Hon. Lee R. Bogdanoff (Ret.) joins JAMS following a distinguished career as a judicial officer in probate and, before that, as a nationally recognized practitioner in bankruptcy, reorganization and business/commercial disputes. Judge Bogdanoff brings wide experience in both federal and state courts, a well-honed business acumen developed through his nationally recognized practice, and a practical approach to disputes. Most recently, he served as a superior court judge in Los Angeles County, handling estate, trust, conservatorship, guardianship and related civil matters; presiding over numerous trials and issuing statements of decisions and rulings that were widely circulated among judicial officers and the bar; and serving as a settlement judge. He developed a reputation as a judicial officer who did his homework and brought a direct, commonsense approach to disputes. During his tenure, Judge Bogdanoff had a unique ability to resolve disputes, even on the eve of trial. He understands the dynamics of family disputes that often characterize probate litigation and has written extensively about this topic in his decisions. 

Before serving as a judicial officer, Judge Bogdanoff spent over 30 years as a leader in the areas of bankruptcy, reorganization and business/commercial, working on many of the largest and most complex cases at the time, including representing the Enron, Washington Mutual and IndyMac estates in groundbreaking commercial litigation. He also served as one of the lead counsel in the chapter 9 cases of Orange County, California, and Jefferson County, Alabama, among other matters. His experience involves an array of industries, including agribusiness, construction, energy, entertainment, gaming, health care, manufacturing, real estate, telecommunications and technology. As a practitioner, he served as a private mediator in business/commercial and bankruptcy disputes. In his practice, Judge Bogdanoff was known nationally for putting together complex, multiparty settlements of what appeared to be otherwise intractable disputes and for being deal oriented. 

Now, Judge Bogdanoff brings his detail-oriented and practical approach as a dedicated dispute resolution practitioner. For probate practitioners, he offers a deep knowledge of the law of estates, trusts and all related probate matters, as well as an understanding of the dynamics that can lead to the successful resolution of probate disputes. For bankruptcy, reorganization and business/commercial practitioners, he offers years of experience and an in-depth knowledge of fraudulent transfer, preference, valuation and other issues arising in bankruptcy and reorganization cases and in successfully putting together deals against the backdrop of his experience as a judicial officer.

As a practitioner, Judge Bogdanoff was an accomplished trial attorney. As a judicial officer, he conducted multiple trials efficiently and effectively, bringing to the fore skills that will serve him well as an arbitrator.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• As a mandatory settlement judge, handled mandatory settlement conferences; Sometimes, parties stipulated to Judge Bogdanoff serving as a mandatory settlement judge while continuing as the assigned judicial officer, and in other cases, he served as a mediation judge for case assigned to another officer
• As a private practitioner, participated in many mediations and served as a private mediator at the request of parties
• As a private practitioner, engaged in prodigious negotiations in insolvency and reorganization and was a master at structuring deals

Representative Matters

• Bankruptcy
• As a practitioner, represented companies, creditors’ committees, equity committees, creditors, acquirers and interested parties in midsize and large chapter 11 and chapter 9 cases across the United States
• As a practitioner, represented estate representatives as well as defendants in preference and fraudulent transfer litigation
• As a practitioner, represented estate representatives, creditors and interested parties in valuation and allocation issues
• As a private mediator selected by the parties, resolved a contested reorganization case involving commercial properties and valuation disputes
• As a private mediator selected by the parties at the urging of the bankruptcy court, resolved disputes involving a municipal financing transaction
• As a private mediator selected by the parties, resolved a contested reorganization case involving a company engaged in manufacturing and disputes regarding collective bargaining agreements
• Business Commercial
• As a judge, conducted trial involving breach of contract and fraud claims arising from commercial transaction
• As a judge, decided contested matters relating to the purchase and sale of real property, corporate governance and shareholders’ rights arising in the context of trust cases
• As a practitioner, involved in multiple disputes and actions relating to corporate governance, breach of fiduciary duty, executive compensation, insurance, shareholder derivative actions, usurpation of corporate opportunities and alter ego actions arising in the context of insolvency and reorganization cases
• Estate Probate Trusts
• As a judge, decided multiple contested matters, including motions and evidentiary hearings
• As a judge, conducted trials involving issues arising under trusts, including breach of fiduciary duty, the scope of a trustee’s powers under trust instruments, capacity, undue influence and standing
• As a judge, conducted trials involving issues arising in connection with the administration of estates, including breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, forgery, testamentary capacity, undue influence and elder abuse
• As a judge, conducted trials involving conservatorship and guardianship appointments, petitions for removal and petitions to terminate proceedings
• As a mandatory settlement judge in a case presided over by another judicial officer, resolved disputes involving claims by a trust beneficiary against a trustee alleging breach of duty against the trustee and asserting rights to additional financial support from the trust; matter was resolved in a one-day mandatory settlement conference
• As a mandatory settlement judge, resolved multiyear litigation involving claims for breach of fiduciary duty for improvement investments by the trustee and failure to account; matter was resolved in lieu of trial that had begun
• As a mandatory settlement judge, resolved disputes involving a trust accounting that had languished for years before he took the bench; dispute was resolved on the eve of trial through the parties’ acceptance of a mediator’s proposal
• As a mandatory settlement judge, resolved disputes among competing petitioners seeking to serve as estate administrator

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy, 2003 (inducted)
• Volunteer, Domestic Violence Project, Legal Aid Foundation, 2017–2020
• Bankruptcy Litigator of the Year, Best Lawyers, 2014 and 2016
• Top 500 Lawyers Global, Intercontinental Finance Magazine, 2010–2011
• K&A Restructuring Register (top 75 restructuring lawyers nationally and top 16 nationally from 2001 to 2009 (duration of publication))
• Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year, Century City Bar Association, 2007
• Chambers USA Bankruptcy/Restructuring California (Band 1 California, Band 2 National), 2010–2017
• Member, American Bar Association, 1986–2019
  • Electronic Discovery Subcommittee, 2015–2016
• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association, 1986–2019
• Member Financial Lawyers Association, 1986–2017

Background and Education

• Superior Court Judge, County of Los Angeles, 2020–2024
• Temporary Judge, County of Los Angeles Superior Court, 2017–2020
• Co-Founding Member; Klee, Tuchin, Bogdanoff & Stern; 1999–2017
  • Of Counsel, 2017–2020
• Senior Shareholder; Stutman, Triester & Glatt PC; 1992–1999
  • Associate and Junior Shareholder, 1986–1992
• Law Clerk, Hon. David Thompson, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1985–1986
• Juris Doctor, Order of the Coif, UC Berkeley School of Law, 1985
• Bachelor of Science, Phi Beta Kappa, University of California, Davis, 1982