January 14, 2013, Washington, DC — George R. Pitts, one of Washington, DC’s most prominent bankruptcy law practitioners, has joined Wiley Rein LLP as a partner in its Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Practice.  For more than 25 years, Mr. Pitts has handled complex insolvency cases and commercial litigation in courts throughout the United States.  Over his distinguished career, he has represented numerous financial institutions in connection with a wide range of difficult matters, including multiple jury and bench trials.

“We are delighted to welcome George to our firm,” said Chairman Richard E. Wiley.  “His arrival strengthens our impressive roster of bankruptcy attorneys, and he will be a great asset to our clients.”

Mr. Pitts comes to Wiley Rein from the Washington, DC office of Dickstein Shapiro, where he had been a partner since 1995.  Handling bankruptcy cases spanning 10 states and the District of Columbia, he has represented debtors, financial institutions, financing companies, franchisors, creditors’ committees, trustees, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Resolution Trust Corporation.  His other casework has involved receiverships, mechanics’ liens, foreclosures and issues related to the Uniform Commercial Code.  His extensive litigation experience includes federal and state trials involving unfair competition claims, insurance, real estate, business torts, truth in lending and commercial and partnership disputes.

“George is highly respected and distinguished in the national bankruptcy bar,” said H. Jason Gold, chair of Wiley Rein’s Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Practice.  “His significant background will complement our core bankruptcy practice, and his broad and deep litigation experience will be of particular value to our team.”

Mr. Pitts’ arrival will bolster Wiley Rein’s acclaimed Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Practice, which was named to the top tier in Washington, DC in the 2013 “Best Law Firms” rankings published annually by U.S. News & World Report.  In addition, Chambers USA andThe Legal 500 US consistently rank the group as among the best in Washington, DC and the nation respectively.  The team, one of the largest bankruptcy practices in the Washington, DC area, includes five business bankruptcy lawyers certified by the American Board of Certification.  Mr. Gold, a bankruptcy trustee, was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees.

Mr. Pitts earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and his B.A., with high honors, from Swarthmore College (Phi Beta Kappa).