Howard M Levine

For more than 30 years, Howard has represented businesses and individuals who are confronting complex financial problems and who are in search of creative solutions.  His practice includes representing debtors and creditors in Chapter 11 reorganization cases, out-of-court workouts and debt restructurings, and plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state court litigation.

Howard is licensed to practice law in Oregon and Washington, but he also regularly represents clients involved in complex Chapter 11 cases and federal court litigation throughout the United States.  He has been admitted to practice pro hac vice to appear on behalf of clients with significant issues in courts located in New York, Delaware, Texas, California, Michigan, Florida, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Alaska, and elsewhere.  Howard has represented clients in major cases such as WorldCom, Inc., Enron, Inc., Hawaiian Airlines, PSI Net, Inc., VarTech Inc., Teligent, Inc., and the Diocese of Fairbanks.

Howard's extensive bankruptcy and commercial litigation experience in federal and state courts includes representing parties in complex commercial, UCC, and business disputes, as well as preference, fraudulent conveyance, discharge, and dischargeability litigation. In addition, he has represented state and federal court receivers, including receivers in a golf and country club receivership, a Ponzi-scheme receivership, and a large commercial real estate receivership.

Howard's Chapter 11 debtor practice includes the unique specialty of representing nonprofit religious corporations in Chapter 11 reorganizations. Over the last several years, Howard was debtor-in-possession counsel in the Chapter 11 reorganization cases of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province.

In recognition of his skills and experience, Howard was selected by Best Lawyers® in America as the 2015 "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation – Bankruptcy in the Portland, Oregon area.  Only a single lawyer in each practice area, and designated metropolitan area, is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year," making this accolade particularly significant.  He is also included in the 2015 edition of Best Lawyers® in America in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Litigation. 

Howard has been named an Oregon Super Lawyer® in the Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights Section since 2006.  From 2009 through 2014, Howard has placed among the Top 50 Oregon Super Lawyers®, and in 2012 was named to the Top 10 Oregon Super Lawyers® list.  He has been rated an AV® Preeminent lawyer in Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards, for more than 20 years.

Howard is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a select organization of lawyers, judges, and legal scholars that is limited to less than one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. He is a sought-after speaker and author on commercial law, bankruptcy, and reorganization related issues.

Originally from the New York City metropolitan area, Howard moved to Portland in 1979. After a two-year clerkship with Judge Donal D. Sullivan, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Oregon, Howard joined Sussman Shank as an associate in 1982 and became a partner in 1987