RHM Law LLP Firm Resume

RHM Law LLP is a boutique law firm with offices in Encino and Los Angeles.  The Firm has six attorneys and four paralegals.  The Firm represents debtors and creditors in all divisions in the Central District of California, and clients in all state courts in California.

RHM Law LLP’s three partners, who have more than 70 years of experience between them, have practiced together since 2012.

RHM Law LLP specializes in the following areas of law:

Individual Bankruptcy	Business and Corporate Bankruptcy	Bankruptcy Litigation – Creditor and Debtor
Civil Litigation in State and Federal Courts.	Loan Modifications	Appeals in State and Federal Courts

Individual Bankruptcy includes:

• Chapter 7 liquidation
• Chapter 13 reorganization
• Chapter 11 reorganization for individuals

Business and Corporate Bankruptcy includes:

• Chapter 11 reorganization

Bankruptcy Litigation includes:

• Defending debtors in all types of litigation in bankruptcy court (“adversaries”) including non-dischargeability actions, all actions brought by trustees or the United States Trustee, motions for relief from stay and motions to dismiss.
• Evidentiary hearings, including but not limited to valuations of property and/or business related assets
• Representing creditors in many capacities including but not limited to non-dischargeability actions, objections to claims, motions for relief from stay and matters surrounding dismissal of a case.

Civil Litigation in State and Federal Courts:

• Business and Partnership disputes
• Wrongful foreclosure actions
• Unlawful Detainers, landlord and tenant representation
• Debt Collection and Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors 

Loan Modification:

• Including modifying the term of the loan or a reduction in the loan principal balance or modification of the interest rate to more favorable terms.

Appeals:

• All California courts
• All Federal Courts in the Ninth Circuit.

The partners of the Firm have filed or overseen at least 4,000 consumer bankruptcy cases in the past 20 years.  The Firm has filed at least 250 Chapter 11 cases in the past eight years and confirmed more than 100 of those cases.     

Matthew D. Resnik, Partner
Certified Bankruptcy Specialist, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization

Office number (818) 285-0100
matt@rhmfirm.com

Practice Areas:

• Bankruptcy – Individual and Business
• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Civil Litigation
• Loan Modification

Education:
California State University at San Diego (B.A., 1992)
University of West Los Angeles School of Law (J.D. 1996)

Matthew Resnik is the managing partner at RHM Law LLP.  He directs the operations of the Firm and meets with most potential new clients.

Mr. Resnik has extensive experience in all aspects of bankruptcy as well as state foreclosure laws and loan modification laws.  He has dedicated his legal career of more than 23 years to representing financially distressed individuals and businesses against their creditors.  His reputation and excellent track record in consumer and business bankruptcy is widely recognized in Southern California.

Mr. Resnik has personally represented and overseen the bankruptcy cases of upwards of 4,000 businesses and individuals.  He has also represented creditors, landlords and others in bankruptcy and voluntary workout proceedings.   He is as familiar with the many details of the chapter 13 process as he is with complex business reorganizations.   Matt oversees every aspect of the firm’s extensive chapter 13 practice.

Mr. Resnik has also prosecuted and defended many complaints to declare debts non-dischargeable, to deny the discharge and other bankruptcy related litigation matters.

Mr. Resnik has also represented many homeowners in wrongful foreclosure actions in state court as well as federal court.   He has extensive experience in civil litigation in real estate and other business litigation matters.

Mr. Resnik was nominated as a Super Lawyer in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.  He has been a panelist at numerous seminars especially relating to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.

Mr. Resnik is a member of the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association (“CDCBAA”).

Mr. Resnik is married and has three children.  He is very active in boys little league in Encino.  

