James C. Moon

Partner

Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy and Restructuring, Receivership and Assignments, Creditors’ Rights

  • Overview
  • Representative Matters
  • News

About James C. Moon

James “Jim” Moon has extensive experience handling a wide variety of complex civil and cross-border litigation matters in both state and federal courts for sophisticated national and international clients. He has handled all aspects of litigation from inception through trial and appeals to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Jim has handled a wide variety of litigation matters including prosecuting and defending foreclosure actions, pursuing contract and tort claims against large financial institutions such as banks and their professionals. Jim has successfully pursued, and defended against all manner of fraudulent transfer and preference litigation in both state and federal courts. In addition, Jim represents debtors, panel trustees, official and ad hoc committees and individual creditors in complex bankruptcy cases brought under chapter 11 and chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code.

A recognized leader and activist in the LGBTQ community, Jim serves as Vice-Chair and national board member of “A Wider Bridge,” a national civil rights organization advocating for LGBTQ rights inside Israel and support for Israel among the community of nations. Jim also serves as Chair of the SAVE Foundation, and Board Member for SAVE, Inc., collectively South Florida’s leading organizations dedicated to protecting LGBTQ against discrimination, and has served on the board of the Outshine Film Festival. In addition, Jim has been recognized as a leading progressive advocate for Israel by AIPAC, lecturing and writing about the progressive case for support for the State of Israel. Jim is also a board member of the Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation, an organization dedicated to building an effective pathway to diversity in the legal profession by providing opportunities and support to minority and women law students through mentoring programs, networking, and fellowships.

Prior to his legal career, James served for approximately 10 years in the United States Navy aboard ballistic missile and fast-attack submarines as a communications and cryptographic specialist. He also is a Gulf War veteran.

Education

  • University of Connecticut, School of Law, J.D. with honors 2000
  • International Law Programme, Leiden University, Leiden, NL, 1999
  • University of Connecticut, B.G.S, 1995


Memberships

  • Board Member, Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation
  • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Southern District of Florida
  • Member, Business Law Section of the Florida Bar


Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America, listed in the practice areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2022-2024
  • Florida Trend Legal Elite, 2016
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2011-2022
  • Winner, Alva P. Loiselle Moot Court Competition, 1998


Professional Affiliation

  • Past President, Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Southern District of Florida
  • Past Chair, Inclusion/Mentoring/Fellowship Committee of the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar
  • Chair, Bankruptcy/UCC Committee of the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar


Publications and Panels

  • Panelist, “The FAILLA Fallout: What Consumer Bankruptcy Practitioners Need to Know About Surrender,” 25th Annual Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association Seminar, May 2017.
  • Surrender, Reaffirmation and Right to Defend a Post-Discharge Foreclosure Action,” American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, December 2015.
  • One Size Does Not Fit All: Information Sharing Requirements for Official Committees Pursuant to Section 1102(b)(3),” Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law, September 2007.
  • When a creditor is not a creditor: Failure to file a proof of claim may jeopardize party in interest standing,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law, December 2005.
  • Fifth Amendment Apogee: How the Supreme Court’s Ruling in United States v. Balsys Checked American Ideas of Personal Liberty at Our Borders,” 32 Conn.L.Rev. 351 (1999).


Bar Admissions

  • Florida
  • New York
  • Connecticut
  • Southern District of Florida
  • Middle District of Florida
  • Southern District of New York
  • Eastern District of New York
  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Practice Areas

Representative Matters

Bankruptcy

Served as Chapter 11 counsel to IT’SUGAR LLC, a specialty candy retailer with approximately 100 stores and over 700 employees across 28 states. Through extensive negotiations with dozens of landlords, IT’SUGAR was able to obtain millions of dollars in pre and post-petition rent relief, restructure vendor debt, and successfully confirm a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.

Bankruptcy and Restructuring, Corporate

Represented 1433 Collins, LLC, the purchaser of the senior secured loan in the chapter 11 bankruptcy of The Carlton Hotel which loan 1433 successfully sold during the bankruptcy case.

