Basic Bankruptcy for Consumers 2025

Howard Gershman, the principal of Gershman Law Office, Ft. Washington, PA, is a graduate of LaSalle University and Temple University School of Law. He is a member of the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Courts. He has contributed work for the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal as well as to the Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law (2019). Designated as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in Bankruptcy since 2005, Mr. Gershman has participated as a panelist, generally on creditor rights and secured claims issues, in continuing legal education seminars including those for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, Eastern District (PA) Bankruptcy Conference, the Middle District (PA) Bankruptcy Bar Association, and Montgomery Bar Association.

Mr. Young is a shareholder at CGA Law Firm and currently chairs the firm’s Bankruptcy Department. For 2020 – 2023, the CGA Bankruptcy Department has caused CGA to be ranked a Tier #1 Law Firm by U.S. News and World Report. He is certified as a Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist by the American Board of Certification. Mr. Young routinely handles representation of consumers in Chapter 7 and 13, and  representation in Chapter 11 filings for small businesses. From 2006 through 2020, he has been selected to the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. He is currently a member of the Panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, having served as a Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 Trustee since 1978. Mr. Young is a past president of the York County Bar Association, the York County Bar Foundation, the Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association and Central Pennsylvania Legal Services. He received his B.A. in 1971 from Colgate University and his J.D. in 1974 from Washington and Lee University Law School.

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.