« Who We Are

Andrew Harnisch is a shareholder licensed to practice law in the State of Arizona. Andrew focuses his practice in bankruptcy, insolvency and corporate reorganization, as well as commercial litigation and receivership. He has experience representing creditors, debtors and trustees in a variety of state and federal court proceedings. Andrew was recognized as a Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2015 and 2016 and a Southwest Super Lawyer in 2021. He also served as a Director of the Bankruptcy Section of the Maricopa County Bar Association from 2011-2013. In 2010, Mr. Harnisch was recognized as one of the Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education. Mr. Harnisch earned his law degree in 2006 from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law in 2006 and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona.

Education

  • University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, JD 2006
  • University of Arizona, BA 2003

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • Mr. Harnisch has been admitted pro hac vice in federal court proceedings in California, Nevada and New York.

Publications

  • Co-Author, With Blixseth, the Ninth Circuit Relaxes Its Grip on Third-Party Releases, Unsecured Trade Creditors, an ABI Committee Newsletter, Vol.18, No.1, August 2020
  • Co-Author, “Bankruptcy – What Every Doctor Should Know,” Maricopa County Medical Society Round-Up Magazine, August 2014
  • Contributing Author: Trigild Deskbook, a Guide to Receivership & Foreclosure, 5th Ed. (2013), 4th Ed. (2012).

Selected Presentations

  • Moderator, Judicial Roundtable, American Bankruptcy Institute Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, September 2019
  • “Bankruptcy Law Intersection with Commercial Litigation,” Maricopa County Bar Association, February 2015
  • “Pursuing and Defending Bankruptcy Avoidance Actions,” Maricopa County Bar Association, Bankruptcy Fundamentals Series, June 2013, June 2012
  • “Common Bankruptcy Litigation Issues,” Maricopa County Bar Association, Bankruptcy Fundamentals Series, June 2011, June 2010
  • “Landlord-Tenant Disputes (Commercial & Residential),” Maricopa County Bar Association, Real Estate Fundamentals Series, February 2010

Awards

  • Southwest Super Lawyers, 2021-2022
  • Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2015 and 2016
  • Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, 2010

Professional & Community Groups

  • Member of the State Bar of Arizona
  • Member of the American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Member of the Volunteer Lawyers Program
  • Served as a Director of the Bankruptcy Section of Maricopa County Bar Association from 2011-2013

Representative Matters

  • Successfully reorganized a 90-bed psychiatric hospital
  • Counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 case of the production company for the film John Wick. In re: J Wick Productions, United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona, Case No. 2:18-bk-12875
  • Successfully reorganized a large janitorial services company in Chapter 11, saving over 100 jobs.
  • Represented lenders and receivers in dozens of receivership actions involving partnership disputes, retail centers, office buildings, hotels, and apartment complexes.
  • Served as reorganization and litigation counsel for a financially distressed medical services provider
  • Obtained non-dischargeability judgments for a television provider in a series of actions involving fraudulent sales of signal theft devices
  • Served as creditor’s counsel in the successful workout of defaulted loans involving two large apartment complexes
  • Litigated and settled a series of actions for Chapter 11 liquidating trustee in a case involving an investment Ponzi scheme
  • As creditor’s counsel for a regional monetary fund, obtained judgment that concluded 16 years of litigation deriving from a multimillion-dollar embezzlement scheme
  • Served as creditor’s counsel for three national banks in the Chapter 11 case of a large Arizona land banker

Pro Bono Representations

  • Obtained judgment of non-dischargeability against an unlicensed contractor for faulty construction on a client’s home
  • Served as debtor’s counsel for a nonprofit religious organization in a contested Chapter 11 case, resulting in a confirmed plan of reorganization
  • Restored title to client’s home in a fraudulent sale-leaseback scheme

Practice Areas

When you enlist the services of May Potenza Baran & Gillespie, you get an experienced, diverse team of advocates in your corner who work collaboratively, move quickly, and think differently.