Leon Jon Bonney

Attorney Work Experience:

• Position.  Sole Practitioner.  Leon Jon Bonney & Associates Attorney at Law.  2004 to Present.  Principal and sole proprietor located in San Francisco California.  Practice focuses on Bankruptcy and Insolvency related issues including representation of debtors and creditors under Chapters 7, 11, and 13.  In addition, legal representation is offered for individual tax defense and resolution, and for small businesses in area of business law and start up.
• Positions.  Managing Senior Counsel.  Office of the Chapter 13 Standing Trustee Devin Derham Burk, USBC – NDC Division 5, July 1996 to November 2004.  Responsible for general management and supervision of 32 employees including 4 supervisors.  In this role, I was second in line in management and responsibility.  Responsible for legal case coordination, management and prosecution.  Drafted complaints, answers to complaints, motions, memoranda of points and authorities.  Conducted legal research and wrote opinions for internal use and dissemination among the Bankruptcy Bar.  Conducted case mediation among disputing parties.  Involved in all phases and management of litigation including decision-making, prosecution of complaints, discovery and motions.  Acted, as assigned, as a presiding hearing officer responsible for conducting administrative hearings known as Meetings of Creditors pursuant to 11 USC §341.  Engaged in and participated in policy meetings involving the judiciary, the bar and the United States Trustee.   Testified before the Bankruptcy Review Commission – Regional Meeting San Antonio Texas (April 2000).  Conducted legal seminars, conducted consumer education classes, and spoke at various professional seminars on behalf of the Trustee’s office.  Additionally, responsible for identifying and referring for investigation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and recommendation for prosecution to the United States Attorney.  The duty included prosecuting the case in the Federal Bankruptcy Court while the case was referred to investigative authorities.  (Three cases of four resulted in a conviction of the debtor-defendant.)  The position of Standing Trustee is filled by appointment by the United States Trustee, Region 17, United States Department of Justice.
              Business Examiner.  Developed position for employer to comply with Title 11 requirements for examination of insolvent businesses seeking relief to reorganize financially under federal insolvency laws.  Assumed position as Business Examiner for employer.  Conducted business exams of insolvent businesses focusing on income and liabilities, compliance with Title 11 requirements for relief, insuring adequate disclosure of assets, and determining whether the business sufficiently viable to emerge successfully from financial reorganization.
              Instructor “Consumer Finance – Debtor Education” class.  Co-developed and taught curriculum for a consumer finance class.
• Position.  Chief Counsel.  Office of the Chapter 13 Standing Trustee Duncan H. Kester, USBC – NDC Divisions 3 & 5, September 1, 1992 to July 1996.  Duties were similar to those outlined above under Devin Derham Burk.
• Position.  Sole Practitioner San Francisco, California and Of Counsel to Roobostoff & Kalkin 1990 to 1992.  Represented consumers, creditors, proprietorships, corporations, partnerships, and bankruptcy trustees under Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13
• Position.  Partner, Taylor, West & Bonney, San Francisco, California 1988 to 1990.  Litigation, and staff management
• Position.  Shareholder & Managing Attorney – Business Division, Max Cline & Associates 1983 to 1988.  Twenty-six offices located in Northern and Southern California.  Litigation and consultation.    In addition to legal practice, managed and supervised 13 attorneys and 15 paralegals.

Education:

• B.A. San Francisco State University 1979; Major: Social Historical Psychology and Anthropology, a Specialized Major in Humanities.  Additional undergraduate work at the University of New Mexico - Albuquerque
• J.D. University of California Hastings College of Law 1982
  Law Clerk Extern California Supreme Court, Justice Cruz Reynoso
  Moot Court Award Nominee

Extracurricular Activities & Experience

• Scuba Diving & Free Diving including professional instruction, training and guiding.  ~Professional Scuba Dive Instructor and Dive Safety Trainer.  Certified by P.A.D.I. M.S.D.T. 187747 and D.A.N.  Instruct in all levels of scuba certification, training and safety from beginning level to advanced recreational diver to professional level diver.  Taught beginning and advanced diving skills, dive theory, planning, dive profile calculation, skills, physiology, physics, and safety.  Teaching occurs in a classroom, and in confined water and in open water. 
       As a diver, I have over one-thousand logged dives in the U.S. and overseas.
• Coach Women’s Soccer Club, Burlingame Park & Recreation Dept. Women’s 35+ league. Volunteer Coach for Boys & Girls Basketball, Baseball & Softball – Holy Name School, San Francisco California –  1988 to 1998
• Underwater Photography
• Oil & Acrylic Painting
• Wilderness Guide & Trainer – 1975 to 1979