Robert A. Gordon

Judge Robert A. Gordon is a bankruptcy and creditors’ rights attorney who focuses on representing clients in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Prior to joining Lerch Early, Robert served for 14 years as a judge on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.

Robert describes himself as "a servant of my community, dedicated to fairness, justice, and equality under the law." He is a passionate and engaged teacher and learner of the law who has over 35 years of experience as both an attorney in private practice and on the bench as a bankruptcy judge. An attorney who practiced before him describes Robert as "a dignified professional, faithful to the law and the maintenance of his own professional competence."

Robert represents clients in secured lender representation in bankruptcy, work-outs, and commercial litigation, while also representing debtors, trustees and creditors’ committees in consumer and commercial bankruptcy cases. He has litigated and managed a variety of non-bankruptcy civil actions involving millions of dollars in assets as both defendants’ and plaintiffs’ counsel. In addition, he represents parties in state court liquidation proceedings including receiverships and assignments for the benefit of creditors.

He is also available to serve as a mediator, arbitrator, liquidator, or master, and is qualified to evaluate disputes, and testify and serve, as an expert in matters involving a wide range of insolvency related issues, including bankruptcy, reorganization, commercial disputes, the standard of care, and fiduciary obligations.

Robert has long been active in the community, developing and managing the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland’s Debtor Assistance Project, contributing to the Maryland State Bar Association's Lawyer’s Assistance Program, which helps legal professionals with substance abuse and mental health challenges, and serving as a leader and participant in the federal judiciary’s national bankruptcy diversity program.

A New York City native, Robert has lived in Maryland since 1979 when he came here to attend law school, though he remains an adoring New York Yankees fan. He has three adult children, Drew, Pierce, and Alex, and a 96-year-old mother, Patricia, who still believes she can change the world for the good through passionate action.

Robert loves to write creatively and aspires to publish, and he is a music fanatic, both as a listener and as a guitarist with his jazz band.

Education

University of Maryland School of Law (J.D., 1982)

Colgate University (B.A., 1978)

Admissions

Maryland

District of Columbia

U.S. District Court, District of Maryland

U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

• National Bar Association, Member Bankruptcy Section (2000-2007, 2019-Present)
• Maryland State Bar Association-Bates/Vincent Foundation-Emergency Funding for Legal Professionals Who Require Substance Abuse Treatment-Director and Treasurer (2005-Present)
• Maryland State Bar Association, Lawyer's Assistance Program, Formerly Lawyer's Counseling Committee-Assisting Legal Professionals with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Challenges (Member, 1996-Present; Chair, 2002-2006)
• Received the 2014 Mercer Leadership Class of Distinction Award House of Ruth, Maryland-Emergency Shelter and Housing for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence-Daycare Center Volunteer (2007-2008; 2018-2019)
• Just the Beginning Foundation Summer Internship Program-Hiring Interns of Color (2009-2019)
• Greater Baltimore Committee, Leadership Class of 1995, Class Representative (2008-2016)
• Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Inc.-2009 Special Project Award to honor the Court's leadership in launching the Debtor's Assistance Program to honor the Court's leadership in launching the Debtor's Assistance Program
• Just the Beginning Foundation-Eighth Biennial Conference, September 25-28, 2008-Reaching Back, Lifting Up-Regional Co-chair, Robes in the Schools Committee, Public Education Committee, Youth Panels & Mock Trial Subcommittee, Executive and Planning Committee, Judicial Advisory Committee
• Centennial High School Band Backers, President (2004-2006)
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, Maryland Chapter, Member of the Board of Directors (2002-2006)
• Bar Association of Baltimore City, Lawyer's Counseling Committee (2000-2006)
• Burleigh Manor Middle School Parents Music Association, Vice President (1998-2005)
• Leukemia Society of America, Maryland Chapter-"Man of the Year" (1997-1998)
• Boy Scouts of America, Fundraiser and Boy Scout Leader (1995-2002)
• Project PLASE, Services for the Homeless, Director (1989-1994)

• National Bar Association (1997-2006, 2019-Present)
• American Bankruptcy Institute (1994-2006, 2019-Present)
• District of Columbia Bar Association (2001 – Present)
• Maryland State Bar Association (1996 – Present)
• Maryland State Bar Association’s Lawyer Assistance Program (Member, 1996-Present; Chairman, 2002-2006)
• National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (National Bar Association Liaison Committee; Conference News Committee, 2006 – Present )
• American Bar Association (1984-2006, 2014-2017)
• Baltimore City Bar Association (Member, 1990-2006; Lawyer’s Counseling Committee, 2000-2002)
• Bankruptcy Bar Association, District of Maryland (1995-2006)
• Monumental City Bar Foundation (Board member, 2002-2010; Treasurer, 2004-2010)
• Urban Financial Services Coalition, formerly known as the Maryland Association of Urban Bankers (Parliamentarian, Director and Program Planner, Multiple Years, 1992-2006)

• Bankruptcy/Financial Restructuring