Partner
Jim Lanik
Specialties
Business Insolvency, Commercial Bankruptcy, and Chapter 7 Trustee
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Bio
Balancing advocacy with diplomacy and creativity with pragmatism, Jim Lanik provides experienced representation to trustees, creditors, debtors, and other constituencies in complex and contested bankruptcy, insolvency, and receivership matters. Also counseling North Carolina municipalities on a wide range of issues, Jim focuses on charting a clear and effective course that achieves his clients’ objectives in the matters at hand while aligning with their broader strategic concerns as well.
Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the North Carolina State Bar and the American Board of Certification, Jim practices extensively in state and federal courts, is currently on the panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the Middle District of North Carolina, and serves as a trustee in Chapter 11 proceedings. He is frequently called upon to act as a receiver managing distressed assets for the benefit of creditors, leveraging his ability to quickly identify core issues and navigate and resolve competing interests over finite resources to craft collectively acceptable and mutually advantageous resolutions.
In addition to his bankruptcy and insolvency work, Jim is also the town attorney for the Town of Midway in Davidson County, North Carolina.
- J.D. 1995 University of Denver College of Law | University of Denver Law Review
- B.A. 1992 Lawrence University of Wisconsin
- Colorado, 1995
- North Carolina, 2002
- Virginia, 2015
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States District Court – Colorado
- United States District Court – Middle District of North Carolina
- United States District Court – Eastern District of North Carolina
- United States District Court – Western District of North Carolina
- United States District Court – Central District of Illinois
- United States Bankruptcy Court – Western District of Virginia
- United States Tax Court
- North Carolina Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section Council, 2007-2010; Chair, 2025-2026
- American Board of Certification (ABC), Member of Board of Directors, Member of Standards Committee, 2024
- North Carolina Association of Municipal Attorneys
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
- Bankruptcy Specialization Recertification Committee for the North Carolina Bar, Member, 2019-2024
- General Chairman, Wyndham Championship, 2007
- President, Wyndham Championship Founders Club, 2016-2017
- “Navigating The Barton Doctrine: A Trustee’s Guide to Protection and Exposure: Understanding the Ultra Vires and Business Operation Exceptions,” American Bankruptcy Trustee Journal, Volume 41 (2025), Issue 3
- “Bankruptcy as a Path Forward for Distressed Rural Hospitals,” The Governance Institute’s Rural Focus Newsletter, November 2024
- “Key Advantages of Chapter 12 Bankruptcy for Struggling Family Farmers,” Journal of Corporate Renewal (JCR), Turnaround Management Association (TMA), December 2022
- “Forensic Accounting in Bankruptcy Court,” Fraud Fighter Podcast, September 21, 2020.
- “Claims, North Carolina Bankruptcy Practice Manual Chapter X” (Eighth Edition, 2017) (co-author)
- “Plan Confirmation Battles in Chapter 11: Evidence, Valuation and Feasibility,” 48th Annual Bankruptcy Institute, Greensboro, NC, November 22, 2026
- “Business Bankruptcy 101,” Basics of Bankruptcy Live Webcast, North Carolina Bar Association February Finale CLE, February 26, 2025
- “How to Use AI to Benefit Your Practice,” North Carolina Bar Association 47th Annual Bankruptcy Institute, Wrightsville Beach, NC, November 16, 2024
- Express Talks II –Conversion,” National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT) Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, August 21, 2024
- “Bankruptcy Update and Review,” Plaintiffs Asbestos Litigation Seminar (PALS), Las Vegas, NV, May 15, 2024
- “Ethics – Technology Credit AI and Your Bankruptcy Practice,” 44th Annual Middle District Bankruptcy Seminar, Aberdeen, NC, April 12, 2024
- “Bankruptcy Fraud,” Fraud and Forensic Conference, Virtual Webinar hosted by the Ohio Society of CPAs, August 29, 2023
- “Chapter 5 Actions and Bankruptcy Litigation,” 45th Annual Bankruptcy Institute, Greensboro, NC, November 11, 2022
- “Trustee Security and Data Safety,” Webinar hosted and co-presented by Justin Doles, Chief Information Security Officer for Stretto, August 30, 2022
- “Bankruptcy and Small Business: A Practical Course for Newcomers,” Wake Forest Law and Thomson Reuters, on-demand web series, August, 2020
- “Hospitality Industry: Challenges and Opportunities,” 2019 Turnaround Management Association Southeastern Regional Conference, Asheville, NC, May 30, 2019
- “Stopping the Tailspin: Use of Oligopolistic and Oligopsonistic Power to Produce Profits in the Airline Industry,” 22 Trans. L. J. 509, 1995
- “Post-Petition Assets: Whose Are They?” 41st Annual Bankruptcy Institute, Pinehurst, NC, November 2-3, 2018
- “Tax Collection and Bankruptcy,” 2018 NC Association of County Attorneys Summer Conference, Asheville, NC, July 26-28, 2018
- “The Crossroad of Ethical Duty and Exemption Planning,” 36th Annual Middle District Bankruptcy Seminar, Aberdeen, NC, April 24-25, 2015
- “Common Mistakes in Chapter 7 Filings,” 35th Annual Middle District Bankruptcy Seminar, Aberdeen, NC, April 25-26, 2014
- “Preferences,” 2014 National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees Spring Seminar, Coral Gables, FL, April 4-5, 2014
- Serves on the panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, administering bankruptcy estates and overseeing asset recovery, claims resolution, adversary proceedings, and estate liquidation matters.
