Patricia "Trish" Redmond is a towering figure in bankruptcy law and a devoted “Double Cane." A shareholder at Stearns Weaver Miller, she has spent over four decades navigating complex Chapter 11 reorganizations. Her leadership in the field is unparalleled; she has served as president of the American Bankruptcy Institute and was the first woman elected president of the American College of Bankruptcy. At the School of Law, Redmond's impact is profound. Since 1999, she has served as an adjunct professor and the director of the Bankruptcy Pro Bono Assistance Clinic, which she founded to provide life-changing legal services to the underprivileged. A recipient of the Richard Hausler Golden Apple Award for teaching excellence, she also coaches the bankruptcy moot court team. Her tireless commitment to public service was recognized with the 2019 Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award and the 2024 William M. Hoeveler Ethics & Public Service Award.
Redmond's story exemplifies the power of a Miami Law education—not only in building a successful legal career, but in cultivating a lifelong commitment to teaching, mentorship, and service.
What aspects of the curriculum or faculty had the most significant impact on your legal education and career trajectory?
The two faculty members who had the most significant impact on my legal education and trajectory were Soia Mentschikoff, the dean at the Law School at the time I attended, and Professor Richard Hausler. I took Professor Hausler for Bankruptcy Law, and with his supervision, wrote my 3L paper on the conflicts between the Bankruptcy Act and the Uniform Commercial Code and how the new Bankruptcy Code resolved those conflicts. At that point, I was hooked on the area of bankruptcy insolvency as a career path. Dean Mentschikoff was a legendary figure in commercial law—she was the first woman to teach at Harvard Law School and played a central role in drafting the Uniform Commercial Code. She taught Elements and Letters of Credit, and through these courses, I learned how to think and analyze like a lawyer. Through Letters of Credit, I came to understand how the concepts we were learning in law school about finance actually worked in the real world, in national and international commercial transactions. These foundational experiences shaped my entire approach to the practice of law.
Beyond specific mentors, the broader educational experience at Miami Law provided a foundation for professional success.
How did your education at the University of Miami School of Law prepare you for your career?
My education at Miami Law taught me so many things about lawyering, but mostly it taught me how to be a problem solver. Bankruptcy lawyers fix problems and try to economically and efficiently resolve disputes. My education taught me to look for solutions and to be creative in trying to find the best outcome for my client, given all the circumstances. The rigorous curriculum emphasized practical application of legal principles, which proved invaluable when I began handling complex Chapter 11 reorganizations. Miami Law instilled in me the importance of understanding the business realities underlying legal disputes—a perspective that has been essential throughout my career representing debtors, creditors, and committees in high-stakes restructurings. The law school's emphasis on professionalism and ethics also prepared me to navigate the challenging situations that arise in bankruptcy practice, where competing interests must be balanced and fiduciary duties demand the highest standards of conduct. I carry these lessons with me every day in my practice.
The skills gained at Miami Law were complemented by lasting relationships that have defined my career in unexpected ways.
What opportunities or connections did you gain at the law school, and how did they influence your career?
To this day, I stay in touch with many of my friends and colleagues from law school. I recently co-counseled a case with a law school colleague—we had bonded in law school based on our passion for the Uniform Commercial Code. In addition, I continually serve as a resource to classmates with respect to questions involving bankruptcy and insolvency. My connections also shaped my career when, in 1999, I was asked to co-teach the Bankruptcy Law class with the Honorable A. Jay Cristol. I have taught every semester since. The students whom I have worked with and befriended have enriched my life immeasurably. Through the law school, I have coached the Duberstein Moot Court Team for 25 years. The team has excelled, regularly advancing to later rounds and winning the competition twice. These students have been inspirational, and those relationships continue to remind me why I chose this profession.
