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Toll Free: 866.461.9674 Phone: 608.807.0262
November 21, 2008

Attorneys

James D. Sweet 
33 East Main Street
Suite 500
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
phone (608) 268-5611
fax (608) 257-2508
email jsweet@murphydesmond.com

Mr. Sweet's practice emphasizes the areas of corporate restructuring and reorganization and newly formed companies. He was ranked as one of the top bankruptcy lawyers in Dane County in a poll of lawyers published by Madison Magazine in 2007, and continues to be listed in "Best Lawyers in America."  He was recently voted as one of Wisconsin's "Super Lawyers."

He primarily represents corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and sole proprietors to restructure their businesses and/or finances informally or in Chapter 11 proceedings. He also represents new companies at the formation and capital raising phases.  This activity includes negotiating refinancing, purchase and sale of businesses, and business expansion and contraction. He also represents creditors' committees, bankruptcy trustees, receivers and secured creditors. Mr. Sweet also acts as a receiver in state court receivership cases.  More recently, Mr. Sweet has represented companies acquiring the assets of or merging with other companies, and start-up companies who require structuring, finance and equity infusions.

A shareholder in Murphy Desmond S.C. since 1982, Mr. Sweet has served on numerous professional education, certification and standards committees relating to bankruptcy issues.

He lectures on such topics as creditor/debtor rights and obligations under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, marital property aspects of creditor/debtor relations, and a variety of bankruptcy and ethics issues for multiple continuing education providers, the University of Wisconsin School of Law, and the Iowa Annual Bankruptcy Seminar.

Areas of Practice:
Creditors' Rights, Commercial Litigation and Bankruptcy
Business
Bar Admissions:
Wisconsin, 1978
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1978
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1983
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Lecturer: Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Practice, University of Wisconsin Law School


SBI Annual Bankruptcy Seminar (Iowa)


Honors and Awards:
Ranked as One of the Top Financial Services/Commercial Lending Law and Bankruptcy Lawyers, Dane County, Madison Magazine


Education:
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 1978
J.D.


University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, 1975
B.A.


Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Bar Association
Member


State Bar of Wisconsin, 1988 - 1991
Board of Governors


State Bar of Wisconsin, 1989 - 1991
Chairman, CLE Committee (ATS-CLE)


State Bar of Wisconsin, 1996 - 2000
Chairman, CLE Committee (ATS-CLE)


State Bar of Wisconsin, 1991 - 2000
Member, CLE Committee


State Bar of Wisconsin, Bankruptcy Section, 1991 - 1995
Chairman and Past Program Chairman


Dane County Bar Association
Member


Western District of Wisconsin Bankruptcy Bar Association
Past President and Founding Member


American Bankruptcy Institute, 1991 - Present
Chairman, Western District Membership Committee


American Bankruptcy Institute, 1999 - 2005
Co-Chair, Professional Compensation Committee


American Bankruptcy Institute
Member of ABI Special Fee Study Committee 2005-Present


American Board of Certification, 1998 - 1999
Chairman of the Board


American Board of Certification, 1997 - 1998
President


American Board of Certification, 1991 - 2001
Board of Directors


American Board of Certification, 1992 - 1997
Member, Standards Committee


American Board of Certification, 1995 - 1996
Chairman, Standards Committee


American Board of Certification, 1995 - 1996
Treasurer


Commercial Law League of America
Member


Bishops Bay Country Club, 2003 - Present
Board of Directors


Bishops Bay Country Club, 2003 - Present
President


Published Works:
Collection and Bankruptcy, Volume 4, Wisconsin Business Advisor Series, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2006