Johnson C. Lee concentrates his practice on bankruptcy, insolvency, and related commercial litigation, with a particular focus on representing fiduciaries and creditors in complex contested matters. He brings experience drawn from hands-on trustee litigation and judicial insight to matters involving recovery of assets and realization of value, claims disputes, and bankruptcy strategy.
Johnson previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jennifer E. Niemann of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California. In chambers, he researched difficult legal issues, drafted bench memoranda and proposed rulings on a broad range of Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 matters. His clerkship experience informs a practical, outcome-driven approach to bankruptcy litigation and motion practice.
Johnson also represented bankruptcy trustees in both business and consumer cases at Stromsheim & Associates. His practice involved a significant volume of contested matters and adversary proceedings, including preference and fraudulent transfer actions, asset recovery and liquidation, claim objections, discharge litigation, and enforcement of judgments. He regularly conducted discovery and depositions and appeared in bankruptcy, state and federal courts, including before the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. Johnson frequently resolved disputes through negotiation and mediation, achieving favorable results for estates and creditors.
Earlier, Johnson served as a judicial extern and law clerk to the Honorable Arthur S. Weissbrodt of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California during the financial crisis. He worked on a high-volume docket frequently involving disputes over secured lending, real and personal property, and the enforcement of creditor rights.
Johnson earned his J.D. from the University of California College of Law, San Francisco (formerly U.C. Hastings) (2007), where he served as Executive Editor of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly and received multiple awards for appellate advocacy and brief writing. He received his B.A., cum laude, from New York University (2003). He is admitted to practice in California and Hawai‘i, as well as before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of California and the District of Hawai‘i.