Steven D. Jerome, Partner at our Phoenix, and Denver law offices
Steven D. Jerome vcard
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Steven D. Jerome

Partner
Biography

Steve Jerome is the Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, bringing decades of extensive experience representing both debtors and creditors across a broad spectrum of insolvency and financial distress matters. His practice encompasses the full range of bankruptcy and receivership proceedings, including complex Chapter 11, and Chapter 15 cases, as well as state and federal court receiverships.

Beyond traditional insolvency proceedings, Steve maintains a robust debtor-creditor litigation practice in both state and federal courts. He regularly counsels and advises clients on how best to strategically navigate complex debtor-creditor and insolvency related litigation.

Steve values building deep, long-term relationships with his clients, centering his work on understanding their business and goals, in order to best guide and advise his clients. His practice reflects a depth of capability that serves clients on both a regional and national level. He has represented parties in proceedings across multiple jurisdictions, advising businesses, financial institutions, secured and unsecured creditors, official and ad hoc committees, trustees, receivers, and debtors-in-possession in matters of varying size and complexity.

Steve’s ability to handle sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional matters positions him as a go-to practitioner for clients facing insolvency and financial services litigation. He also offers targeted bankruptcy guidance on select transactional issues such as non consolidation, true sale, perfection, and preference opinions.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona
  • Colorado


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • Supreme Court of Colorado
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona
  • United States District Court, District of Colorado
  • United States District Court, District of New Mexico


Education

  • Creighton University School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
  • Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University (B.S.)
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • Phoenix Magazine, Top Lawyers (2025)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2013-2026)
    • Bankruptcy Litigation (2013-2026)
  • Southwest Super Lawyers®, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights (2010-2022)

Representative Experience

Representative Cases

  • Lead attorney for numerous financial institutions with respect to bankruptcy, receivership, and creditor’s rights litigation
  • Lead attorney for Official Unsecured Creditors Committee in Chapter 11 bankruptcy
  • Lead attorney for chapter 11 Trustee and affiliated Chapter 11 debtors
  • Lead bankruptcy attorney for officer/minority shareholder in, contested Chapter 11 proceedings, resulting in confirmation of successful acquisition Chapter 11 Plan, which resulted in acquisition of operating company
  • Lead debtor’s attorney for successful Chapter 11 reorganization of public company
  • Lead attorney for glass company, secured and principal creditor in Chapter 11 bankruptcy
  • Lead attorney for state court appointed receiver
  • Lead attorney for broadcast company, secured creditor on principal asset (radio station) in North American Broadcast Chapter 11 bankruptcy
  • Counsel for debtor in $6.2 billion revenue bankruptcies, including primary responsibility for litigating claim objections, and in excess of 300 avoidance actions, which resulted in excess of 100% distribution to creditors
  • Counsel for creditor, in international fraud and insolvency cases

Significant Opinions

  • Lead bankruptcy attorney with respect to title perfection opinion on $320 million financing facility
  • Lead bankruptcy attorney with respect to bankruptcy non-consolidation opinions on several real estate financing transactions in excess of $125 million
  • Lead bankruptcy attorney with respect to bankruptcy opinions on several municipal bond issuances, industrial development authority bond issuances, and other bond issuances in excess of $205 million

Previous Professional Experience

  • United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Nebraska, Judicial Law Clerk for Hon. Timothy J. Mahoney

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • District of Arizona, Lawyer Representative for the Ninth Circuit (2025-2028)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
    • Co-Chair, Southwest Bankruptcy Conference (2026)
    • Member, Advisory Board, Southwest Bankruptcy Conference (2016-2025)
  • State Bar of Arizona, Bankruptcy Section, Chair (2006-2007)
    • Bankruptcy Section, Chair-Elect (2005-2006)
    • Legislative Committee, Bankruptcy Section, Co-Chair (2004-2005)
    • Local Rules Committee and Commercial Rules Sub-Committee
  • Arizona Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, Master (2013-2016), Barrister (2012-2013)

Community Involvement

  • Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta
    • Chair, Audit Committee (2025-present)
    • Board of Directors, Western Association (2020-2024)
    • Recipient President’s Award (2019)
    • Phoenix Location: President (2024-present), Vice President (2021-2024)
  • Catholic Community Foundation
    • Secretary (2018-2023)
    • Board of Directors (2014-2023)
    • Executive Committee (2014-2023)
  • Co-Chair of the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee (2015-2019)
  • Dress for Success Phoenix, Board of Directors (2009-2013)

Representative Presentations and Publications

Client News
Client News
Feb 05, 2026

Snell & Wilmer Secures Favorable Ruling from Arizona Court of Appeals in Receivership Case