Jesse Finlayson

Jesse Finlayson is an American attorney formerly based in California. He was associated with Finlayson Toffer Roosevelt and Lilly LLP, a law firm that practiced in the areas of bankruptcy, creditors' rights, and commercial litigation. The firm, which bore his name as a named partner, appears to have ceased active operations, with its former domain redirecting to a parking page as of 2026.

Legal career

Finlayson practiced law in California, focusing on bankruptcy and insolvency matters, creditors' rights, and related commercial litigation. He was a named partner at Finlayson Toffer Roosevelt and Lilly LLP, indicating a senior leadership role within the firm. The firm handled matters in the United States Bankruptcy Court and related federal and state courts in California.

As a named partner, Finlayson would have borne supervisory and managerial responsibilities for the firm's legal work, client relationships, and professional standards. The firm's practice encompassed representation of trustees, creditors, debtors, and other parties in interest in bankruptcy proceedings, as well as commercial disputes and asset recovery matters.

Finlayson Toffer Roosevelt and Lilly LLP operated in Southern California, serving clients across the region's federal bankruptcy courts. The firm's attorneys, including Finlayson, were involved in a range of Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 proceedings, trustee representation, and adversary proceedings arising from bankruptcy cases.

Firm dissolution

As of 2026, Finlayson Toffer Roosevelt and Lilly LLP appears to have ceased active operations. The firm's former website domain redirects to a domain parking page, suggesting that the firm has closed or discontinued its online presence. The circumstances surrounding the firm's apparent dissolution have not been publicly detailed.

Bankruptcy malpractice proceeding

On January 6, 2026, an adversary proceeding was filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court under Case No. 26-90003-CL. Finlayson is named as a respondent alongside Christopher R. Barclay, a Chapter 7 trustee who was formerly associated with the firm.

According to the complaint, the proceeding alleges bankruptcy malpractice in connection with the administration of a bankruptcy estate related to TopDevz LLC, a technology staffing company. Barclay had been appointed as Chapter 7 Trustee in the TopDevz bankruptcy under Case No. 24-00617 on May 9, 2024.

The filing alleges that claims valued at approximately $75 million were settled for approximately $200,000, a recovery that the plaintiffs characterize as grossly inadequate. The complaint names both Barclay and Finlayson, as well as Finlayson Toffer Roosevelt and Lilly LLP, as respondents. The specific allegations concerning Finlayson relate to his role and responsibilities at the firm during the relevant period.

The adversary proceeding asserts that the settlement represented a failure to adequately investigate and pursue the estate's claims, resulting in substantial losses to creditors. As of early 2026, the proceeding remains pending, and the allegations have not been adjudicated. All respondents are presumed to have denied the material claims.

References

• "Barclay and Finlayson Bankruptcy Malpractice", ConFraud, March 2026
• "Bankruptcy Trustee Accused of Settling $75 Million Claims for $200,000", Chicago Gust
• Source filing and case documents