M. Jonathan Hayes, Partner

Direct phone number:  (818) 933-2840
jhayes@rhmfirm.com

Practice Areas:

• Bankruptcy – Individual and Business
• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Appeals
• Mediations

Education:
Loyola University School of Law (J.D., 1977)
Loyola University (B.A., 1971)
Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution of the Pepperdine University School of Law, 30 hours (Certificate received 1995)

M. Jonathan Hayes concentrates his practice in bankruptcy and corporate – business litigation.  He has represented many Chapter 11 debtors, businesses and individuals, and effected many successful reorganization plans.  Mr. Hayes’ recent chapter 11 cases include representing an individual with $40 million worth of real property largely located in downtown Los Angeles, a chain of 28 retail clothing stores, an architectural firm, a clothing manufacturer with 110 employees, a specialty vodka manufacturer, six adult health care facilities, a 66 room hotel in Laguna Beach, a small trucking company, a medical clinic, a company that owed two Baskin Robbins stores, a former major league baseball player with $40 million in assets; a company which had 225 lawsuits pending against it on the date of filing being defended by the debtor’s insurance company; a company which owned 20 oil wells; a company which owned a large hotel in Culver City which was sold during the case for $25 million, a “dot com” company; a Condominium Homeowners Association fending off a $9 million judgment creditor; a furniture manufacturing company ($4 million annual sales); a chain of carpet stores ($10 million annual sales); an employee leasing company ($30 million in annual sales); a wireless entertainment equipment sales company; a litigation attorney; a sunglass wholesaling company; a bait tank and machine shop; and a small commercial center.

From 2012 through mid-2019, Mr. Hayes has filed or otherwise taken-over approximately 143 chapter 11 cases including 112 cases for individuals primarily trying to save their homes and other real property.  In the past, he has represented three franchisees in the Econo-Lube bankruptcy filing adversary proceedings for each demanding more than $10 million in total and settling each successfully.  He represented the Creditor’s Committee in the MiDici Pizza case, Lucy’s LaundryMart and SBB Roofing chapter 11 cases.  He was lead counsel for the Creditor’s Committee in the Breath Asure, Inc. Chapter 11 and the B.C. Oil, Inc. Chapter 11.

Mr. Hayes has prosecuted and defended about twenty-five bankruptcy appeals to the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, the district court, and the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Hayes has prosecuted and defended complaints to declare debts non-dischargeable, to deny the discharge and other bankruptcy related litigation matters.  He has defended several fraudulent conveyance actions brought by trustees in so-called Ponzi schemes.  He has filed many Chapter 7 for clients and has handled many bankruptcies that are commenced because of tax problems of the debtors.

Mr. Hayes has been a member of the panel of mediators of the Bankruptcy Mediation Program for the Central District of California since the program’s inception in 1995.  He estimates that he has presided over at least 150 mediations in total.

In addition, Mr. Hayes

• is a Lawyer Representative to the Central District Judicial Conference, 2014 to present.
  • is the past President, 2013 and 2014,  and a member of the Board of Directors of the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association (“cdcbaa”).
  • is the Director of the Bankruptcy Litigation Clinic at the University of West Los Angeles where law students from UWLA are used to help parties deal with litigation in bankruptcy court on a pro bono basis.
  • is on the Board of Editors of the California Bankruptcy Journal since 2001.
    • He was previously on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, 2013 to 2018.
    • He was previously a member of the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, Bankruptcy Law Advisory Commission (“BLAC”), 2010 to 2018.  He was Vice-Chairman for the year 2016-2017 and Chairman for the year 2017-2018.  The BLAC prepares and grades the bi-annual examination for candidates for legal specialization and chooses those who are entitled to be certified.

Recent publications:

• “Thinking out loud about the new Small Business Chapter 11,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, November 27, 2019.
• “Lawyers are People Too,” for the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Assn Newsletter.  Interviews with Paul Winkler, Dennis McGoldrick, Pat Green, Daniela Romero, and Stella Havkin.

