Patrick J. Keating

  • Areas of Practice

    • Litigation
    • Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy

As a creditors’ rights and bankruptcy attorney, my practice focuses on representing businesses and entrepreneurs who are involved in commercial and credit disputes. In addition to helping purchasers of troubled companies, I assist debtors, creditors, trustees and receivers with bankruptcy and litigation disputes in federal and state courts.

 

Due to the insight I have gained from representing both debtors and creditors, I am often able to predict how the various players involved in a financial crisis might react, and the courses of action they might pursue. This experience and knowledge helps me to assist my clients through even the most complex financial issues. However, I encourage clients to consult with me at the first hint of a financial crisis or credit problem so as to avoid a protracted dispute.

 

Whether maximizing the recovery for creditors, or minimizing the pain for debtors, my goal is at all times to get the best result for my clients.

  • Experience
      • Represents debtors, creditors, trustees and committees in cases under Chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, as well as in non-bankruptcy arena
      • Represents financial institutions and other parties in complex litigation
      • Joined the firm as an associate attorney in 1985; elected as partner in 1990
      • Served as president and CEO of the firm (2008-2009)
      • Served as managing partner of the firm’s Akron office (2004-2008)
      • Vice president of the firm’s board of managers (1997-2003; 2004 -2006)
      • Past co-chair of the Litigation Practice Group
      • Past vice president and treasurer of the law firm’s board of managers
      • Prior to joining Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC, Mr. Keating served as law clerk to the Honorable Harold F. White, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Ohio
  • Education & Admissions
      • The University of Akron School of Law, Akron, Ohio (J.D., magna cum laude, 1983)
      • Kent State University, Kent, Ohio (B.A., magna cum laude, 1978)
    • Admissions
      • Ohio Bar
      • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
      • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • Awards & Honors
      • Listed in Best Lawyers in America® (1997-2023)
      • Named Best Lawyers in America® ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in the Akron area for Bankruptcy Litigation (2015)
      • Received special recognition for being listed as a Best Lawyers in America® for 15 consecutive years
      • Named Best Lawyers in America® ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in the Akron area for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2014)
      • Named Best Lawyers in America® ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in the Akron area for Creditor Debtor Rights (2011)
      • Selected for inclusion in Ohio’s Super Lawyers® (2004-2006 and 2009-2022), as voted by his peers
      • Recognized in Super Lawyers Business Edition® for Creditor Debtor Rights (2014)
      • Recognized in Super Lawyers Business Edition® for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights (2011)
      • Recognized in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel® for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights (2009,2010)
      • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV® Preeminent™, which is the highest possible rating in both legal and ethical standards as established by confidential opinions from members of the Bar
  • Professional & Civic Involvement
      • Board of Directors: Akron Roundtable
      • Advisory Board Member: Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences
        Past Affiliations
      • Board Member: Central States Bankruptcy Workshop
      • Board of Directors: Fairlawn Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Chair: Circle of Excellence, Fairlawn Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Board Member: American Red Cross, Summit County
      • Deacon: Hudson Community Chapel
    • Associations
      • Member: Akron Bar Association, Commercial and Bankruptcy Law Section
      • Member: American Bankruptcy Institute
      • Member: Ohio State Bar Association, Litigation, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Sections
      • Member: National Lawyers Association
  • Presentations & Publications
    • <strong>Presentations:</strong> <ul> <li>“Real Estate Transactions in Bankruptcy,” Buckingham’s Annual Real Estate &amp; Construction Law Seminar (2009)</li> <li>Panelist: “Thrive, Survive or Nose Dive in 2008: Insights and Advice from Four Industry Veterans,” Quarterly Winter Meeting of the Commercial Financial Association (2008)</li> <li>“Impact of New Bankruptcy Act on Real Estate Practitioners,” Real Property Law Institute of the Columbus Bar Association</li> <li>“Representing a Business in Distress,” Stark County Bar Association Corporate Law Committee</li> <li>“Survivor: Capital Providers Edition,” Commercial Finance Association</li> <li>“Bankruptcy: A Creditor’s Perspective in Ohio,” Lorman Education Services</li> <li>“Bankruptcy: Pitfalls for Small Business Owners,” Greater Akron Chamber Small Business</li> </ul> <strong>Publications:</strong> <ul> <li>"<a href="http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160313/NEWS/160319945/avoiding-the-fall-bankruptcy-filings-plummeted-in-2015-but-will-the" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avoiding the fall: Bankruptcy filings plummeted in 2015, but will the trend continue?</a>" <em>Crain's Cleveland Business</em> (2016)</li> <li>“The ‘Means’ Test – A-Not-So-Perfect Means to an End<em>?” The Compendium of Work in Personal Finance</em>, <u>The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.</u> (2007)</li> </ul> &nbsp;