Diane Vuocolo

Practice Areas

Diane E. Vuocolo is a partner in the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights practice. Ranked by Chambers and Partners, she focuses her practice on business reorganization, corporate work-outs and restructurings, bankruptcy law, loan restructurings, loan documentation, receiverships, restructuring distressed debt situations, foreclosure litigation, and commercial litigation. She works with financial institutions as secured creditors, DIP lenders, leasing entities, creditors' committees, bankruptcy trustees, debtors, majority shareholders, guarantors, examiners, and trade creditors.

Diane’s practice includes representing various types of clients at every stage of distressed credit situations, from the initial emergence of financial difficulties through enforcement, recovery, bankruptcy, and liquidation. Her practice ranges from guiding clients through loan restructurings when early signs of distress arise and negotiating forbearance agreements to stabilize troubled facilities, to implementing out‑of‑court dissolutions when liquidation of assets is warranted. When a party seeks bankruptcy protection, Diane represents clients throughout the entire process, with a focus on maximizing recoveries and protecting collateral value. She provides strategic counsel on turnaround strategies, enforcement of rights and remedies, and the comparative risks and benefits of out‑of‑court resolutions versus judicial proceedings. Her practice includes advising on commercial Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases, as well as state court dissolution proceedings, out-of-court liquidations, and select matters under the Uniform Commercial Code relating to the enforcement of rights and remedies.

In addition to being ranked by Chambers and Partners in Bankruptcy/Restructuring in its USA Guide for 17 years, Diane is ranked in the 2025 and 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (Philadelphia).

Diane’s clients and experience span a wide variety of industries, including:

Hotels and Hospitality Industry

Poultry Processing Centers

Nursing Homes

Skilled Care Facilities

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Auto Dealerships

Garden Nurseries (both residential and commercial specialties)

Restaurants (chains and gourmet establishments)

Construction Companies

Large Industrial Equipment Companies

Airlines

Television and Radio Stations

Automotive Industry Manufacturing Companies

Emergency Transport Services Company

Marinas

Not For Profit Schools and Universities

Not For Profit Theatres and Art Institutes

Golf Courses

Shopping Centers

Supermarkets

Residential Real Estate Developments

Commercial Real Estate Developments

Commercial Office Buildings

Commercial Resorts and Spa Venues in the Northeast

Recreational Centers

Career

Selected for Inclusion in the list of:

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Pennsylvania, 2007-2013, 2016-2025

The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (Philadelphia), 2025, 2026

Lexology’s Client Choice Award USA & Canada, Insolvency & Restructuring, Pennsylvania, 2013

Member, Winning Team, S. News - Best Lawyers "Law Firm of the Year" in Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency & Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2013

Appointed Member, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey Lawyers' Advisory Committee, 1997-2000, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 Judicial Merit Selection Committee, 2006

Martindale Hubbell, AV Preeminent®

Professional Memberships

Chair, New Jersey State Bar Association for the District of New Jersey Bankruptcy Law Section, 2006-2008

Co-Chair, Education Program, Bankruptcy Program for Third Circuit Judicial Conference, April 29, 2006 - May 2, 2006

American Bankruptcy Institute

American Bar Association

Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors

Camden County Bar Association, Creditor-Debtor Committee

Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference

New Jersey State Bar Association: Bankruptcy Law Section, former Chair; General Counsel Delegate; First Vice Chair, 2004-2006; Second Vice Chair, 2002-2004; Vice Chair, 2000-2002; Treasurer, 1998-2000; Secretary, 1996-1998

Organization of Insolvency Lawyers of The Third Circuit: Steering Committee, Judicial Conference, Bankruptcy Component, Program Committee, 2005-2006; Co-Chair, Educational-Bankruptcy Program, 2005-2006

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey: Lawyers' Advisory Committee to the Board of Bankruptcy Judges; Subcommittee, Chapter 11 Rules and Chapter 11 Practice and Procedures to Lawyers Advisory Committee

Education