Harley Riedel

Practice Areas

Harley E. Riedel is a highly respected bankruptcy, insolvency, and business restructuring attorney whose legal career spans more than five decades. As Managing Shareholder of Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Postler, P.A., he has earned recognition as one of Florida's leading practitioners in bankruptcy law, corporate restructuring, creditor rights, and complex commercial litigation. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Riedel has represented debtors, creditors, lenders, trustees, committees, and businesses involved in some of the most significant bankruptcy and reorganization matters in Florida.

Known for his strategic thinking, practical business judgment, and comprehensive understanding of insolvency law, Harley Riedel has built a reputation for helping clients navigate challenging financial circumstances while protecting their legal and business interests. His practice focuses on Chapter 11 reorganizations, corporate restructurings, bankruptcy litigation, creditor and debtor representation, receiverships, workouts, and complex commercial disputes. Clients rely on his experience to guide them through high-stakes proceedings involving financially distressed companies, business reorganizations, and intricate creditor-debtor relationships.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Riedel has served as lead counsel in numerous major bankruptcy cases involving substantial assets, multiple stakeholders, and complex legal issues. His ability to develop effective restructuring strategies and negotiate favorable resolutions has made him a trusted advisor to businesses seeking financial recovery as well as creditors seeking to maximize asset protection and recovery opportunities.

Harley Riedel's professional reputation extends beyond the courtroom. He has been actively involved in legal organizations, professional associations, and educational initiatives dedicated to bankruptcy and insolvency law. Through speaking engagements, publications, and leadership roles, he has contributed to the advancement of bankruptcy practice and helped shape discussions surrounding restructuring and insolvency issues throughout Florida and beyond.

Clients and colleagues alike recognize Mr. Riedel for his commitment to excellence, responsiveness, and results-oriented approach. His extensive knowledge of federal bankruptcy law, combined with decades of courtroom and negotiation experience, enables him to provide practical solutions tailored to each client's unique circumstances. Whether representing a corporation in a Chapter 11 reorganization, advising creditors in complex insolvency proceedings, or litigating commercial disputes, Harley Riedel brings a depth of experience that few attorneys can match.

His long-standing success and respected standing within the legal community reflect a career dedicated to helping businesses overcome financial challenges, preserve value, and achieve successful outcomes. As a trusted counselor and advocate, Harley Riedel continues to serve clients facing some of their most critical business and financial decisions.

Professional Memberships

The Florida Bar

Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy

Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (founder, past director, President and Chairman)

Federal Bar Association (Past officer and director, Tampa Bay Chapter)

Member, Florida Bar Grievance Committee for the 13th Judicial Circuit

Member, Committee on Local Bankruptcy Rules for the Middle District of Florida (1985 to 1998)

Hillsborough County Bar Association

American Bar Association

American Bankruptcy Institute

Turnaround Management Association

Publications

Publications and Speaking Engagements-

“Dirt for Debt Plans” – American Bankruptcy Institute 39th Annual Alexander L. Paskay Seminar – March 6, 2015

“Involuntary Bankruptcy: Warning Bells Sound” – 41st Annual Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute in Atlanta, Georgia – March 26, 2015

Property of the Estate: Some Close Questions” – 41st Annual Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute in Atlanta, Georgia – March 27, 2015

“Anything but Absolute: The Evolution of the Absolute Priority Rule in Individual and Corporate Cases” – American Bankruptcy Institute -Caribbean Seminar – February 2014

“Effectiveness, Civility, Courtesy & Professionalism” – United States Bankruptcy Court Young Lawyers Mentoring Program – August 2013

“Please Release Me, Let Me Go: Releases, Channeling Injunctions, and Bar Orders” – Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association Seminar – May 2013

“Marital Obligations and Property Rights in Bankruptcy” – Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association – January 2013

“High Rollers – 7 or 11: Individual Chapter 11 Cases” – National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges – October 2012

“Directors and Officers Insurance in Bankruptcy” – 38th Annual Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute – March 2012

“Drafting Disclosure Statements and Chapter 11 Plans ” – 38th Annual Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute” – March 2012

“Ethical Issues in Dealing With Unrepresented Parties in Bankruptcy Proceedings” – Central Florida Bankruptcy Law Association – October 2011

“Individual Chapter 11 Cases” – 37th Annual Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute Conference – April 2011

“Real Estate Chapter 11 Cases – Are They Yet to Come?” – Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute Conference – April 2011

