News
- January 4, 2021
Events
- Pennsylvania Bar Institute (Webcast)October 30, 2020
Publications
- Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy AlertMay 6, 2020
James C. Vandermark Counsel
Philadelphia, PA | Direct 215.864.6857
vandermarkj@whiteandwilliams.com
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James concentrates his practice in the areas of bankruptcy, tax, and commercial law. He represents a variety of businesses, including financial institutions, corporations, insurance companies and government entities. His experience includes advising creditors and debtors in commercial and consumer bankruptcy cases as well as complex state and local tax matters. James also represents clients involved in bankruptcy restructuring efforts and adversarial proceedings, disputes involving business tax and real estate tax assessments, and other sophisticated commercial litigation matters.
Prior to joining White and Williams, James was a Deputy City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia. In that role, he handled litigation involving creditor’s rights, tax disputes and other civil matters for local government agencies. He has extensive experience representing clients before administrative boards, trial courts and has handled appeals before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, Pennsylvania Supreme Court and The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
James works closely with clients to fully understand their needs and to formulate practical and efficient strategies for managing risks, resolving disputes, and reaching their goals. He is also actively involved in several industry associations, including the Philadelphia State and Local Tax Committee and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference, for which he served on the Local Rules Committee.
Representative Matters
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Represented an international construction equipment company against preference and fraudulent transfer claims utilizing mechanic’s liens and warranties as additional defenses to the avoidance claims. In re Magnetation LLC, et al., (Bankr. D. Minn. 15-50307)
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Successfully enforced client’s mechanic’s lien rights and recovered over $1M of assets from failed nuclear projects in Georgia and South Carolina; negotiated amendments to several commercial purchase order and equipment agreements as well as recovered prepetition and administrative expense claims on behalf of large commercial mining and construction companies in excess of $500K. In re Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, et al., (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 17-10751)
- Represented the City of Philadelphia in a state court trial and appeal involving the fair market value of a condominium development for real estate tax purposes. After three years of litigation, the City received favorable decisions before both the Court of Common Pleas and the Commonwealth Court, which resulted in an adjustment to the real estate assessment in excess of $70M. Dockside Associates/Pier 30, LP v. City of Philadelphia, No. 2258 C.D. 14 (Pa. Cmwlth 2016)
- Defended the City of Philadelphia in a bankruptcy adversary proceeding brought by a debtor seeking damages, including attorney fees, for an alleged violation of the automatic say. Although, the Bankruptcy Court found the City’s acts constituted a willful violation, the City argued that attorney’s fees could not be awarded as the debtor failed to establish the City’s acts caused an injury. On appeal, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania overruled the Bankruptcy Court and found in favor of the City. City of Philadelphia, Civil Action No. 15-01685 (E.D. Pa. 2015)
- Represented the First Judicial District (FJD) against allegations brought by a debtor that the FJD efforts to collect prepetition court costs violated the discharge order entered in the debtor’s bankruptcy case. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals, in a matter of first impression, agreed with the FJD’s position and found court costs excepted from discharge and thus, attempts to collect prepetition criminal court costs do not violate a discharge order. In re Lopez, No. 13-3620 (3d Cir. 2014)
- Handled preference actions, claims objections, and adversary proceedings for secured and unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, including: Hostess Brands Inc. (S.D. NY), American Airlines (S.D. NY), and Circuit City (E.D. Va.)
Recognition & Involvement
James is the immediate Past-President of the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association.
News
- January 4, 2021
- December 20, 2019
- May 14, 2019
- January 24, 2019
- Convene at the Cira Center (Philadelphia, PA)January 18, 2018
Events
- Pennsylvania Bar Institute (Webcast)October 30, 2020
- WebinarJune 24, 2020 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- EDPABC 31st Annual Forum (Philadelphia, PA)January 24, 2020
- PBI Bankruptcy InstituteSeptember 25, 2019
- EDPABC 30th Annual Forum (Atlantic City, NJ)January 25, 2019
- PBI Annual Bankruptcy Institute (Philadelphia, PA)October 24, 2018
- Philadelphia Bar Association Bench-Bar & Annual Conference (Atlantic City, NJ)October 12, 2018
- Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference (Philadelphia, PA)January 18, 2018
- The Chapter 13 is Ending – Now What?PBI Annual Bankruptcy Institute (Philadelphia, PA)October 20, 2016
- The Chapter 13 is Ending – Now What?PBI Annual Bankruptcy Institute (Pittsburgh, PA)September 8, 2016
- 19th Annual Bankruptcy Institute for Taxes and Bankruptcy: Prepetition Strategies and Post-Petition Consequences, SpeakerOctober 2014
- Government and Utility Claims in Bankruptcy, PanelJuly 2013
- State and Local Taxes and Judgment Enforcement, PanelistJuly 2012
Publications
- Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy AlertMay 6, 2020
- Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy AlertApril 24, 2020
- Finance AlertSeptember 16, 2019
- Real Estate AlertJuly 18, 2019
- Real Estate AlertFebruary 5, 2019
- Tax and Estates AlertSeptember 5, 2017
- Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy AlertAugust 15, 2017
- Tax AlertJune 26, 2017
- Spring 2017
- Real Estate AlertDecember 27, 2016
- Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy AlertNovember 30, 2016
- Tax and Real Estate AlertSeptember 30, 2016
Practice areas
Bar and Court Admissions
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Education
Temple University, JD, 2009, LLM in Taxation, 2010
Gannon University, BS, 2005
University of Pittsburgh, BA & BS, 2003
Memberships
Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference; Local Rules Committee
Independence Business Alliance
Lawyers Club of Philadelphia
Philadelphia State and Local Tax Committee
Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association