As attorneys who have been in practice for years, we often reflect back to earlier times when we started our career.

We began our law school years with the expectation that we would leave law school with the skills and training that we needed to start our legal careers. In truth, most of us received knowledge in law school but truly were guided by mentors and advisors along the way. From the campus where we attended law school to the legal community in which we were a part of, legal professionals influenced the future of our careers.

Jeffrey I. Golden will be bestowed with the Peter M. Elliott award on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. The award is given by the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum to a bar member who embodies the principals Judge Elliott demonstrated throughout his career: legal scholarship, mentorship, education, honesty, integrity, commitment to ethics, efficiency and compassion.

Last Law Clerk for Judge Elliott

For Jeff Golden the honor carries great weight since he clerked for Judge Elliott during his final year, and final months at the bench. Golden considers him to be one of his foremost mentors.

Passion for Bankruptcy Law

A passion for bankruptcy law that began during his internship 20 years ago continues today. Over the years Jeffrey Golden has amassed a vast volume of bankruptcy law. He is like a legal treatise of information, with the uncanny ability to cite cases 20 years old, even from other jurisdictions. His colleagues often call on him to discuss legal issues pertaining to bankruptcy and other areas of law. He has been an expert witness for the US Attorney’s Office in some of the most high profile white collar bankruptcy criminal cases on record.

Today he is a Bankruptcy Trustee of the Central District of California, Los Angeles Division, as well as a State Court Receiver. Since 1988, he has represented all the various parties-in-interest in bankruptcy cases. He has represented appellants and appellees to the district court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also admitted to appear in front of the United States Supreme Court.

The Time Has Come for Jeffrey Golden to be the Focus

Jeffrey Golden has not been profiled in a publication such as The Los Angeles Daily Journal. With the interesting sideline story of his clerking for Peter M. Elliott in his final months at the bench, the time is perfect for a feature story.

Judge Elliott knew that death was imminent. He had already sent a letter of resignation to the appellate panel, which they refused. His health was ailing, but he continued his duty on the bench. Golden became more than a clerk. Without his assistance, it would have been virtually impossible for Elliott to get through many of his final days. One of Elliott’s conclusive acts on the bench was to write a letter of recommendation for Golden.

When Jeff began to work with Theodor Albert, he became his other mentor. Today, Theodor Albert sits as a bankruptcy judge. Jeff was a founding member of Weiland, Golden, Smiley, Wang, Ekvall & Strok, LLP. (Formerly, Albert, Weiland, Golden, et al.) As a senior partner at the firm, he is now in the mentor role. He mentors young lawyers both at the firm and throughout the legal community.

He is a past president and former Secretary and Director of the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum. He is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy law, and has presented programs for the Federal Bar Association, the OCBA and the OCBF. He is currently the co-editor-in chief for the California Bankruptcy Journal.

Today Jeff is one of the most well-respected panel trustees in Los Angeles. He has been instrumental in the resolution of so many high profile bankruptcy cases, that it is difficult to name only a few.