Please join the Judges, Clerk of Court, and court staff in welcoming Judge Elisabetta G.M. Gasparini!

Judge Gasparini comes to the court after an extensive career as a trial attorney with the Office of the United States Trustee in both Region 4 (2012-2022) and Region 2 (2009-2012).  During her tenure with Region 4 in Columbia, Judge Gasparini served as Chapter 11 regional coordinator in complex cases, including, Toys “R” Us, Ascena (aka Ann Taylor), Chinos Holdings (aka J. Crew), Pier One, and Guitar Center.  In 2019, she received the Director’s Award for Excellence in Chapter 11 Complex Issues.  While serving as a trial attorney for Region 2 in New York, Judge Gasparini worked on numerous high-profile cases, including, American Airlines, Blockbuster, and Lehman Brothers.

Prior to her service with the UST, Judge Gasparini was a member of the corporate restructuring groups for several firms in New York (2001-2009).  While at those firms, she worked on complex chapter 11 cases, mass-tort bankruptcies, and represented various defendants to preference actions related to the bankruptcy cases of Enron Corp.  She previously served as the law clerk for her predecessor, the Hon. John E. Waites (1999-2001). 

Judge Gasparini was born in Milan, Italy, and immigrated to the U.S. with her family in 1987. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University (B.A. 1996) and the University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D. 1999). Her selection as bankruptcy judge by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit was announced by the Circuit Executive on January 18, 2022. Her duty station is Charleston.