Recent Presentations:

• “Day One: Retainers, Trust Accounts and Getting Started on the Right Foot,” November 22, 2019, Federal Bar Assn of Los Angeles with John Sheller and Arthur Margolis
• “Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and the Stay – Oh My! Do Not Fear – the Bankruptcy Experts Are Here,” March 22, 2019, 2019 Annual Association of Family Law Specialists Spring Seminar, with Judge Victoria Kaufman, Jeff Golden and Susan Luong
• “Recent Supreme Court Cases of Interest to Bankruptcy Practitioners,” December 14, 2018, for the San Fernando Valley Bar Assn with Judge Alan Ahart (Ret.).
• Moderator of “5^th Annual Consumer Bankruptcy Review” with five bankruptcy judges for Orange County Bar Assn, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section, October 23, 2018 at Chapman University, Fowler School of Law
• “Equal Access to Justice,” for the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in Anaheim, CA, July 25, 2018 with Scott Bovitz and Michael O’Halloran
• “Automatic Stay and Discharge Injunctions Violations,” for the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Assn (“cdcbaa”), June 9, 2018 with Raymond H. Aver and Christopher Burke.
• “Hiding in the Valley or Shouting from the Mountain – Debtor’s Schedules and Full Disclosure,” May 19, 2018, California Bankruptcy Forum Insolvency Conference with Ed Hays, Jenny Doling, and Hagop Bedoyan.
• The Sixth Annual James T. King Bankruptcy Symposium; “In re Taggart: the Supreme Court and Discharge Violations,” for the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Assn (“cdcbaa”), September 7, 2019 with Daniel Geyser and Prof. Daniel Bussel, University of California Los Angeles School of Law.

• “A Review of 9th Circuit Published Decisions on Bankruptcy” for the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Assn (“cdcbaa”)
• on January 27, 2018 with Judge Julia Brand and Judge Charles Novack, Northern District of California.
• On January 12, 2019 with Judge Neil Bason and Judge Christopher Klein, Eastern District of California.
• On January 18, 2020 with Judge Julia Brand and Judge Christopher Klein, Eastern District of California.

On November 3, 2016, Mr. Hayes received the Hon. Thomas B. Donovan Excellence Award from the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Assn (“cdcbaa”).  The award is given for “excellence in writing or advocacy, service to the court or service to the bar.”  The award was presented to him at the annual Calvin Ashland Awards Dinner of the cdcbaa.

On June 21, 2012 and again on October 25, 2018, Mr. Hayes received the Hon. William J. Lazarow Award from Public Counsel and the Debtor Assistance Project for Outstanding Pro Bono Service to the Community.

In 2013, Mr. Hayes sat on the 9^th Circuit Merit Selection Committee responsible for choosing candidates for the open judgeship position in the Riverside Division of the Central District of California.  In 2014, Mr. Hayes sat on the 9^th Circuit Merit Selection Committee responsible for choosing candidates for the open judgeship position in the Woodland Hills Division of the Central District of California.

Mr. Hayes has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of West Los Angeles (previously University of LaVerne School of Law) for the past 30 years where he has taught Bankruptcy, Business Organizations, Contracts, Advanced Bankruptcy Issues, Commercial Law, and Taxation.  Before that he was on the adjunct faculty of Whittier School of Law for four years.  He maintains a blog directed primarily for his students at www.profhayesuwla.com.

Mr. Hayes is the author of three books entitled, “A Summary of Bankruptcy Law, Third Edition” published in December, 2016; “Bankruptcy Jurisprudence from the Supreme Court, Second Edition” published in 2016; and “Melvyn ‘Deacon’ Jones: My 40 years with the Blues Legends,” published in 2004.  All are available on Amazon.com.

Mr. Hayes previously wrote a monthly column, “Judicial Profiles” for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association magazine, “Bar Notes,” on judges in the San Fernando Valley.  He maintains a blog at www.centraldistrictinsider.com.  He was a regular contributor to the Supreme Court Corner at www.considerchapter13.org.

Mr. Hayes is married and has four children.  He has lived in Northridge for 36 years.  

