of industries. His primary focus has been the reorganization of private and public companies facing financial hardship. He has counseled hundreds of individual and corporate clients, helping them address operational challenges and financial instability through structured and lawful solutions.
His experience includes debtor and creditor representation, loan workouts, recapitalizations, asset sales, and complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Pasternak has worked with business owners, institutional stakeholders, and court-appointed representatives responsible for distressed entities. In each matter, he has applied detailed financial analysis and careful legal strategy, while keeping business objectives in clear view during negotiations and court-supervised processes.
In addition to core bankruptcy and restructuring work, Jonathan has handled commercial real estate and finance-related matters. He has guided clients through distressed property issues, debt tied to real estate portfolios, and transaction-driven reorganizations. Whether resolving disputes through negotiation or formal court proceedings, he has maintained a steady and disciplined 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 an active caseload, working closely with clients, professionals, and court institutions throughout restructuring proceedings.
His work in bankruptcy and restructuring earned recognition from peers and professional organizations. In 2017, Jonathan was named YJP Professional of the Year for his contributions to insolvency initiatives. He was consistently cited among the top 20 bankruptcy lawyers in the nation by volume and was recognized as a Super Lawyer for over 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.
Jonathan graduated cum laude from The Pingry School in 1981 and later from Brown University in 1985, where he majored in American History and Literature. He served as a class representative for both institutions and remains active in alumni initiatives. His spouse and two of his three children are graduates of Brown University, reflecting a continued family connection to the school.
Pasternak 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.
Outside of his legal practice, he is an accomplished musician and performer within the bankruptcy community. Music remains an active pursuit that values preparation, timing, and technical control. He is also known as an archivist and field recorder of live music and concerts. Throughout his long career in bankruptcy, restructuring, commercial real estate, and distressed debt matters, Jonathan Pasternak has remained focused on careful judgment and practical leadership, qualities that continue to define him.
New York Law Journal Article – DIP Financing, 1991
