Western District of New York Bankruptcy Trustee Directory | Prof. Hernandez

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York (WDNY) serves 17 counties, with primary offices located in Buffalo and Rochester. Whether you are filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, the court-appointed trustee is the central figure in your case, tasked with overseeing your assets and conducting the §341 Meeting of Creditors.

By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).

Key Takeaways: Western District of New York

Jurisdiction: The Western District includes Buffalo, Rochester, and surrounding counties like Erie, Monroe, Niagara, and Genesee.
The Bankruptcy Trustee: Trustees are fiduciaries appointed to protect the bankruptcy estate and maximize returns to creditors. They review your financial filings and lead the 341 Meeting.
Chapter 7 (Liquidation): Bankruptcy Trustees are assigned to identify non-exempt assets for potential liquidation.
Chapter 13 (Reorganization): A Standing Trustee administers your repayment plan, collects monthly payments, and manages distributions.

Chapter 7 Panel Trustees

The Western District of New York covers 17 counties across the Buffalo and Rochester divisions, including Erie, Monroe, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne, Yates, Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Seneca, Chemung, and Schuyler.

Chapter 7 Trustees are assigned randomly to cases. Below are the current trustees as of 2026 for the Western District:

Trustee Name	Primary Office Location
Daniel Evans Brick	91 Tremont Street North Tonawanda, NY 14120 Phone: (716) 693-2335
Mark J. Schlant	350 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14202 Phone: (716) 855-3200
Regina A. Walker	200 John James Audubon Parkway Suite 103 Amherst, NY 14228 E-mail: RAW@reginawalker.com Phone: (716) 810-1310 Fax: (716) 810-1309

Chapter 13 Standing Trustee

The Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the Western District plays a more permanent role, managing all Chapter 13 cases within the district.

Trustee Name	Primary Office Location
Julie A. Philippi	170 Franklin St., Ste 600 Buffalo, NY 14202 E-mail: www.buffalo13.com Phone: (716) 854-5636
George M. Reiber	3136 S.Winton Road, Suite 206 Rochester, NY 14623 Phone: (585)427-7225

The 341 Meeting of Creditors

The 341 Meeting of Creditors is required under 11 U.S.C. §341(a) and, in the Western District of New York, is conducted almost entirely by telephone or Zoom.

Under 11 U.S.C. §521(a)(3)–(4) and Fed. R. Bankr. P. 4002(b), debtors must provide the trustee with all required financial documents, including tax returns, bank statements, and pay stubs, no later than seven days before the meeting.

Failure to comply with these statutory duties typically results in a continuance and may lead the trustee to seek dismissal under 11 U.S.C. §707(a) for Chapter 7 cases, and under §1307(c) for Chapter 13.

Chapter 13 Payments

The Chapter 13 Standing Trustee administers all plan payments and monitors compliance throughout the case. As in Chapter 7, debtors in Chapter 13 must appear for the 341 Creditors Meeting under 11 U.S.C. §341(a). In the Western District of New York, the confirmation hearing typically occurs 30–40 days after the 341 meeting.

Under 11 U.S.C. §1325(a), the Standing Trustee evaluates whether the proposed plan satisfies the statutory confirmation requirements. This includes the “best interests of creditors” test under §1325(a)(4), the disposable income requirement under §1325(b), and compliance with the Liquidation Test, which ensures unsecured creditors receive at least what they would have received in a Chapter 7 liquidation.

If the plan fails any of these requirements, the trustee may recommend denial of confirmation or request amendments before the case can proceed.

Professor’s Note: While many districts rely on third‑party payment portals such as TFS Bill Pay, the Western District of New York follows the procedures outlined in the Chapter 13 Handbook issued by the Buffalo office.

Always verify the trustee’s preferred payment method before your first plan payment. Avoid cash or personal checks as they are not accepted under trustee policy. Using cashier’s checks or certified electronic transfers is the most reliable way to ensure payments are properly credited to your plan.

The Trustee’s Fiduciary Obligations

It is a common mistake for debtors to view the bankruptcy trustee as a neutral mediator. The trustee is not your attorney and does not represent your interests.

Under 11 U.S.C. §704 (Chapter 7) and §1302(a) (Chapter 13), the trustee serves as a fiduciary for the creditors, and their primary obligation is to protect and administer the bankruptcy estate.

Every question they ask, and every document they request, is directed toward fulfilling that statutory duty, not advocating for the debtor.

Closing Thoughts

Whether you are navigating a Chapter 7 liquidation in Buffalo or a Chapter 13 reorganization in Rochester, the role of the bankruptcy trustee is critical. Your financial fresh start depends on full financial disclosure and timely document submission to avoid unnecessary delays or dismissal of your case.

Contact information for the Western District Bankruptcy Court is available here.

Professor Hernandez is an attorney specializing in consumer finance and debt relief. He is the author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge) and teaches law and finance courses in both English and Spanish at an international university.

Educational Resources

For Institutions: Colleges and universities can purchase or request examination copies of my textbook directly from Routledge Publishing.
For Students & Practitioners: Single print and digital copies are available via Amazon Books.
Video Lectures: Stream comprehensive legal breakdowns and video explanations on the Prof. Hernandez YouTube Channel.

Bankruptcy Court & Consumer Resources

Explore a deep dive for consumer guides and court directories to navigate your legal options:

A step-by-step master guide on Filing for Bankruptcy and Navigating the Petition.
Access full directories for the Federal Bankruptcy Court System and Trustee Contact Information.
Protect your assets by reviewing your specific State Bankruptcy Exemptions or compare them against the Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions.
Prepare for your court date with the updated brief on the 341 Meeting of Creditors Rules and Procedures.

Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.

Bankruptcy Code Citations

11 U.S.C. §341. Meetings of creditors and equity security holders.
11 U.S.C. §521. Debtor’s duties.
Fed. R. Bankr. P. 4002. Debtor’s Duties.
11 U.S.C. §707. Dismissal of a case or conversion to a case under chapter 11 or 13.
11 U.S.C. §1307. Conversion or dismissal.
11 U.S.C. § 1325. Confirmation of plan.
11 U.S.C. §704. Duties of trustee.
11 U.S.C. §1302. Trustee.