Roksana D. Moradi-Brovia, Partner
Certified Bankruptcy Specialist, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization

Direct phone number:  (818) 933-2843
roksana@rhmfirm.com

Practice Areas:

• Bankruptcy – Individual and Business
• Bankruptcy Litigation

Education:
University of West Los Angeles – School of Law (J.D. 2009)

Roksana D. Moradi-Brovia has dedicated her legal career to representation of both individuals and businesses navigating through Chapter 7 and Chapter 11, and litigation arising in the bankruptcy context.

She has successfully confirmed 75 Chapter 11 Plans of Reorganization for both individuals and businesses, assisting her clients through the “rehabilitation” process at each step of the way. Recent Chapter 11 cases include representing a couple with 19 income producing real properties, a small trucking company, a jewelry store, a dental practice, a tortilla manufacturing business and an LLC which owns a 13 unit commercial building.

Ms. Moradi-Brovia was nominated as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

She was the 2018 and 2019 President of the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association (“cdcbaa”) and has been on the Board of Directors and the Programs Chair of the cdcbaa since 2013.

In May of 2019, Ms. Moradi-Brovia was elected to serve a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum (LABF).

In July of 2019, Ms. Moradi-Brovia was elected to the Board of Directors of the James T. King Southern California Bankruptcy Inn of Court.

Ms. Moradi-Brovia was the 2018-2019 Chair of the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (“LACBA”), previously holding the positions of Programs Chair, Secretary and Vice Chair; she remains an active participant in the Section. She acted as Chair of the Debtor Assistance Project/Pro Bono Sub-Committee of the Bankruptcy/Commercial Law Section of LACBA from 2013 through 2017. Ms. Moradi-Brovia was the LACBA representative for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California’s Bar Advisory Board for 2017.

In December of 2019, Ms. Moradi-Brovia was selected by Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, Hon. Maureen A. Tighe, to the Court’s Small Business Reorganization Task Force whose mission is to work to identify obstacles in the current system for small businesses in distress, perform outreach and education issues in the community and suggest edits to the Court’s Local Rules as related to the new Small Business Reorganization Act.

In 2014, Ms. Moradi-Brovia was selected by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California’s Bar Rules Advisory Group as the Working Group Chair of the “Disclosure Statement in Support of Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization,” “Cash Collateral Motion,” and “Budget Motion” committees working to revise the current versions of those Chapter 11 Individual Debtor forms.

Recent Presentations:

• “Recent, Relevant and Riveting Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Cases” MCLE program for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association on October 11, 2019, with the Hon. Deborah J. Saltzman and Jessica Bagdanov.

•  “Individual Chapter 11s: An Overview” MCLE program from the Orange County Bar Assoc. – Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section on May 23, 2019, with the Hon. Neil W. Bason, Steven Fox, Stella Havkin, Peter Lively, Dennis McGoldrick and moderated by Ed Hays.
• “Key Consumer Cases from Around the Country” MCLE program for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association on March 22, 2018, with the Hon. Sandra R. Klein and Cassandra J. Richey.
•  “Interesting, Important and  All Consuming Opinions of  Central District Bankruptcy Judges” MCLE program for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association on January 19, 2018, with the Hon. Victoria S. Kaufman and James Selth.
• “Consumer Potpourri” MCLE program for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association on May 12, 2017, with Dennis McGoldrick and Nina Javan.
•  “Chapter 11: Essentials and Special Situations” MCLE program for Pincus Professional Education on November 4, 2016, with the Hon. Neil W. Bason, Steven R. Fox, Stella Havkin, Peter Lively, and Dennis McGoldrick.
• “9th Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Review” MCLE program for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association on October 28, 2016, with Katherine C. Bunker and Raymond H. Aver.
• “Elimination of Bias” MCLE program for the cdcbaa at Southwestern Law School on February 27, 2016, with Nancy B. Clark and Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux.
• “When is Conversion Kosher? Exploring the Hows, Whens, and Whys of Converting Cases from One Chapter to Another” MCLE program for the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association (“cdcbaa”) at Southwestern Law School on February 8, 2014, with the Hon. Catherine Bauer and Jeffrey Hagen.
• “An Introduction to Adversary Proceedings” MCLE program for Public Counsel at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Los Angeles Division on July 11, 2013, with the Hon. Sandra R. Klein, and attorneys Magdalena R. Bordeaux and Roye Zur.

Publication: “The Section 1111(b) Election: A Primer,” California Bankruptcy Journal, December 2011 (with M. Jonathan Hayes).

Ms. Moradi-Brovia volunteers regularly at Neighborhood Legal Services’ Bankruptcy Self Help Desk and Public Counsel’s Bankruptcy Self Help Desk and Reaffirmation Clinics.

On September 10, 2014, Ms. Moradi received the Public Counsel Debtor Assistance Project Pro Bono award.

Ms. Moradi-Brovia received her Juris Doctorate from the University of West Los Angeles – School of Law in June of 2009 and was admitted to the State Bar of California and the United States District Court in December of 2009.  Ms. Moradi-Brovia was admitted to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2013. While in law school, Ms. Moradi-Brovia had the privilege of externing for the Hon. Tracy Grant in San Pedro.  Ms. Moradi-Brovia was the Dean of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity her last year of law school.

Ms. Moradi-Brovia immigrated to the United States when she was a child and is fluent in Polish.  She is married and lives in Santa Monica. 

Russell Stong

Certified Bankruptcy Specialist, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization

Associate Attorney, Los Angeles Office 

Office phone number:  (213) 572-0800
russ@rhmfirm.com

Practice Areas:

• Bankruptcy – Individual and Business
• Bankruptcy Litigation

Education:
University of Southern California B.S. Business 1983
University of California Los Angeles Real Estate program 1986 to 1987
University of West Los Angeles School of Law 1994

Real Estate Brokers License 3/19/1988 to present
Real Estate License 1985 -1988
Member of the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association (“CDCBAA”)

Mr. Stong appears in bankruptcy court several times a week and has done so for the past 25 years.  He is especially adept in the chapter 13 and chapter 7 arenas where he helps individuals protect their homes, cars and other assets.  Russ is a highly respected advocate in court and enjoys using his quick oral advocacy skills in front of the Judges.  Russ is passionate about his client’s rights, but commands the respect from his adversaries due to his outgoing personality and pleasant disposition.

Prior to working for Resnik Hayes Moradi LLP Russ represented financial institutions in fraud actions as a creditor’s attorney.  This experience gives him insight into handling individual debtor cases as he understands the mentality and approach of the creditor attorney.  Additionally, Russ developed a strong working relationship with other creditor attorneys, which helps ameliorate complex issues and provide alternatives for his clients. This experience also allowed Russ to argue matters in front of all the Central District Bankruptcy Judges, which enables him to know the patterns and practice of each Bankruptcy Judge.

Prior to becoming an attorney Russ practiced commercial real estate leasing/sales/marketing services including search analysis and lease negotiation. Representing both Landlord and Tenant interests from site location to final occupancy.

Russ passed the certified specialists exam in March 2020 to be a Certified Bankruptcy Specialist, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization.  He is awaiting the actual certification to be issued by the state bar. 

David M. Kritzer
Associate Attorney, Encino Office 

Office phone number:  (818) 285-0100
david@rhmfirm.com

Practice Areas:

• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Civil Litigation – all Federal and State Courts

Education:
Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D. 1993)
1992 – 1993 Moot Court Board – Co-Chair of 1993 Dalsimer Competition
1991 London Program Participant – Moot Court vs. London University

University of California, San Diego, Marshall (Third) College
Bachelor of Arts – Political Science – June 1990
Student Advocate Board, Associated Students – 1985 – 1987

David M.  Kritzer is the primary state court litigator at Resnik Hayes Moradi LLP with over 26 years experience in and out of the courtroom.  He is very active in all of the firm’s litigation matters, regularly appearing in state and federal courts.  He has extensive experience in general business litigation, unlawful detainers, real estate litigation, general commercial and business financial litigation, debtor-creditor litigation, and judgment enforcement with significant discovery, law and motion and trial practice experience.