“Alternatives to Bankruptcy from the Business Debtor’s Standpoint” – Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association – April 2010

“Restructuring Real Estate” – CLE International – December 2009

“Greatest Lessons Learned” – Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association – August 2009

“Restructuring Real Estate”- CLE International – March 2009

“Coping With Financial Distress: an Update Two Years into the Recession” – The National Association of Homebuilders Annual Convention -January 2009

“Alternate Sources of Funding: Ideas & Perspectives to Keep Your Business on Track” – The National Association of Homebuilders – November 2008

“Coping with Financial Distress” – National Association of Homebuilders – August 2008

“Venue Choices for Debtors” – Turnaround Management Association – August 2007

“Is There Life After BAPCPA 2005 or (BAPCPA Survival Guide)” – Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association – March 2006

“Fiduciary Duties and Other Issues Affecting Officers and Directors” – Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association – January 2006

Mr. Riedel has spoken at the annual meetings of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute and has spoken and written on bankruptcy-related topics for the American Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, The Florida Bar, the Turnaround Management Association, the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, and numerous other legal and business groups. He is the principal author of the section on Chapter 11 Practice in the first and second editions of the West Publishing Company publication, “Norton Handbook for Bankruptcy Trustees, Debtors-in-Possession, and Committees.” He co-authored the article “Practical Issues Surrounding Section 363 Sales,” 19 U. Fla. J. of Law & Public Policy 75, April 2008.

“Priorities Among Secured Claims,” Secured Transactions in Florida (2nd Ed., The Florida Bar 1991)

“The Effect of Bankruptcy on Real Estate Mortgage Foreclosures,” Florida Mortgage Foreclosures (Professional Education Systems, Inc. 1987)

“Priorities Among Secured Claims,” Secured Transactions in Florida (1st Ed., The Florida Bar 1982)

“Chapter 11 Arrangements,” Debtors’ and Creditors’ Rights in Florida (The Florida Bar 1978)

Expert in these Jurisdictions

The Florida Bar (all State courts)

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Supreme Court of the United States

Experience

Harley E. Riedel has headed up or had significant involvement in the firm’s representation of the debtor in possession or other party (as indicated) in numerous cases, including the following:

ABC Fabrics, Inc.

Abraham Gosman

Affiliated of Florida

Alessi’s Bakery and Phil’s Cake Box

Allpoints Warehousing Equipment, Co.

American Ship Building Company

Anchor Glass (Official Creditors’ Committee)

Arlington Ridge, LLC, et al.

Automotive Service Centers

Avantair – representing Piaggio America, Inc.

Bel-Aire Investments, Inc.

Bicoastal Corporation

Boardwalk and Baseball, Inc., et al.

Central Beef, Inc.

Chamax, LLC

Chi Chi’s (representing successful purchaser)

Family Group

Fiddler’s Creek, et al (DIP Lender)

Fundamental Long term Care, Inc. (petitioning creditor and other claimants)

John F. Bassett Enterprises, Inc.

JumboSports Inc.

Koger Properties

Laser Spine Institute, LLC., et al.

LincNet, Inc.

Lindsay Phillips, Inc.

Lykes Bros. Steamship

Morgan Yacht, Inc.

Odyssey Properties, III, LLC, et al

Petracom Media, LLC

Poe Financial Group, Inc., et al

Provincetown-Boston Airlines

Retail Networks

Robert C. Nucci

Scrub Island Development Group, Limited, et al.

Tampa Shipyards, Inc.

The Cove Apartments, LLC

The Koger Partnership

The Towers of Channelside, LLC

Universal Health Care Group, Inc.

Viasource Communications, Inc.

West Charlotte Utilities

Zephyr Rock

Work Highlights

Mr. Riedel has been involved in more than 100 reported decisions, some of which appear below.

In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 512 B.R. 690 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2014)

Estate of Jackson v. General Electric Credit Corp. (In re Fundamental Long Term Care Holdings, Inc.), 507 B.R. 359 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2014)

In re Container Applications International., Inc., 233 F.3d 1361 (11th Cir. 2000)

In re Bicoastal Corp., 242 B.R. 43 (M.D. Fla. 1998)

In re Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., Inc., 233 B.R. 546 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1997)

In re Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., Inc., 196 B.R. 574 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1996)

In re Bicoastal Corp., 164 B.R. 1009 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1993)

Matter of American Ship Building Co., Inc., 164 B.R. 358 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 1994)

Education

Awards