Bankruptcy and Restructuring, Financial Fraud, Commercial Litigation, Creditors' Rights

Represented largest victim in Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Scott Rothstein and Rothstein Rosenfeldt & Adler, P.A. law firm in Fort Lauderdale.

Bankruptcy

Represented multiple Chapter 7 Trustees in avoidance and turnover actions.

Bankruptcy

Represented Marvel-Schebler Aircraft Carburetors as special litigation counsel in the bankrutpcy case of AVStar Fuel Systems, Inc. in dispute involving trademark violations.

Bankruptcy

Represented Airline Container Leasing in defense of action alleging preferences and fraudulent transfers of over $1 million.

Bankruptcy

Represented Pescanova, Inc., one of the top 50 seafood commerce companies in the United States, as creditor in the bankruptcy case of The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.

Bankruptcy

Represented Presidential Homeowners Association, Inc. in bankruptcy cases of Presidential Club, LLP and Presidential Golf Maintenance Association, Inc. Sought and obtained dismissal of the bankruptcy cases of the debtors.

Bankruptcy

Represented 21 Asset Management Holding, LLC in bankruptcy case of 2638 Singer Island, LLC. Sought and obtained bad faith dismissal of the bankruptcy case of the Debtor.

Commercial Litigation

Represented Turks & Caicos corporation defendant through appeal to the Eleventh Circuit in a dispute involving allegations of fraud and corruption.

Commercial Litigation

Represented multiple individual and corporate plaintiffs, including Berjaya Group (Cayman) Limited and Prime Gaming Philippines, Inc. in litigation against Duffy's Holdings, Inc. involving allegations of breaches of a stock purchase agreement regarding the multi-national restaurant chain of Roadhouse Grill, Inc.

Commercial Litigation, Financial Fraud

Represented EMI Resorts, Inc. and 20 related company defendants through two appeals to the Eleventh Circuit in action alleging wire fraud, money laundering and other violations of RICO in an amount of $170 million. Successfully defended the action through the ultimate dismissal of the action by the plaintiffs.

13 Meland Budwick Attorneys Listed in the 2024 Edition of The Best La...

Five Meland Budwick Attorneys Named 2023 Florida Super Lawyers...

James C. Moon Moderates Florida International University College of L...

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Ukrainian mother, daughter fled bombs in Kyiv and ended up in Wilton ...

Wilton Manors Gay Couple Opens Their Doors to Ukrainians Fleeing the ...

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Arcade company exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy...

James Moon featured by the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Association of Sou...

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GameTime Amusement Centers Files Chapter 11...

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KOZYAK MINORITY MENTORING FOUNDATION HAS HELPED FACILITATE MORE THAN ...

Meland Budwick, P.A.’s James C. Moon Appointment to Chair of Bankrupt...

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IT’SUGAR to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy...

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Costa Hollywood Condo-Hotel Bankruptcy Sale to New York Lender Approv...

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Bankruptcy judge approves Madison Realty’s purchase of Costa Hollywoo...

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Lender Acquires Bankrupt Fla. Beach Resort For $43M...

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Coronavirus Thwarts Bidding for Costa Hollywood Beach Resort's Unsold...

Meland Budwick, P.A.’s James C. Moon Appointment to Board of Director...

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Rejection of Songwriter Publishing Agreements in Bankruptcy...

Meland Budwick, P.A.’s James C. Moon Appointed to Board of Directors ...

Meland Budwick, P.A.’s James C. Moon Named to Florida Trend Legal Eli...

Meland Budwick, P.A.’s James C. Moon Appointed Chair-Elect of Inclusi...

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James Moon Joins Board of Directors...

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Surrender, Reaffirmation and Right to Defend a Post-Discharge Foreclo...

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Bankruptcy Judge Sides With Owner on Home Surrender...

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Meland Budwick, P.A., adds three new law partners...

Southern District Bankruptcy Bar Elects James Moon as President and D...

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Voices of the recession...