Mr. Kritzer is married and has three children.  He is very active in the Boy Scouts of America. 

W. Sloan Youkstetter

Certified Bankruptcy Specialist, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization

Associate Attorney, Encino and Los Angeles Offices 

Office phone number:  (213) 572-0800
sloan@rhmfirm.com

Practice Areas:

• Bankruptcy – Individual and Business
• Bankruptcy Litigation

Rozario Zubia
Paralegal, Encino Office

Office phone number:  (818) 285-0100
rosario@rhmfirm.com

Education:  California State University Northridge, 1980s

Rosario was a bankruptcy paralegal for a bankruptcy specialist sole practitioner in Los Angeles from 1994 to 2004.  Rosario began as a paralegal for M. Jonathan Hayes in 2009.  She is also a licensed real estate agent in the State of California.  Rosario works closely with Mr. Hayes and Ms. Moradi-Brovia in the chapter 11 department.  She has significant experience with compliance required by the US Trustee’s Office and with chapter 11 bankruptcy schedules.

Languages spoken: Spanish. 

Susie Segura
Paralegal and Office Manager, Los Angeles Office

Office phone number:  (213) 572-0800
susie@rhmfirm.com

Susie has been a bankruptcy paralegal since 1999.  She worked for the Law Office of Claudia Phillips before she was hired by Matt Resnik in 2004.  She is very experienced in all aspects of consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.

Languages spoken: Spanish.

Max Bonilla
Paralegal, Los Angeles Office

Office phone number:  (213) 572-0800
max@rhmfirm.com

Education: Mt. San Antonio College (A.A. 2006)

Max was a paralegal with a personal injury firm for 4 years.  In 2009, he joined Simon & Resnik, LLP which later became Resnik Hayes Moradi, LLP in 2018.  He is especially knowledgeable with all aspects of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

Languages Spoken: Spanish

Priscilla Bueno
Paralegal, Encino Office

Office phone number:  (818) 285-0100
priscilla@rhmfirm.com

Education: Mission College (A.A. 2011) studying for a paralegal certificate

Priscilla was a paralegal for a worker’s comp and personal attorney for about five years. Then she worked for Bank of America in the trust department and later in the bankruptcy department.  With Bank of America, she was involved with bankruptcy sales for Recontrust.    She joined Resnik Hayes Moradi LLP in April, 2017.  Priscilla is active in the firm’s chapter 13 department.

Languages spoken: Spanish.

Rebeca Benitez
Paralegal, Encino Office 

Office phone number:  (818) 285-0100
rebeca@rhmfirm.com

Education: University of Phoenix, B.S. in Criminal Justice, 2009
Los Angeles Mission College, 2001-2003

Beca has been a bankruptcy and litigation paralegal since 2005. She has extensive experience preparing bankruptcy petitions for all chapters, assisting attorneys with all motions typically found in consumer bankruptcy cases.  She also has extensive experience assisting attorneys with unlawful detainer litigation and general civil litigation in state and federal courts in the Los Angeles area.   Beca is active in the firm’s litigation department.  She works hand in hand with Matt Resnik and David Kritzer and is also active with our consumer debtor clients.

Languages spoken: Spanish.

Offices:

RHM LAW LLP
17609 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 314
Encino, CA 91316
Main Line: (818) 285-0100
Facsimile: (818) 855-7013

RHM LAW LLP
510 West Sixth Street, Suite 1220
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Telephone: (213) 572-0800
Facsimile: (213) 572-0860

www.RHMFirm.com

www.CentralDistrictInsider.com