Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. Named New Jersey Law Journal’s Law Firm of the Year 2023*

Diane E. Vuocolo, Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. Photo
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Overview

Diane E. Vuocolo is a partner in the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights practice.  Ranked by Chambers and Partners, she focuses her practice on business reorganization, corporate work-outs and restructurings, bankruptcy law, loan restructurings, loan documentation, receiverships, restructuring distressed debt situations, foreclosure litigation, and commercial litigation. She works with financial institutions as secured creditors, DIP lenders, leasing entities, creditors' committees, bankruptcy trustees, debtors, majority shareholders, guarantors, examiners, and trade creditors.

Diane’s practice includes representing various types of clients at every stage of distressed credit situations, from the initial emergence of financial difficulties through enforcement, recovery, bankruptcy, and liquidation. Her practice ranges from guiding clients through loan restructurings when early signs of distress arise and negotiating forbearance agreements to stabilize troubled facilities, to implementing out‑of‑court dissolutions when liquidation of assets is warranted. When a party seeks bankruptcy protection, Diane represents clients throughout the entire process, with a focus on maximizing recoveries and protecting collateral value. She provides strategic counsel on turnaround strategies, enforcement of rights and remedies, and the comparative risks and benefits of out‑of‑court resolutions versus judicial proceedings. Her practice includes advising on commercial Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy cases, as well as state court dissolution proceedings, out-of-court liquidations, and select matters under the Uniform Commercial Code relating to the enforcement of rights and remedies.

In addition to being ranked by Chambers and Partners in Bankruptcy/Restructuring in its USA Guide for 17 years, Diane is ranked in the 2025 and 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (Philadelphia).

Diane’s clients and experience span a wide variety of industries, including:         

  • Hotels and Hospitality Industry
  • Poultry Processing Centers     
  • Nursing Homes
  • Skilled Care Facilities
  • Continuing Care Retirement Communities
  • Auto Dealerships
  • Garden Nurseries (both residential and commercial specialties)
  • Restaurants (chains and gourmet establishments)
  • Construction Companies
  • Large Industrial Equipment Companies           
  • Airlines
  • Television and Radio Stations
  • Automotive Industry Manufacturing Companies          
  • Emergency Transport Services Company
  • Marinas
  • Not For Profit Schools and Universities
  • Not For Profit Theatres and Art Institutes         
  • Golf Courses
  • Shopping Centers
  • Supermarkets
  • Residential Real Estate Developments
  • Commercial Real Estate Developments
  • Commercial Office Buildings
  • Commercial Resorts and Spa Venues in the Northeast
  • Recreational Centers

The Chambers USA ranking list is published by Chambers & Partners. A description of the selection methodology can be found at https://chambers.com/about-us/methodology.

The Best Lawyers list is issued by BL Rankings, LLC of the selection methodology can be found at https://www.bestlawyers.com/About/MethodologyBasic.aspx.

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Experience

Representative Matters

Our firm is proud of the results it has achieved for clients, some of which are noted here.  Of course, each legal matter is unique on many levels, and past successes are not a guarantee of results in any other pending or future matters. 

Certain of the matters below were handled by Diane prior to her joining Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.:

  • Acted as lead restructuring counsel for a large financial institution to resolve multiple residential and commercial real estate transactions in the Mid-Atlantic area with cumulative debt in excess of $500,000,000.00.
  • Acted as lead counsel to primary secured lender in the Mountain Creek Resort Chapter 11 bankruptcy case in the District of New Jersey.
  • Acted as co-counsel to secured lender in the Crown Capital Holding LLC Chapter 11 bankruptcy case in the District of New Jersey.
  • Acted as lead attorney representing agent of bank in connection with syndicated credits in various industries.
  • Acted as bankruptcy counsel representing bankruptcy trustee in the Pappas Telecasting, Inc. et al. bankruptcy case filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Acted as special litigation counsel representing the bankruptcy trustee in the bankruptcy case of Solomon Dwek, who engaged in a Ponzi scheme, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.
  • Acted as bankruptcy counsel representing the official committee of unsecured creditors in the Chapter 11 case of Werner Ladder Corporation, filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Acted as bankruptcy counsel representing the bankruptcy trustee in the Tower Air, Inc. bankruptcy case filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware
  • Acted as bankruptcy counsel representing the bankruptcy trustee in Kiwi Airlines.
  • Acted as bankruptcy counsel to majority shareholder in casino bankruptcy cases pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.
  • Acted as counsel to several financial institutions and leasing entities as it relates rights in bankruptcy concerning the airline/aviation industry.
  • Acted as counsel to owner/participant for aircraft in the Mesa Airbus case.
  • Acted as counsel to owner/trustee for aircraft in the United Airlines case.
  • Acted as counsel to lending institutions/lessors of aircrafts in Aloha Airlines case.
  • Acted as counsel to lenders relating to credit facilities and letters of credit extended to various airlines.
  • Acted as counsel to creditors in US Airways case.
  • Acted as counsel to bank group in connection with airline obtaining proceeds from federal loan program post-9/11.
  • Acted as counsel to different constituencies concerning rights and remedies in corporate out-of-court restructurings and bankruptcy settings.

Recognition

Honors & Recognitions

Selected for Inclusion in the list of:

  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Pennsylvania, 2007-2013, 2016-2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (Philadelphia), 2025, 2026
  • Lexology’s Client Choice Award USA & Canada, Insolvency & Restructuring, Pennsylvania, 2013
  • Member, Winning Team, S. News - Best Lawyers "Law Firm of the Year" in Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency & Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy, 2013
  • Appointed Member, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey Lawyers' Advisory Committee, 1997-2000, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 Judicial Merit Selection Committee, 2006
  • Martindale Hubbell, AV Preeminent®

The Chambers USA ranking list is published by Chambers & Partners. A description of the selection methodology can be found at https://chambers.com/about-us/methodology.

The Best Lawyers list is issued by BL Rankings, LLC of the selection methodology can be found at https://www.bestlawyers.com/About/MethodologyBasic.aspx.

The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings list is issued by Martindale-Hubbell. A description of the selection methodology can be found at https://www.martindale.com/ratings-and-reviews/.

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

News & Insights

News

Associations

Community & Professional

  • Chair, New Jersey State Bar Association for the District of New Jersey Bankruptcy Law Section, 2006-2008
  • Co-Chair, Education Program, Bankruptcy Program for Third Circuit Judicial Conference, April 29, 2006 - May 2, 2006
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • American Bar Association
  • Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors
  • Camden County Bar Association, Creditor-Debtor Committee
  • Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference
  • New Jersey State Bar Association, Bankruptcy Law Section, former Chair; General Counsel Delegate; First Vice Chair, 2004-2006; Second Vice Chair, 2002-2004; Vice Chair, 2000-2002; Treasurer, 1998-2000; Secretary, 1996-1998
  • Organization of Insolvency Lawyers of The Third Circuit; Steering Committee, Judicial Conference, Bankruptcy Component, Program Committee, 2005-2006; Co-Chair, Educational-Bankruptcy Program, 2005-2006
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, Lawyers' Advisory Committee to the Board of Bankruptcy Judges; Subcommittee, Chapter 11 Rules and Chapter 11 Practice and Procedures to Lawyers Advisory Committee

Clerkships

  • Hon. Judith H. Wizmur, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, 1986-1988

Bar Admissions

  • • New Jersey
  • • New York
  • • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

  • • Supreme Court of New Jersey Supreme Court of New York
  • • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
  • • Supreme Court of New York
  • • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Education

  • Temple University Beasley School of Law (J.D. 1986)
  • Rutgers University (M.P.P. 1981)
  • Rutgers University (B.A. 1979)
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