Forrest L. Ingram concentrates much of his energies in chapter 11 reorganizations and in business and consumer bankruptcies. Under his direction and supervision, the Firm of Forrest L. Ingram, P.C., in the last three years, has confirmed twelve chapter 11 cases—an enviable record. The Firm also brought about successfully completed plans in a number of chapter 13 cases, and obtained the discharge for many debtors through chapter 7.
 
Born in Dallas, Forrest often quotes the Texas adage: “The impossible takes a little bit longer.” With that spirit motivating him, he has obtained confirmation over the years in some chapter 11 cases that the bankruptcy judge had declared “hopeless”, including the consolidated cases of American Care, Inc., Advocare, Inc., Advocare of Illinois, Inc., Total Home Health Care, Inc., and Alvin Lewitas. He also overcame heavy odds to confirm other chapter 11 cases such as Midwest Imports International, Inc., Headline Promotions, Inc., and Zepeda Construction Services, Inc. Forrest has also led the way to help consumer debtors protect their assets while obtaining a discharge of all or some of their debts in chapter 7 or chapter 13.
 
In civil litigation, Forrest labored to obtain a 7 figure judgment for Universal Bancard Systems in a contract and RICO dispute that went through two jury trials. With other networking attorneys, Forrest helped settle a copyright infringement action on the eve of trial for Passport Software, Inc. Forrest has represented clients from all over the United States in pursuing and defending claims in adversary proceedings in the bankruptcy court for the Northern District of Illinois, including in the mega-cases of Kmart, United Airlines, and World Access. He was chosen by Checker Taxi Association, Inc. to represent it and its officers in related state and federal court litigation. He regularly represents homeowners in foreclosure actions to save their homes from sale or to protect their equity in such homes.
 
Forrest has argued appeals before state and federal appellate courts, including the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
 
Education

• BA, Spring Hill College, 1962, English
• MA, Spring Hill College, 1963, Philosophy
• MA, University of Southern California, 1965, Comparative Literature
• Ph.D., University of Southern California, 1967, Comparative Literature
• BD, Gemeinte Universiteit te Amsterdam, 1970
• JD, IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law, 1981; Deans List, Law Review, Bar and Gavel Award

Admitted to Practice

• Supreme Court of Illinois, 1981
• Supreme Court of Indiana, 2009
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1981
• Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 1989
• United States Supreme Court, 1995
• Southern District of California, pro hac vice, 2010
• Western District of Virginia, pro hac vice, 2010

Distinctions and Prior Employment

• 3-year National Defense Education Act Fellowship, 1963-66
• Associate professor, Loyola University New Orleans, 1969-1973
• Editor, New Orleans Review, 1971-73
• Associate editor, Open Court Publishing Co., 1973-74
• Chairman, Department of English, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN 1974-1976
• Chairman, Department of English and Communicative Arts, Roosevelt University, Chicago, 1976-1984
• Author/Editor of various books, articles, reviews, poems, and stories
• Actor and director in various college productions
• Speaker/Panelist at various conferences, including the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Central States Meeting in Traverse City, MI, 2008

Member

• ISBA, CBA, American Bankruptcy Institute

Recreational Interests

• Theatre, Literature, Music, and the Other Arts
• Travel, hiking, and the adventure of every day