Rob Charles is a partner and leader in the firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Practice Group, practicing throughout Arizona and Nevada. He represents clients in business bankruptcy cases, commercial lawsuits, and business transactions.
Rob works with secured and unsecured creditors, as well as debtors through complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy issues in all aspects of debtor/creditor relationships, workouts, and litigation. From sophisticated financial transactions through bankruptcy appeals, business leaders from finance and investment, technology, health care, and real estate trust Rob’s in-depth industry knowledge to inform the best bankruptcy strategies.
As fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and University of Arizona College of Law Adjunct Professor teaching bankruptcy reorganization, Rob is recognized by the industry for the highest standards of leadership and experience in bankruptcy law.
Rob also advises clients in matters including the Uniform Commercial Code, with experience in negotiable instruments, banking law, and secured transactions. He actively represents plaintiffs and defendants in civil and commercial litigation in the state and federal courts.
Rob is excellent at building client relationships. With modern communication methods creating impersonal interactions between lawyers and their clients, Rob prefers personal, genuine conversations and staying true to client commitments. Over the years clients have recognized his passion for developing relationships rather than focusing only on the problem or deal. Clients appreciate his personable and focused approach on the outcome the client needs, rather than on minutiae or distractions.
Rob’s cheerful and humorous approach to life is reflected in conversation and mood. When Rob is not in the office you can find him teaching at the University of Arizona, playing tennis, or spending quality time with his kids, grandkids, and pets.
Representative Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- Assisted an international investor with collection of secured and unsecured debt and resolution of ownership interests in a Las Vegas based FAA-certified airline.
- Represented a technology company in a Delaware Chapter 11 case resulting in confirmation of the Chapter 11 plan and consummation of the plan and sale of the company’s assets within one year.
- Representation of equipment lienholders in a southern Arizona hospital Chapter 11 case.
- Representation of a regional health care chain in the acquisition of an Arizona hospital via Chapter 11 plan.
- Representation of agricultural lenders in loan enforcement and modification, Chapter 11, and related litigation.
- Regular representation of state and national lenders in loan enforcement, real and personal property foreclosure, and other remedies.
- Represented an Arizona nonprofit corporation in the orderly dissolution of its mental health business, including shut down and transfer of programs, disposition of assets, and friendly foreclosure of its real estate.
- Regular representation of automobile dealer financing company in loan enforcement and bankruptcy cases, including adversary proceedings.
- Periodic representation of business entities in need of dissolution under Delaware corporate law.
- Regular representation of creditors in Nevada, Arizona, and other bankruptcy courts, in administrative cases, adversary proceedings, and appeals.
- Regular representation of plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters in federal and state courts, primarily in Arizona and Nevada.
- Periodic representation of debtors and creditors committees in Arizona, Nevada, and other bankruptcy courts in all facets of bankruptcy court and appellate jurisdiction.
Professional & Civic Engagement
- University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Professor of Practice, Business Reorganization in Bankruptcy, Introduction to Bankruptcy
- Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona, 2022
- Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona, 2020
- Facilitator, State Bar of Arizona Professionalism Course, October 2019
- American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow and Member of the Board of Directors, 2022-present
- University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Adjunct Professor, Business Reorganization in Bankruptcy
- United States District Court District of Arizona, Lawyer Representative, 2008-2011
- State Bar of Arizona Bankruptcy Section, Member and Past Chair, 1997-1998
- Business Bankruptcy Committee of the American Bar Association of Business Law, Member
- Conference Executive Committee, U.S. Court of Appeals to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, 2011-2015
- State Bar of Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct Committee, Member, 2005-2007; Past Chair, 2004-2016
- American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
- Pima County Bar Association, Member
Honors & Awards
- Received the Best Lawyers™ Bankruptcy, Creditor/Debtor Rights Law, and Bankruptcy Litigation, Insolvency and Reorganization Law "Lawyer of the Year" award in Arizona, 2005-2025
- Named a Benchmark Litigation "Local Litigation Star" in Arizona, 2014-2025
- Super Lawyers Honoree, Southwest Super Lawyers magazine (Thomson Reuters), Bankruptcy: Business, 2007-2015, 2018-2024
- Top 50 in Arizona, 2013-2015, 2018, 2022
- Super Lawyers Honoree, Mountain States Super Lawyers magazine (Thomson Reuters), Bankruptcy: Business, 2012-2021, 2023
- American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow, 2007-present; Director, 2020-present
- Recognized in Vegas Inc.'s Top Lawyers, Bankruptcy, 2012, 2021, 2023
- Named to The Lawdragon 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers, 2020
- Recognized in Arizona Business Magazine's Top 100 Lawyers, 2017, 2018
- Named to AZ Business Magazine's Top Lawyers, Bankruptcy, 2010
- Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel, 2009-2010
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5
- John P. Frank Pro Bono Award, Recognized for commitment, pro bono service
Thought Leadership
- Mentioned, "Lender Wins $44M Award In Shanghai Real Estate Feud," Law360, March 25, 2024
- Presenter, "How Fulton May Change Practice," American Bankruptcy Institute's Consumer Practice Extravaganza, November 2022
- Presenter, Nevada Bankers Association Credit & Lender Conference, October 2022
- Presenter, "Ethics: Dealing with A Problematic Lawyer," Arizona Last Chance CLE, June 28, 2022
- "Rethinking Retainers," American Bar Association, March 1, 2022
- Author, "Eleventh Circuit Validates Plan Release of Claims Against Insurers," ABI Journal, February 2022
- Presenter, "Top 13 Ethics Issues to Avoid," Arizona Last Chance CLE, June 29, 2021
- Quoted, "Making Sense of It All: Business, the Law and COVID-19, "InBusiness Greater Phoenix, February 1, 2021
- Panelist, "Potential Bankruptcy Filings," Federal Bar Association Phoenix and Tucson Chapters, January 2021
- Co-Author, "Creditor Options in the COVID-19 Pandemic," InBusiness, April 23, 2020
- Author, "From Ad Hoc Tools to Procedural Rules," Nevada Bankers Association, April 1, 2018
- Author, "Third-Party Payments to Estate Professionals: Avoiding the Traps," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, January 1, 2018
- Presenter, "Chapter 11 Open Forum," The 29th Annual Norton Bankruptcy Litigation Institute II, March 2017
- Contributor, "2d: Chapter 14 - Sovereign Immunity," Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice, November 15, 2016
- Contributor, "Section 362 - Automatic Stay, Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law, November 15, 2016
- Panelist, "Las Vegas: Bankruptcy Judges and Discussion of Recent Bankruptcy Cases," March 23, 2016
