Joseph Dworetzky

I am a second career journalist. After practicing law for 35 years I switched to journalism in order to tell stories about people and organizations that don’t get noticed, to follow and explain legal events, and to chronicle the culture of modern American life.

JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE
2020-Date BAY CITY NEWS, Reporter, writing stories for Legal Affairs, Arts & Culture. Occasional social and political cartooning.

Summer 2019: LOS ANGELES TIMES, Intern, Metro Desk, reported to the City Editor, Hector Becerra, covered breaking news and wrote enterprise stories; two pieces ran A-1.

2018 – 2020 THE STANFORD DAILY, Staff Writer and Editorial Cartoonist (more than 50 editorial cartoons published in the Daily and in the Daily Magazine)

LEGAL EXPERIENCE
1997 - 2019: HANGLEY ARONCHICK SEGAL & PUDLIN, Shareholder, 1997-2018. Combine business law and litigation experience in a broad general practice, representing business and governmental clients in all types of regulatory affairs, commercial dispute resolution, bankruptcy and financial and operational restructurings. A member of the Board of Directors from 1998 to 2008, closely involved in day-to-day management of the firm.

1993 - 1996: CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, City Solicitor, 1994 to 1996; Acting City Solicitor, 1994; Chair of Corporate Group, July - December 1993. As City Solicitor, responsible for the overall legal representation of the City in all civil matters as well as management of 130-lawyer department. Senior legal advisor to the Mayor and City Council. Member of the Mayor’s Cabinet and numerous boards, commissions and other governmental policy making groups. Wide ranging legal and policy responsibilities requiring high degree of judgment, discretion and ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

1978 - 1993: DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH, Managing Partner 1992-1993; Partner 1984-1993; Associate 1978-84. Concentration in bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. Representation of debtors and creditors in all phases of Chapter 11 proceedings and commercial workouts and restructurings.

1977 - 1978: JUDGE ELLSWORTH A. VAN GRAAFEILAND, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Law Clerk.

EDUCATION
School: STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Degree: Master’s Degree in Journalism (June 2020)
GPA: 4.0
Areas: Coursework in Data Journalism (Cheryl Phillips), Multimedia (Geri Migielicz), Journalism Law (Jim Wheaton), Reporting (Janine Zacharia), Sportswriting (Gary Pomerantz) and Narrative Journalism (R.B. Brenner)

School: STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Program: Fellow, Distinguished Careers Institute (Jan 2018 – June 2019) Non-matriculating program for individuals who have finished one career and are transitioning to something new. Took a full academic load for six quarters with concentration on narrative writing.

Law School: VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
Degrees: J.D., summa cum laude in May 1977
Class Rank: First in class of 182
Average: 3.78
Honors: Saint Ives Medal (best overall cumulative average); Pulling Award (best Law Review article); Roman Catholic Alumni Award (best first year grades: 4.0 gpa); Order of the Coif; Villanova Law Review (Staff, Volume 21; Associate Editor, Volume 22); Title Insurance Award (best grades).

College: PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Degree: B.A. with distinction in June 1972
Concentration: 3-year program with double majors in Philosophy and Writing
Class Rank: Top 5%
Average: 3.6
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa; Marchette Award (outstanding student of philosophy)

PROFESSIONAL
• Adjunct Professor, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY JAMES E. BEASLEY SCHOOL OF LAW (2005). Taught Bankruptcy in the fall semester of the 2005-06 school year.
• Adjunct Professor, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW-CAMDEN (1987-93). Taught Bankruptcy in the fall semester from 1987 through 1991 and Advanced Bankruptcy Practice in the spring semester from 1988 through 1993. Designed the latter course to simulate an actual Chapter 11 case in which students represented clients in litigation and negotiation. Course served as a model for other practice courses at Rutgers.
• Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy Law (1994–date). Member of the Board of Regents (2003-2008) and Board of Directors (2008-2012).
• Chair, Merit Selection Committee for Bankruptcy Judges in Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2005, 2006 and 2009).
• The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law (2005-18). Restructuring Lawyer of the Year (Bankruptcy) in Pennsylvania 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2019.
• Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2000-18) selected as one of top bankruptcy attorneys in Pennsylvania. In 2010 singled out among bankruptcy attorneys as the only “Star Individual” in Pennsylvania. Designated as a Star Individual again in 2012-14. Named an “Eminent Practitioner” (2016-18). Described as “one of the smartest lawyers in the country.”

COMMUNITY & LEADERSHIP
• School Reform Commission, appointed by Governor and confirmed by State Senate - one of five members of the governing body of the Philadelphia School District (2009 to 2013).
• Member, Board of Directors of Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (2004 to 2008) appointed by Governor and confirmed by State Senate.
• Trustee, Bay School of San Francisco (2016 to 2019).
• Member, Board of Directors of Narrative Magazine, leading non-profit digital literary magazine based in San Francisco (2016 to 2019).
• Director, U.S. Squash, the governing body for squash in the United States (2017 to date).
• Trustee, William Penn Foundation. (2001 to 2005). Board member and member of Executive Committee of a $1.1 billion charitable foundation concentrating its philanthropy in the Philadelphia region.
• Member, Board of Managers, Moore College of Art & Design (2003 to 2006). Moore is the country’s only women’s art college. Member of Academic Affairs and College Planning Committees.
• Member, Board of Directors of Parkway Council Foundation (2005 to 2010). The Parkway Council is made up of the significant cultural institutions on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.
• Nutter 2007 Mayoral Transition Team: Chair, Law Department Transition (2007-08).
• Co-Chair, Energy & Telecommunications Subcommittee, Rendell Gubernatorial Transition Team (2002).
• Member, Board of Directors, Philadelphia Theatre Company (1998-99).
• Board Member, Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement. One of nine voting members of a $2.2 billion pension fund (1994 to 1996).