Gerald H. Schiff

Jerry Schiff practices in the areas of mediation, bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law.  He joined the firm in 2006 after serving over a decade as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.  While he principally presided over cases in the Lafayette, Opelousas and Lake Charles Divisions of the Western District, he occasionally sat in the Shreveport and Alexandria Divisions, as well as the Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana.  It was in the latter District where he presided over the Chapter 11 case of Cajun Electric Co-operative, Inc., which, at the time, was one of the largest reorganization cases ever filed in the United States.

During the latter years of his term, and after having completed the mediation course offered by the Federal Judicial Center, Jerry began to assist other Bankruptcy Judges by acting as a mediator.  His mediations included cases pending in Bankruptcy Courts in Louisiana, Texas and New Jersey.

Prior to his service on the bench, Jerry practiced bankruptcy law from all perspectives—debtor, creditor, trustee, and creditors’ committees — at the law firm of Sandoz, Sandoz & Schiff in Opelousas, Louisiana.  It was there that he also gained experience with Chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code.  He has spoken on various aspects of bankruptcy law at numerous seminars, and is a regular participant in the Annual Bankruptcy Law Seminar sponsored by the Louisiana State University Center for Continuing Professional Development.

Upon graduation from law school, Jerry was inducted into the Order of the Coif.  He proudly served two years in the U.S. Army.