Matthew Hale

Matt Hale is a practical business restructuring attorney who deals regularly in all aspects of complex commercial insolvency matters and related litigation. Matt focuses on assisting businesses and their owners in navigating the restructuring process, both in-court and out-of-court. More broadly, he represents debtors, creditors, committees, and trustees in business bankruptcy cases, seeking to maximize value for stakeholders. Matt prides himself on developing creative solutions to complicated problems.

In addition to his bankruptcy practice, he also represents fiduciaries and other parties in Florida assignment for the benefit of creditors cases and receivership cases. Matt also advocates for clients in a variety of commercial litigation matters, including fraudulent transfer actions, preference actions, litigation against directors and officers, complex creditor enforcement litigation, business owner disputes, real estate litigation, and contract disputes.

Matt Hale joined Stichter, Riedel, Blain & Postler, P.A. after serving as a term law clerk for the Honorable Karen S. Jennemann, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Florida. He received his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Florida State University College of Law, where he served as an editor of the Florida State University Law Review and earned invitation to the Order of the Coif. He received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Economics, from the University of Florida.

Florida Bar Business Law Section, Chair of Bankruptcy/UCC Committee

Turnaround Management Association – Florida, General Counsel

Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, Board of Directors

American Bankruptcy Institute

American Bar Association

Federal Bar Association

Hillsborough County Bar Association

Tampa Connection Class of 2017

Speaking Engagements and Publications-

Panelist, TMA Florida Annual Conference, March 2026 – “Private Equity in Chapter 11 Cases: From DIP Financing to Chapter 11 Plan”

Panelist, Judges Panel, TMA Florida Annual Conference, March 2024

Panelist, Chapter 11 Updates and Core Issues, American Bankruptcy Institute Alexander L. Paskay Memorial Seminar, February 2024

Panelist, Know When to Hold ’Em, Know When to Fold ’Em – Loans vs. Merchant Cash Advances, Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Professional Association, September 2023

Panelist, How to Survive Subchapter V as a Secured Lender, TMA Florida, September 2023

Panelist, Merchant Cash Advance and Bankruptcy Issues, Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association, May 2023

Panelist and Moderator, Insight from the Bench and the U.S. Trustee Program, TMA Florida Winter Conference, April 2023

Panelist, “Pick Your Partner”: New FL amendments to UCC 9-406 & 9-408, Florida Bar Business Law Section & Florida Bankers Association, August 2022

Moderator and Panelist, TMA Florida Winter Conference – Alternatives to Bankruptcy Panel, March 2020

Moderator, TMA Florida NetGen Presents: If I Knew Then What I Know Now – A Practical Guide from the Seasoned Professionals, October 2019

Electronic Exhibits in the Middle District of Florida Bankruptcy Courts CLE, Moderator, July 2015

Pick Your Partner”—New Florida Amendments to UCC Article 9, Matthew B. Hale, Florida Banking Magazine, November 2022

Involuntary Bankruptcy: A Powerful Weapon, But Use Extreme Caution, Co-author with Susan Sharp, The Federal Lawyer Magazine, September 2018

Can We Dismiss Structured Dismissals? The Scope of Czyzewski v. Jevic Holding Corp, Matthew B. Hale, The Cramdown, Summer 2017

Supreme Court Preview: Redefining “Actual Fraud” in Husky International Electronics v. Ritz, Matthew B. Hale, The Cramdown, Spring 2016

Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off: Structure Dismissals in Chapter 11 Cases, Russel M. Blain, Daniel R. Fogarty, & Matthew B. Hale, Article for Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute 2016

Clark v. Rameker: Supreme Court Says Inherited IRAs are not “Retirement Funds,” Middle District of Florida Bankruptcy Court, Matthew B. Hale, Court Connection, July 2014

Matt lives in South Tampa with his wife and three little girls. Outside the office, he enjoys any opportunity to go fishing or play golf. Matt’s interests also include backcountry hiking in remote locations. He has hiked the John Muir Trail (211 mi.) through the Sierra Nevada mountains in California and has summitted Mt. Rainier in Washington.

Listed by Chambers and Partners, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” in the area of Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2023-2026)

Listed as an “Associate to Watch” in Chambers and Partners (2021-2024)

Listed as “Rising Star” in the area of Bankruptcy: Business in “Florida Super Lawyers” (2018-Present)

Listed as “Up & Comer” in the “Florida Legal Elite” edition of Florida Trend Magazine (2018-2020, 2022-Present)

Listed as “One to Watch” in Best Lawyers in America (2020–Present)

Florida State University College of Law,

J.D.

2013

University of Florida

B.S.

2010