Honorable Paul Sala

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona

Paul Sala was appointed a Unites States bankruptcy judge for the District of Arizona on July 1, 2014. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Sala practiced bankruptcy law for 26 years, the last 15 of which with Allen, Sala & Bayne, PLC, a law firm that he co-founded in 1999.

Before his appointment, Judge Sala's legal practice focused on representing small, medium and large companies in non-bankruptcy workouts and bankruptcy reorganizations. Judge Sala also represented the Official Unsecured Creditor Committees in many high-profile Arizona cases, including Dewey Ranch Hockey (Phoenix Coyotes), the Baptist Foundation of Arizona, Popular Stores and Sun Valley Waterbeds. He also represented Trustees in Chapter 7 and 11 cases and was appointed to serve as a Chapter 11 trustee and as a post confirmation plan agent in numerous reorganization cases.

Judge Sala earned his Bachelor of Science (1984) and Juris Doctor (1987) from the University of Utah. He is a member of the State Bar of Arizona. In practice, Judge Sala was active in bar association activities, was a member of the President's Circle of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, was selected as a master in the Arizona Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, and was listed in Best Lawyer's in America, Southwest Super Lawyers and Arizona's Finest Lawyers.