Rocco Debitetto

Practice Areas

Business Law

Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Insolvency

Nonprofit & Art Law

Career

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.

• Partner, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, 2010-present; Chair, Business Practice Area, 2019 – present; Commercial Services & Restructuring Practice Group, Member, 2001-present; Director of Legal Personnel, 2013-16; Associate, 2001-09; Summer Associate, 2000.

• Extern, Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office, Juvenile Division, 2001.

• Law Clerk, Robert E. Sanders & Associates, P.S.C., 1999-2001.

• United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps, Civilian Law Clerk, XVIII Airborne Corps, 1999.

• Summer Probate Clerk, Weltman, Weinberg & Reis, Co., L.P.A., 1996-98.

Professional Memberships

• American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Member.

• 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-present; Bankruptcy Section, Inaugural Chair, 2009-present; Newsletter Committee, Vice-Chair, 2007-09.

• Attorney Constituency Group, United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. of Ohio, 2006-present.

• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member, 2004-present; Young Lawyers’ Section, Chair, 2007-08; Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section, Member; Fall 2008 Seminar, Co-Chair.

Publications

Sit Down, Shut Up and Mind Your Own Business: Controlling Subordinate Lenders in Bankruptcy- ABF Journal, 2017.

Chapter 11, Five Cards at a Time: Secured Lenders Hold ‘Em or Bust- ABF Journal, 2015.