Stephen D. Finestone has extensive experience representing various parties in most types of bankruptcy cases. Stephen has handled numerous reorganizations for a wide range of businesses and individuals, including real estate developers, technology businesses, wholesale and manufacturing businesses, restaurants and health care providers, including a number of cases under Subchapter V of Chapter 11. He has represented parties selling and acquiring assets out of bankruptcy estates, including operating businesses, hotels and other real estate assets.
Stephen also represents creditors, both secured and unsecured, in bankruptcy matters, including members of the Unsecured Creditors Committee in the PG&E and Neiman Marcus Chapter 11 cases. He handles complicated Chapter 7 cases for entities and individuals. Stephen also represents Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 trustees. He handles a wide variety of litigation in bankruptcy court, including prosecuting and defending dischargeability complaints, objections to discharge, and avoidance actions. In addition to his work at the trial court level, Stephen has handled many appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit and the District Court.
Separate from his work on bankruptcy matters, Stephen handles commercial litigation in state and federal courts and has served as an expert witness on bankruptcy matters.
Prior to forming Finestone Hayes LLP with Jennifer Hayes, Stephen operated a solo practice for 18 years and spent 12 years with the firm of Haas & Najarian in San Francisco.
RECOGNITION AND BAR ACTIVITIES
Stephen is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell and has been selected a Northern California Super Lawyer in the area of bankruptcy law every year since 2008.
Stephen is a former member and co-chair of the Bench-Bar Liaison Committee for the No. Dist. of California. He is a former member of the Insolvency Law Committee of the Business law section of the State Bar of California and served as the chair of its subcommittee on legislation.
Stephen is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco. He is also a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum.
CONTINUING EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS:
Stephen has appeared as a panelist on programs for the American Bankruptcy Institute, the California Bankruptcy Forum and local bar associations, speaking on a wide range of bankruptcy topics.
REPORTED CASES
Corso v. Rejuvi (In re Rejuvi), 26 F.4th 1129 (9th Cir. 2022)
In re Cukierman, 265 F.3d 846 (9th Cir. 2001)
In re Ahn, 804 Fed. Appx. 541 (9th Cir. 2020)
Ahn v. Sanger (In re Ahn), 794 Fed. Appx. 661 (9th Cir. 2020)
Centennial Bank v. Kane (In re Kane), 616 F. Supp 3d 990 (N.D. Cal. 2022)
South River Capital, LLC v. Kane (In re Kane), 616 F. Supp. 3d 977 (N.D. Cal. 2022)
Zions Bancorporation, N.A. v. Kane (In re Kane), 616 F. Supp. 3d 960 (N.D. Cal. 2022)
Rejuvi Laboratory, Inc. v. Corso 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41083 (N.D. Cal 2021)
Sanger v. Ahn, 406 F. Supp 3d 800 (N.D. Cal. 2018)
Ahn v. Sanger (In re Ahn), 2017 Bank. LEXIS 3805 (9th Cir. BAP 2017)
Van Zandt v. Mbunda (In re Mbunda) 484 B.R. 344 (9th Cir. BAP 2012), affirmed on appeal, 604 Fed. Appx. 552, cert denied 136 S. Ct. 198 (2015).
In re Cukierman, 242 B.R. 486 (9th Cir. BAP 1999)
Wuthrich v. Amer Sports Winter & Outdoor Co., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43870 (ND Cal 2015)
Kenoyer v. Cardinale (In re Kenoyer), 489 B.R. 103 (Bankr. ND CA 2013)
In re Acosta, 182 B.R. 561 (N.D. Cal. 1995)
In re Abad, 1998 U.S. App. Lexis 28921 (full text opinion), affirmed 156 F.3d 1235 (9th Cir. 1998)
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ADMISSIONS
ADMITTED TO CALIFORNIA BAR: 1986
ADMITTED TO UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS: NORTHERN, SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND EASTERN DISTRICTS OF CALIFORNIA ADMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SANTA BARBARA
B.A., 1981
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, HASTINGS COLLEGE OF THE LAW
J.D. 1986