Robert S. DiPalma, Director

Commercial Transactions and Disputes, Creditors' Rights

RDipalma@PFClaw.com

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Commercial Transactions and Dispute Resolution

Mr. DiPalma’s commercial practice includes the representation of lenders in commercial finance transactions; intellectual property litigation, including trademark and copyright infringement, and opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Patent and Trademark Office; the litigation of disputes arising under the Uniform Commercial Code; and commercial lease disputes.  

He has represented utility entities in matters before the Vermont Public Service Board, including rate cases and certificate of public good proceedings for the construction of facilities and related matters.

As a part of Mr. DiPalma’s commercial litigation practice, he has been involved in a number of intra-corporate disputes involving minority shareholder oppression or squeeze-out claims, procedural disputes under corporate by-laws, and other claims implicating corporate D & O coverage.

Creditors' Rights and Insolvency:

Mr. DiPalma's creditors' rights practice includes the representation of institutional lenders and other clients in the workout of troubled debt, asset recovery and foreclosure proceedings.  He represents parties in all facets of Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 bankruptcy proceedings. His bankruptcy and workout clients include institutional lenders, trade creditors, purchasers of assets, and other parties in their dealings with financially troubled or insolvent entities.

Mr. DiPalma is a vice-president of the firm and presently serves on its three-member Executive Committee.

EDUCATION:
St. Lawrence University B.A., (cum laude),1974
St. Lawrence University, M.Ed., 1975
Albany Law School, J.D. (cum laude),1980

BAR ADMISSIONS:
State of Vermont, 1981
U.S. District Court, District of Vermont, 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1994

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
American Bar Association
Vermont Bar Association
Chittenden County Bar Association
American Bankruptcy Institute

INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS:
Harmonie Group

REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED CASES:

Vermont Plastics, Inc. v. Brine, Inc., 79
F.3d 272 (1996)

Von Turkovich v. APC Capital Partners,
259 F.Supp. 2d 314 (2003)

In re Cavacas, 2004 WL 1661008
(Bankr. D. Vt. 7/22/04)

In re Gorruso, 2004 WL 169706
(Bankr. D. Vt. 1/22/04)

Downtown Barre Development v. C &
S Wholesale Grocers, Inc., 177 Vt.
70 (2004)

Town of Killington v. Vermont
Department of Taxes, 176 Vt. 70
(2003)

Hospitality Inns, Inc. v. South
Burlington R.I., Inc., 153 Vt. 410
(1989)