Jorge A. Gaitan

Years of experience as a federal bankruptcy court law clerk and trial attorney have made Jorge Gaitan a skilled and thoughtful attorney, with extensive bankruptcy and litigation expertise.

Before joining Downey Brand, Jorge was a trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice, representing the United States Trustees in chapter 11 matters and pursuing remedies for misconduct and abuse of the bankruptcy system in all chapters, including litigating dischargeability actions. Jorge has also represented private chapter 7 trustees in disputes involving avoidance actions, stay relief, and asset recovery matters.

Jorge began his career as a term law clerk (2 years) to the Honorable Mark D. Houle of the Central District of California, where he later was asked to return as a career clerk to spend an additional three years deepening his knowledge of bankruptcy issues and drafting opinions in complex litigation matters.

In addition to his bankruptcy work, Jorge spent two years as an Assistant General Counsel for the State of California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB), where he served primarily as in-house counsel, advising agency leadership regarding internal personnel and policy matters and managing and directing outside counsel.

Jorge has experience litigating primarily before the Bankruptcy Courts for the Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California and Nevada and before the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel and District Courts. Jorge also has experience litigating in California courts and before California administrative agencies.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

• SacLegal (Sacramento’s LGBT+ Bar Association), Co-Chair 2025; Treasurer, 2023-2024; Secretary, 2022
• California Lawyers Association, Business Law Section
• Insolvency Law Committee, 2020-2023
• Sacramento County Bar Association, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section
• Peace Corps, West Africa, Small Enterprise Development Volunteer, 2006-2007

Honors & Rankings

• Clerkship, Honorable Mark D. Houle, United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, 2016-2019; 2012-2014