Bankruptcy Trends & Predictions 2026

James K. Jones practices with CGA Law Firm as an attorney in the Bankruptcy and Debt Restructuring group. He focuses his practice toward consumer bankruptcy clients (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13) as well as business bankruptcies (Chapter 11 and Chapter 12), reorganizations, debt restructuring, and workouts. Jim’s practice in the area of bankruptcy law began in 1993. He continued to hone his skills as a private practitioner through 2006. At that point, he was asked to serve as a staff attorney for the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. In that capacity, he represented the Trustee before the Bankruptcy Court, reviewed documents filed with the Court, and objected to and defended such objections to said documents as necessary. Jim also served as a resource to other practitioners in their efforts to represent their clients. Jim left the Trustee’s office in 2023 to resume his private practice career. During this period, he delved into corporate bankruptcies to more fully serve his clients. He also represents creditors in divorces, other family law cases, as well as general collection matters. Jim’s breadth of experience in dealing with bankruptcy issues made him a valuable member of the Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association. He served twice as President, as well as Vice President, Treasurer and Board Director. He regularly contributes his knowledge and experience as a lecturer at the Association’s Annual Conference and webinars. The Pennsylvania Bar Institute requests his services to present sessions to bankruptcy practitioners on a variety of related topics. Jim also serves as Chairperson of the district’s Local Rules and Forms Committee which operates in a coordinating capacity between lawyers and the judges. When not practicing law, Jim remains active in several community activities. He served a treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 189 (Carlisle, PA) where both of his children earned their Eagle Scout rank. His Knights of Columbus council elected him as Grand Knight three times, as well as serving as District Deputy and Faithful Navigator. He also filled the position of treasurer for his Ancient Order of Hibernians division. He remains active in his church as a lecturer, usher and general do-gooder. He currently serves as treasurer and board member for PUCHOG, Inc. which is a non-profit organization that puts wounded veterans on the ice to play the adaptive sport of ice hockey through a standing team and a sled team.

Dawn Marie Cutaia graduated from the Dickinson School of Law in 1996 and has been practicing law since that time. Dawn is the managing member of Fresh Start Law, PLLC in West York, Pennsylvania. Together with her law partner, Suzanne Smith, Esquire, Fresh Start Law concentrates on bankruptcy and pardons, both areas of the law that help clients get a fresh start in life. Dawn is a past president of the Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association and currently assists the MDBBA with its webinar program and website administration. In her spare time, Dawn enjoys spoiling her dog, quilting, and defending democracy. Dawn occasionally writes politically progressive op-eds for her local newspaper, the York Daily Record, which often results in her receiving entertaining hate mail replete with grammatical errors.

Mr. Chernicoff has been practicing law for almost 50 years. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 1976. Prior to that, he received a BA in history and political science from the University of Rochester in 1973. During the course of Mr. Chemicoff’s private practice, which has occurred for approximately 45 years, he spends the majority of his time doing Chapter 11 reorganizational bankruptcy work. He has represented many entities and individuals in Bankruptcy Court proceedings in multiple Courts. In particular, over the last several years. he has filed the majority of the Chapter 11 cases in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. In addition to practicing bankruptcy, Mr. Chemicoff has also practiced in transactional, tax services and related areas of the law. As part of his legal practice, Mr. Chemicoff has previously been the Chairman of the Dauphin County Bar Association Bankruptcy Section for many years. He is also on the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Court Advisory Committee and he was previously on the Court’s Rules Committee. When the Rules were first enacted in detail, he contributed to the drafting of many of the Rules. He frequently lectures to other lawyers and teaches seminars on bankruptcy, business law and related fields and has been doing so for many years.