Joel L. Tabas focuses his practice on bankruptcy and restructuring, complex business litigation, creditors’ rights, collection defense for judgment debtors, director, officer, manager and member liability litigation, and fraud litigation. Joel has been a Chapter 7 panel trustee in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida since 1992 and regularly serves as a Chapter 11 Trustee, court-appointed examiner and as a receiver in state and federal courts. He has reorganized and operated manufacturing facilities, commercial airlines, real estate developers, hotels, restaurants and retailers. Joel also served as the Chapter 7 trustee in the Nevin Shapiro/Capitol Investments Ponzi scheme bankruptcy cases.

In conjunction with his work as a receiver and an examiner, he has been called upon to prepare feasibility studies on the effectiveness of manufacturing and cost accounting controls and determine the viability of going concerns. The report he prepared in one such appointment resulted in one of the only successful bankruptcy criminal prosecutions in the Southern District of Florida. Joel has also served as both counsel and as an expert consultant in complex malpractice cases involving allegations of professional malfeasance in bankruptcy against attorneys and accountants.

Joel was certified in business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification (ABC) from 1995 through 2019.  For over twenty-five years ABC, the nation’s premier legal specialty certification organization, has certified lawyers in business bankruptcy. ABC is sponsored by the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Commercial Law League of America, and all three ABC certification programs are accredited by the American Bar Association.  ABC’s business bankruptcy certification has not been accredited by the Florida Bar, which does not offer a certification in business bankruptcy.

In his free time, Joel is a musician and a marathon runner. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Representative Matters

• In re Ponce Trust, LLC– effectively reorganized condominium development in Coral Gables, Florida during the South Florida real estate crisis.

Awards and Recognition

• AV rated Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
• Super Lawyers
  • 2007-2023
• Florida Trend’s Legal Elite
  • 1999-2007

Publications

• The §1111(b) Election: A Decision-making Framework, ABI Journal, Vol. XXII, No. 10, December/January 2004.

Professional and Community Activities

• Member and former President, Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Southern District of Florida
• Member, American Bankruptcy Institute

Practice Areas

• Bankruptcy and Restructuring
• Complex Business Litigation
• Creditors’ Rights
• Collection Defense for Judgment Debtors
• Director, Officer, Manager and Member Liability Litigation
• Fraud Litigation