Joe Sakay is a Shareholder in the Firm’s Seattle, Portland, and Denver offices and a member of its Insolvency and Financial Law practice group. He has a multifaceted insolvency and bankruptcy practice, representing creditors, debtors, and committees in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. For over three decades, Joe has provided common-sense advice and no-nonsense representation to his clients. He currently represents clients as lead counsel in complex bankruptcy cases as well as providing advice on emerging issues in cryptocurrency bankruptcies. Joe has a strong record of pursuing claims in bankruptcy cases and obtaining non-dischargeability rulings in matters involving Ponzis, fraud, and the hiding of assets.
Over his 30-year career, Joe has appeared in bankruptcies across the United States involving matters under all chapters of the Bankruptcy Code. He has extensive experience with Subchapter V proceedings. Given Canada’s proximity to the Pacific Northwest Joe has handled numerous cases under Chapter 15. His cross-border insolvency work also has spanned the globe, associating with co-counsel in countries including the Cayman Islands, China, Japan, Korea, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. Mr. Sakay routinely provides advice regarding the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency.
Joe started his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Richard P. Matsch, a former bankruptcy judge, then Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.