- Has served as a Chapter 11 trustee and court-appointed receiver in complex insolvency proceedings, managing distressed assets, resolving contested claims, and overseeing court-supervised business operations and wind-downs.
- Serves as Town Attorney for Midway, North Carolina, advising municipal leadership on
governance, contracts, ordinances, public meetings, land use matters, and other local
government issues.
Chambers USA (Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Band 3), 2024-present
Best Lawyers in America®, 2024 – present
Lawyer of the Year, Bankruptcy Litigation, Triad North Carolina, 2026
North Carolina Super Lawyers® – Business Bankruptcy, 2024
Awards & Recognition:
- Chambers USA (Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Band 3), 2024-present
- Best Lawyers in America®, 2024 – present
- Lawyer of the Year, Bankruptcy Litigation, Triad North Carolina, 2026
- North Carolina Super Lawyers® – Business Bankruptcy, 2024
Two Waldrep Wall Attorneys Named 2027 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year”
Eighteen Waldrep Wall attorneys are recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.
18 Waldrep Wall Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Editions of Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch
Eighteen Waldrep Wall attorneys are recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.
Waldrep Wall Recognized in Chambers USA 2026 Guide
Waldrep Wall is pleased to announce that the firm has been recognized in Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Healthcare in the 2026 Chambers USA Guide, with eight attorneys also earning individual rankings across Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Corporate/M&A, and Healthcare, including a Band 1 ranking for Tom Waldrep. Highly regarded throughout the legal industry, Chambers and…
Best Lawyers® Names Three Waldrep Wall Attorneys 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in the Triad Area
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC attorneys John W. Backcock (Commercial Transactions / UCC Law in Triad), J. Dennis Bailey (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants in Triad), and James Lanik (Litigation – Bankruptcy in Triad) were recently recognized by Best Lawyers as 2026 “Lawyer of the Year.” Only a single lawyer in each practice area and…
Best Lawyers® Honors 14 Waldrep Wall Attorneys for 2026
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC is pleased to announce that 14 of its attorneys have been included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Attorneys on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and…
Waldrep Wall Sponsors 30th Anniversary ABI Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop
Partners Jim Lanik and Jennifer Lyday attended the 2025 Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop, held July 24-27, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island in Florida. The workshop brings together bankruptcy practitioners and judges for education and networking. The event featured sessions on business, consumer, and skills topics with continuing legal education from…
Waldrep Wall Sponsors “Over The Edge” in Support of The Arc of High Point
On March 15, 2025, Waldrep Wall attorneys Jim Lanik and Josh Plummer went “Over The Edge” to support The Arc of High Point’s mission to ensure that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunity to choose and achieve their goals for learning, living, working, and recreation. The event…
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Recognized as 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers®
Waldrep Wall Babcock and Bailey PLLC is pleased to announce that Super Lawyers® has selected nine Waldrep Wall attorneys for its 2025 annual list for North Carolina. Super Lawyers honors outstanding attorneys in each state in various practice areas and firm sizes through a proprietary selection process that combines independent…
Partner Jim Lanik Presents at the 2024 National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees Annual Conference
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Partner Jim Lanik presented during the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT) Annual Conference at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tenn., on August 21, 2024. The presentation, “Express Talks II – Conversion,” provided a high-level overview of conversions. The presentation included both voluntary and…
14 Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC is pleased to announce that 14 attorneys have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on…
Our Firm and Eight Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2024 Legal Guide
Chambers and Partners released its USA 2024 Legal Guide on June 6, and Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC was ranked as a leading firm, Band 2 in Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Band 3 in Healthcare. Eight of our attorneys were also individually ranked. Congratulations to everyone on their continued success! Bankruptcy/Restructuring:…
Attorneys Thomas W. Waldrep, Jr. and James C. Lanik Present at the 2024 Plaintiffs Asbestos Litigation Seminar
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Thomas W. Waldrep, Jr. and James C. Lanik presented at the Plaintiffs Asbestos Litigation Seminar (PALS) in Las Vegas, NV, on May 15, 2024. We thank them for presenting and proudly representing our firm! Tom and Jim co-presented “Bankruptcy Update and Review,” an…
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Sponsors “Over the Edge,” an Event in Support of The Arc of High Point
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC was a proud sponsor of the 2024 “Over The Edge,” an event in support of The Arc of High Point. The event was held on March 16, 2024 at Embassy Suites by Hilton Greensboro Airport. Our very own Kelly Cameron, Jim Lanik, Josh Plummer…
WWBB Participates in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorney Diana Santos Johnson and Paralegal Marybeth Ford participated in the “4ALL Statewide Service Day” on Friday, March 1. Thank you for all that you do for our community and state! 4ALL Statewide Service Day is an annual call-a-lawyer pro bono program that engages…
