John W. Kozyak is a founding partner of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton and co-chairs the firm's bankruptcy practice.

Mr. Kozyak's expertise has been recognized by Best Lawyers In America, in every edition since it was first published in 1983. In addition, he is ranked as one of the eight top bankruptcy lawyers in Florida by Chambers USA in its America's Leading Lawyers For Business, which bases its objective rankings on extensive interviews with clients, lawyers and judges.

He is believed to be one of two lawyers in the nation who is a Fellow in both the American College of Bankruptcy and the American College of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Kozyak regularly plays a major role in bankruptcy courts across the nation, representing business owners, lenders, creditors committees, and major creditors, and he has been appointed a trustee and receiver in major cases.

In addition, he has frequently written and lectured on bankruptcy and workout issues and has given bankruptcy and foreclosure seminars in many states. He has been a contributing editor to Norton's Bankruptcy Law & Practice and other bankruptcy related publications.

John has a particular expertise in real estate and is lead outside bankruptcy counsel for LNR Partners, the nation's largest special servicer for commercial mortgage-backed securitizations. He has represented Marriott International and Ritz-Carlton, as well as other franchisers, owners, and lenders in hospitality-related bankruptcies.

John currently serves as Trustee and Criminal Restitution Receiver in a viatical based Ponzi scheme case, which is one of South Florida's biggest frauds.

He is also recognized as a tireless advocate for diversity in the practice of law and for his commitment to providing pro-bono services.

In 2006, Mr. Kozyak received the prestigious Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award and the Florida Bars highest award for humanitarianism The G. Kirk Haas Humanitarian Award. In 2004, his firm received. the Supreme Court Chief Justice's Law Firm Commendation in recognition of its commitment to providing free legal services to those who cannot afford legal fees.

Mr. Kozyak has passionately promoted diversity and inclusion in the community, with particular emphasis on mentoring programs for black law school students throughout Florida and in St. Louis. The minority mentoring programs at the University of Miami and St. Thomas Schools of Law are now named after John. During the past ten years, he has personally matched more than 800 black students throughout Florida with judges and lawyers, who serve as mentors.

He and his wife, Barbara Silverman, have regularly co-sponsored receptions and a picnic for students and their mentors. In October, 2006, Mr. Kozyak organized a minority mentoring picnic, which attracted approximately 1,500 judges, lawyers, faculty and minority students.

He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in 1970 and his law degree from the Washington University School of Law in 1975, where he was an editor of the Law Quarterly. In 2003, he received Washington University's Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2004, Mr. Kozyak received an Honorary J. D. degree from the University of Miami for his efforts to promote diversity.

• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Trusteeships
• Creditors' Rights
• Debtor Remedies

• Florida Bar, 1975
• United States Courts of Appeals, 5th & 11th
• United States Tax Court
• United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
• Bankruptcy Bar Association, Southern District of Florida, President (87-88)
• American Bar Association, Business Bankruptcy Committee (Chair and Vice Chair of Programs, Publications and Public Relations Subcommittee, 1994-2001)
• Cuban American Bar Association
• Florida UCC/Bankruptcy Committee
• Florida Association of Women Lawyers
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• Execytuve Committee of Equal Opportunities Law Section.

• B.S. Degree (Marketing) University of Illinois, cum laude, 1970
• J.D. Degree, Washington University in St. Louis, 1975
• Editor, Washington University Law Quarterly, 1975

• In June 2006, received the G. Kirk Haas Humanitarian Award from The Florida Bar for promoting diversity in the legal profession.
• Executive Committee of Equal Opportunities in Law Section, 2002-Present.
• Chairman for 2 years.
• Fellow, American Bankruptcy College, 1993
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2005
• Distinguished Alumni Award from Washington University School of Law, 2002
• J.D. from University of Miami School Of Law
• Iron Arrow Award from University of Miami, 2004
• Best Lawyers in America (Bankruptcy), 1987-Present
• Chambers USA Top Tier Bankruptcy Lawyer, 2004-Present
• International Who's Who of Insolvency and Restructuring, 2005
• Insolvency and Restructuring Expert Guide, 2005
• Dade County Bar Association "Pro Bono Excellece Award", 2002-2003
• Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award for 11th Judicial Circuit (Dade County), 2006
• Received Martindale-Hubbell "AV" rating in 1979.
• Florida Trend's Elite Lawyer, 2004 - Present.
• Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers.