David R. Ruby

A trusted partner in major bankruptcy cases and in times of transition

David Ruby maintains a multi-disciplinary practice at ThompsonMcMullan, one focused on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, business and commercial transactions, and tax disputes. Along with his team, David handles all types of litigation and appeals, including before the bankruptcy and federal district courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. For nearly two decades, David has served as a Chapter 7 panel trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia’s Newport News Division.

Major corporations, businesses, nationally-recognized law firms, and in-house corporate counsel call on David when they face bankruptcy and creditors’ rights problems in Virginia. He has represented creditor and other clients in virtually every large and mega bankruptcy case filed in Richmond, including Heilig-Meyers, Movie Gallery, Circuit City, LandAmerica, Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Alpha Natural Resources, and Toys “R” Us. David regularly receives conflict and local counsel referrals.

Business owners and individuals call on David for restructuring strategies, advice, and implementation and when transactions have gone awry – sometimes many years later.

He points to one word that sums up his restructuring practice.

“Transition,” he says. “I serve businesses and individuals in transition — restructurings outside of bankruptcy, companies in bankruptcy, sales of businesses, companies with tax issues…the list goes on. My goal is to assist and guide clients to understand their problems or issues of concern, develop goals and create and implement a plan of action to achieve those goals.”

Clients look to David as a problem-solver to address a single specific issue or multi-faceted, multi-dimensional problems. He enjoys getting to work with and know his clients and those on both sides of the aisle who are directly impacted by the representation.

“Litigation is not always the answer to resolve a dispute, controversy, or problem.” he says. “In any adversarial situation, my goal is to try to get everyone to a win-win situation.”

Over the years, David has kept the pace with the way the practice of bankruptcy law has changed, largely through technology. “It’s faster, and there is less opportunity to allow matters and thoughts to simmer, so you have to be flexible and respond almost in real-time,” he says. “And we do!”