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Cleveland, Ohio 44114
As chair of the firm’s Business Practice Area, Rocco I. Debitetto counsels businesses and individuals in connection with a variety of matters pertinent to all phases of business operations. He has been involved in a variety of commercial transactions from all sides of the table, including asset sales and acquisitions, business start-ups, significant contract negotiations, and commercial and asset-based financings. Several businesses further look to Rocco on a regular basis as their outside general counsel, tasked with addressing day-to-day legal needs and issues.
Rocco also is an experienced business restructuring attorney with a practice focusing on creditors’ rights, reorganization, workouts, bankruptcy and state court proceedings. He has diverse experience representing debtors-in-possession, secured lenders, lessors and landlords, unsecured creditors, official creditor committees, individual business owners, trustees, and receivers.
Finally, Rocco has an established art law practice dedicated to representing museums of all kinds and sizes, private collectors, and trade organizations in connection with buying, selling, commissioning, and lending art; importing and exporting art; procuring gifts of art; and advocating for the interests of museums under the Cultural Property Implementation Act.
Professionally, Rocco “grew up” at Hahn Loeser, beginning his career with the firm as a 23-year-old law student, and growing with it for over two decades.
Assistant Girls Softball Coach, Independence, Ohio, 2020.
Assistant Girls Basketball Coach, St. Michael School, 2019-20.
Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, St. Michael School, 2020-21.
St. Basil the Great Church, Member (2012-present), and Co-Spiritual Director for annual Men’s Renewal Retreat (2018-23).
Ohio Youth Rugby Association, Member; Board of Directors, 2013-15; Commissioner, High School Division, 2012; Finance Committee Chair, 2012
University of Dayton Alumni Association, Member
University of Dayton Rugby Football Club Alumni Association, Co-Founder and Former Director
Color Commentator, Ohio High School Division II Boys’ Rugby State Championship, 2013
Lake Edge Beach Homeowners’ Association; Board of Trustees, 2006-08, 2010-12
Wills for Heroes, Volunteer Attorney, 2008-09
Ohio Super Lawyers®, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights, 2014-24; Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers, 2015-20, 2022-24; Top 50 Cleveland Super Lawyers, 2015-20, 2022-24
ChambersUSA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2014-24
The Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2013-25; Art Law, 2024-25; Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, 2024-25
Who to Watch in Law, Crain’s Cleveland Business, 2013
Rising Star, Ohio Super Lawyers®, 2005-07; 2009-13
AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell
State of Ohio, 2001
U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio and the Southern District of Ohio, 2002; U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit, 2005; U.S. Supreme Court, 2006
American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
Catholic Lawyers Guild, Member, 2001-present
The Justinian Forum, Member, 2011-present
Federal Bar Association, Cleveland Chapter, Board of Directors, 2006-2024; Bankruptcy Section, Inaugural Chair, 2009-2022; Newsletter Committee, Vice-Chair, 2007-09
Attorney Constituency Group, United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. of Ohio, 2006-23
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member, 2004-present; Young Lawyers’ Section, Chair, 2007-08; Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section, Member; Fall 2008 Seminar, Co-Chair