Ellen M. McDowell

Ms. McDowell founded the firm in 1996. She is admitted to practice in all federal and State courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as the United States Supreme Court. She has a general practice, including bankruptcy, litigation, employment law, real estate, land use, family law, and wills, trusts and estates.

McDowell began her practice at Drinker Biddle & Reath, Philadelphia, PA. While working at Drinker, Ms. McDowell represented creditors in loan originations, bankruptcy matters, loan workouts, and collection matters.

Representative bankruptcy clients included a large, successfully reorganized inner-city hospital, a creditors’ committee in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a large retailer, and an equity holders’ committee in the chapter 11 bankruptcy of a major South Florida hotel. Also at Drinker, Ms. McDowell was involved in extensive business bankruptcy litigation and planning as well as commercial foreclosure. She was primarily responsible for the firm’s consumer bankruptcy litigation.

In 1997, McDowell co-founded Whittlesey McDowell & Holtz, and has served as the firm’s managing partner every since. At the firm, she has represented several regional and national banks as well as local and national businesses in commercial transactions, litigation, bankruptcy and land use matters. Ms. McDowell has a varied consumer practice, representing individuals in a wide range of matters including real estate, family, litigation, probate, wills and estate and bankruptcy.

Ms. McDowell has lectured on bankruptcy for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and written articles for PBI’s Mortgage Foreclosure seminar materials.