Practice Areas: Bankruptcy, Business & Corporate, Consumer Law; view more
Licensed in Ohio since: 2002
Education: Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2023 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2011 - 2012 Call today:
216-621-7777
Free Consultation The Romano Law Firm
526 Superior AvenueSuite 333
Cleveland, OH 44114 Visit website
Details
Joe Romano is the founding attorney of The Romano Law Firm located in Cleveland, Ohio. With more than 20 years of experience practicing law, he represents clients with bankruptcy matters with a special focus on Chapter 13 bankruptcy. He also takes on cases involving used car fraud, landlord-tenant law, drafting and negotiating business contracts, and small-business and startup consulting.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, Mr. Romano graduated from the Bowling Green State University. He pursued his master’s degree in public administration at the University of Southern California. He attended law school at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor in 2001.
During law school, Mr. Romano was an active participant in mock trial and Moot Court competitions. He served as the senator of the Student Bar Association and was active in volunteering at the Big Brothers Big Sisters. Before starting his law firm, he worked as a policy analyst for the Mayor of Los Angeles in the Department of Public Safety.
Active in the legal field, Mr. Romano has memberships in the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Credit Education Coalition of Columbus, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation. He also regularly speaks at continuing legal education platforms about consumer bankruptcy and debtor and creditor issues.
With an “Excellent” rating on Avvo, Mr. Romano has also received many five-star ratings from his satisfied clients. He has been helping clients with bankruptcy matters for two decades, providing sound and experienced counsel. He also used to represent NFL and CFL players. Professional, diligent and dedicated, he protects the rights and freedoms of his clients and holds an unwavering commitment to their needs.
Joe Romano is a debt relief agent. He helps people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
Practice areas
Bankruptcy: Consumer, Business/Corporate, Consumer Law, Real Estate: ConsumerFocus areas
Auto Dealer Fraud, Bankruptcy Law, Business Formation and Planning, Consumer Protection, Contracts, Fraud, Landlord/Tenant, Limited Liability Companies, Partnership, Sub-chapter S Corporations
- 70% Bankruptcy: Consumer
- 10% Business/Corporate
- 10% Consumer Law
- 10% Real Estate: Consumer
First Admitted: 2002, Ohio
Professional Webpage: https://jromanolaw.com/staff-profiles/joe-romano
- B.A. Political Science from Bowling Green State University, 1990
- Master of Public Administration with a specialization in Judicial Administration from the University of Southern California, 1995
- Credit Education Coalition of Columbus, 2008
- Northeast Ohio Italian-American Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
- Member of National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, 2004
- Member, Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation, 2019
- NFLPA Certified Player Representative, 2015
- The Romano Law Firm, 2015
- Panel discussion on ethical issues and professional conduct in the Bankruptcy Court, Speaker, Ethics And Professional Conduct In Bankruptcy Court, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Pat E. Morgenstern-Clarren Consumer Bankruptcy Institute, 2019
- Panel discussion exploring issues frequently encountered in bankruptcy litigation and recommendations for the best way to address them in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. Issues discussed: contested matters compared to adversary proceedings (and when the latter are necessary); Rule 2004 examinations compared to depositions; service of process; Rule 30(b) corporate representative designations, Fifth Amendment conflicts; summary judgment motions; preservation of issues for appeal; and appeal procedures, Speaker, "Best Practices in Litigating Adversary Proceedings and Contested Matters", Northern District of Ohio Bankruptcy Court, Bench-Bar Retreat, 2019
- Panel Discussion on the impact of domestic relations issues in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies, Speaker, "The Ties That Bind," Family Law and Bankruptcy, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Pat E. Morgenstern-Clarren Consumer Bankruptcy Institute, 2018
- Update Ohio Magistrates and Judges on bankruptcy law and its effects on state court litigation, Speaker, Bankruptcy Issues Update, Ohio Judicial Conference, 2017
- Panel discussion on how bankruptcy issues may affect Municipal and State court litigation, 2014, Speaker, Bankruptcy Issues in Municipal and Common Pleas General Division Courts, Ohio Judicial Conference
- Panel discussion on how bankruptcy affects Municipal and State court litigation, 2014, Speaker, The Impact Of Bankruptcy on Civil Cases, Ohio Association Of Magistrates
- Panel discussion on how the filing of a bankruptcy affects litigation in Domestic Relations Court, 2014, Speaker, At The Intersection Of Domestic Street and Bankruptcy Avenue, Wayne County Bar Association
- Served as one of three chairpersons planning and hosting one of the largest bankruptcy-focused conferences in the Midwest, 2013, Co-Chairperson, William J. O’Neill Great Lakes Regional Bankruptcy Institute, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Panel discussion on the basics of properly representing people in Bankruptcy Court, 2011, Speaker, Consumer Bankruptcy: The Basics of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, National Business Institute
- Panel discussion on issues that arise in the area of debt collection in Municipal Court, 2008, Speaker, Debtor/Creditor Issues in Municipal Court, Ohio Judicial Conference
- Co-author of pamphlet provided to residents of State of Ohio by the Ohio Supreme Court for general knowledge and use, 2008, Co-Author, OSBA Legal Information Pamphlet on Personal Bankruptcy, Ohio Supreme Court
- Awarded annually to the Top 2% of practitioners by blind nomination and approval, Super Lawyer in the area of consumer bankruptcy law, Super Lawyers, 2020
- Top 2.5% of attorneys practicing in the area of consumer bankruptcy law under the age of 40, 2010- 2011, Rising Star in the area of consumer bankruptcy law, Super Lawyers
- Objection to proof of claim of IRS sustained. The Shared-Responsibility Payment (SRP) of the Affordable Care Act was required to be paid by taxpayers who were without health insurance coverage throughout a certain taxable year. The IRS asserted the SRP was a tax that had to be paid in full, entitled to priority status. The Bankruptcy Court ruled in the Debtors favor, and against the IRS, that the SRP was neither an income tax nor an excise tax entitled to priority status and that the SRP was dischargeable in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy as a general unsecured debt, 2021
- Obtained 1st Circuit level decision in the United States on the question of whether debtors in Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings are able to continue to fund their retirement during the life of their Chapter 13 plan. The trial court, in ruling against Ms. Davis, had relied on a footnote contained within the District Court's ruling in a 2012 case, In re Seafort, 669 F. 3d 662 (Ct. App, 6th Circuit), that she was not permitted to continue funding her employee sponsored retirement plan during the life of her Chapter 13 plan. In a 2-1 decision, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a direct appeal from the Bankruptcy Court, vacated and remanded the Bankruptcy Court's decision, holding that the Bankruptcy Code amendments of 2005 ("BAPCPA") were amended to allow debtors in Chapter 13 proceedings to continue funding retirements that were being funded at the time of the filing of the Chapter 13 bankruptcy. In re Davis, 960 F. 3d 346 (Ct. App, 6th Circuit, 2020), 2020
- Rhiel, Trustee v. Central Mortgage Company - Representing non-debtor, co-owner of real property, successfully defended against the Chapter 7 Trustee's attempt to force the sale of the residence pursuant to 11 USC 363 by and through the 363(h) defense, 2014
- Guaranteed Rate, Inc. v. Lakeside Title & Escrow Agency, Inc. Jury verdict in favor of Defendant on all causes of action, 2009
- Jarmon v. Friendship Auto Sales Co. Decision against Defendant for violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act with treble damages awarded, 2004
- National Association Of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2023
- Rising Stars: 2011 - 2012
