Business Bankruptcy
Colin W. Wied has over four decades of experience as a commercial and business trial and transactions attorney. Beginning in 1995, Mr. Wied was designated a business bankruptcy specialist, certified by both the American Board of Certification and The State Bar of California. He served two three-year terms as a director of the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Mr. Wied is the author of Chapter 11 From Start to Finish – A Comprehensive Guide to Handling a Business Bankruptcy Case, a book for attorneys who wish to expand their practice into representing debtors and creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. More than a treatise on Chapter 11 bankruptcy law and practice, the Guide explains step by step how to handle a Chapter 11 case beginning with client intake and ending with entry of the final decree closing the case. The Guide is presented in four parts: Part One begins with client intake, explains all the steps to be taken through completion of the §341(a) meeting of creditors, and concludes with a brief overview of substantive bankruptcy law. Part Two discusses the non-chronological aspects of Chapter 11 cases, including how to handle single asset, small business and individual debtor cases; how to make and defend motions, applications and adversary proceedings; and how to deal with the United States Trustee’s office and an official unsecured creditors’ committee. Part Three teaches the formulation, drafting and confirmation of a plan of reorganization. Part Four addresses a critical subject never before discussed in bankruptcy literature – attorney advocacy skills in business bankruptcy negotiations and mediation.
Mr. Wied is also the author of Business CPR and Rx – Turnaround, Reorganization and Chapter 11. This book, which is written for CEOs and CFOs, teaches what business schools don’t – i.e., how to resuscitate and reorganize businesses that, for whatever reason, are unable to pay their bills as they come due.
Mediation and Arbitration
Over the last 20 years, Mr. Wied has mediated hundreds of complex business disputes as well as probate and employment matters. He received his mediator training at the National Conflict Resolution Center where he was awarded a mediation credential. As an adjunct professor of law at the University of San Diego Law School, Mr. Wied teaches negotiation and mediation advocacy skills to third year and graduate law students. He is a member of the Panel of Distinguished Mediators of the American Arbitration Association.
Mr. Wied received his arbitrator training from the American Arbitration Association and is a member of its National Commercial Arbitration Panel. He has served as an arbitrator in numerous cases and has chaired three-arbitrator panels.
Teaching
Mr. Wied is an adjunct professor of law at the University of San Diego Law School where he teaches negotiation and mediation advocacy skills to third year and graduate law students. He is available to teach these skills to practicing lawyers in a one-day seminar or, better, in four to five three-hour seminars.
Mr. Wied is currently organizing and moderating 3-hour seminars for California attorneys who wish to expand their practices into handling business bankruptcy cases. For a schedule of upcoming seminars click here.
Significant Positions
Mr. Wied was president of The State Bar of California in 1989 and president of the San Diego County Bar Association in 1979. On the national level, Mr. Wied was the vice-chair of the National Conference of Bar Presidents of the American Bar Association. He is a former chair of the California Law Revision Commission (appointed by the Governor) and a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Before going to law school, Mr. Wied served in the Navy as a naval aviator and continued to participate in the Naval Reserve after leaving active duty. Mr. Wied retired as a Navy captain.
Education
Advanced Mediation Training, International Academy of Mediators, Harvard Law School
Advanced Mediation Training, Southern California Mediation Association, Pepperdine University
Advanced Mediation Training, National Conflict Resolution Center
Advanced Mediation Training, American Arbitration Association
Advance Arbitrator Training, American Arbitration Association
J.D., Boalt Hall Law School, University of California, Berkeley, 1964
A.B., Stanford University, 1961
Honors and Affiliations
Recipient, Honorary LLD Degree, University of San Diego Law School, 1989
Commissioner, California Law Revision Commission, 1991-99
Chairperson, California Law Revision Commission, 1995-96
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Member, Business Trial Lawyers Association
Member American Bankruptcy Institute and served on its board of directors for six years
Member Business Law Section (Business Bankruptcy Committee), American Bar Association
Dispute Resolution Section, American Bar Association
Member, San Diego Rotary
President, The State Bar of California, 1988-89
President, San Diego County Bar Association, 1978-79
