U.S. Department of Justice
Executive Office for United States Trustees
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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release April 27, 2005
LAWRENCE
FRIEDMAN TO RESIGN AS DIRECTOR
OF
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. TRUSTEES
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Lawrence A. Friedman announced that, effective
April 30, 2005, he will resign from his position as Director
of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees to pursue opportunities
in the private sector. Friedman took office as Director on
March 4, 2002.
"Larry has distinguished himself by his unflagging
dedication to improving the integrity of America's bankruptcy
system, and I thank him for his leadership and service to
the Department," Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez stated.
The United States Trustee Program is the component of the
Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy
system by overseeing case administration and litigating to
enforce the bankruptcy laws. The Program's accomplishments
during Friedman's tenure include:
- Launching the National Civil Enforcement Initiative,
to pursue civil remedies against debtors who engage
in fraud or who abuse the bankruptcy system, and to
protect consumer debtors from those who seek to take advantage
of their financial difficulties.
- Creating a Criminal Enforcement Unit to fight criminal
bankruptcy fraud, in coordination with the U.S. Attorneys.
- Overseeing the largest corporate bankruptcy reorganizations
in history, including the cases of Enron Corp. and WorldCom
Inc., where examiners were appointed to investigate the
debtors' actions.
- Streamlining and enhancing oversight of the private trustees
appointed by the Program, including establishing national
training programs to ensure adherence to uniform standards
of excellence.
- Creating a Strategic Plan to guide the Program's activities
for the next five years.
Prior to his appointment as Director, Friedman engaged in
private practice of law and served as a panel trustee in the
Eastern District of Michigan, where he administered over 10,000
bankruptcy cases.
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