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Recognized as 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers®
Several of the Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys were recently selected to the 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers! Congratulations! Tom Waldrep: Business Bankruptcy Jim Wall: Health Care Dennis Bailey: Pl Medical Malpractice: Defense John Babcock: Business/Corporate Kevin Sink: Business Bankruptcy Jim Lanik: Business Bankruptcy Jennifer Lyday: Business Bankruptcy Ciara…
Partner Jim Lanik Elected to the American Board of Certification’s 2024 Board of Directors
The American Board of Certification (ABC), a national organization dedicated to serving the public and improving the quality of the bar by certifying lawyers in the areas of bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, elected new officers and board members at its annual meeting, which was held at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess…
Partner Jim Lanik Presents at the Fraud and Forensic Conference
Partner Jim Lanik presented virtually at the Fraud and Forensic Conference, a virtual webinar hosted by the Ohio Society of CPAs on August 29, 2023. His presentation, “Bankruptcy Fraud,” gives an overview of the bankruptcy process, what it means to be in bankruptcy, the responsibilities of debtors, and more. Jim,…
Several WWBB Attorneys Receive Prestigious Best Lawyers in America® Recognition
Several of the Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys were recently awarded in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers in America®, the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year® and the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™. Best Lawyers in America® John…
Partner Jim Lanik Quoted in Article Published on the Ohio Society of CPA’s Website
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Partner Jim Lanik was recently quoted in an article published on the Ohio Society of CPA’s Website, “What Accountants Should Know About Bankruptcy Fraud.” Click here to read the article. Jim Lanik specializes in business bankruptcy and municipal law and will present on bankruptcy…
Attorneys at Our Firm Update and Write Chapters in the 2023 NC Bankruptcy Practice Manual
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC had several attorneys at our firm update and write Chapters in the North Carolina Bankruptcy Practice Manual, Ninth Edition, that was recently released. Those chapters include: Chapter X. Claims Authors: Diana Santos Johnson, Pamela P. Keenan, James C. Lanik Chapter XIX. Subchapter V Small…
Our firm is Sponsoring “Over the Edge,” an Event in Support of The Arc of High Point
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC is sponsoring “Over The Edge,” an event in support of The Arc of High Point. The event is open to the public and will be from 11:00am to 3:30pm at Embassy Suites by Hilton Greensboro Airport (204 Centreport Drive, Greensboro, NC 27409). Our very…
Several WWBB Attorneys Attend the 2023 PALS Seminar
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys John Babcock, Kevin Sink, Tom Waldrep, Jennifer Lyday, Jim Lanik, and Ciara Rogers (pictured top to bottom and left to right) represented our firm at the 2023 Plaintiffs Asbestos Litigation Seminar (PALS) in Las Vegas this week.
Attorney Jim Lanik Presents in Webinar
Attorney Jim Lanik will be presenting during a Webinar, “Paperless Office,” along with Lee Ann Pierce, Attorney and Chapter 7 Trustee. The Webinar will be held on February 28, 2023 at 12pm ET and hosted by Stretto. A paperless office is not just about scanning and shredding. Discover how to…
Jim Lanik and Ciara L. Rogers Attend AAJ 2023 Winter Convention
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Jim Lanik and Ciara L. Rogers recently attended the American Association for Justice (AAJ) 2023 Winter Convention, February 4-7, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona. The event featured nationally renowned faculty, updates in a wide range of practice areas, and…
New Executive Committee Installed at Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC has formed a new Executive Committee to manage our multi-office law firm, serving clients throughout North Carolina and beyond. The firm, with offices in Winston-Salem and Raleigh, has selected two Managing Partners, Jim Wall and Kevin Sink. They are joined on the Executive Committee…
Jim Lanik and Jennifer Lyday Recently Co-wrote an Article for the Journal of Corporate Renewal
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Jim Lanik and Jennifer Lyday recently co-wrote an article, “Key Advantages of Chapter 12 Bankruptcy for Struggling Family Farmers,” for the Journal of Corporate Renewal (JCR), the official publication of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). Click here to read the article.
Key Advantages of Chapter 12 Bankruptcy for Struggling Family Farmers
American family farmers and family fishermen are not immune to the effects of the current condition of the general economy. A recent industry analysis indicates that the three most pressing concerns of respondents surveyed in September 2022 were
Several WWBB Attorneys To Speak at the 45th Annual Bankruptcy Institute
Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC Attorneys Jim Lanik, Ciara L. Rogers, and Jennifer B. Lyday will be speaking at the 45th Annual Bankruptcy Institute held this year at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina November 11-12. This year’s Bankruptcy Institute features a wide array of current and developing…
Attorney Jim Lanik Presents in Webinar
Attorney Jim Lanik will be presenting during a Webinar, “Trustee Security and Data Safety,” along with Justin Doles, Chief Information Security Officer for Stretto. The Webinar will be held on August 30, 2022 at 1pm ET and hosted by Stretto. Stretto leverages best-in-class technology, along with deep-industry expertise and market…
