Rene Lastreto, II

Hon. René Lastreto II is a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of California in Fresno, sworn in on Sept. 14, 2015. Prior to his appointment, he was the managing partner with Lang, Richert & Patch in Fresno and, before that, the CFO of the firm. While in private practice for 34 years, Judge Lastreto emphasized litigation matters involving creditor rights in all courts in California. He also represented all constituencies in bankruptcy matters, including creditors (both secured and unsecured), creditors’ committees, trustees, asset-purchasers, lessees, lessors, debtors and estate professionals. Before joining Lang, Richert & Patch in 1999, he was a partner at Dowling, Aaron & Keeler in Fresno, and prior to that, a partner at Crossland, Crossland, Chambers, Lastreto & Knudson. Judge Lastreto was trial counsel in many types of cases in both state and federal courts, and primary trial counsel in numerous contested matters representing various interests on agricultural and commercial code issues. He is a frequent faculty member in many continuing education programs, both teaching and writing on various creditor-related and agricultural issues. Prior to his appointment as a judge, he was on the commercial panel of the American Arbitration Association and arbitrated numerous commercial disputes, including construction and contract disputes. Judge Lastreto is Board Certified in Creditors’ Rights Law by the American Board of Certification. He received his undergraduate degree cum laude in 1978 from the University of Utah and his J.D. from the University of San Francisco in 1981.