Mr. Pyle served as a judge of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California from 1975 to 1985 and as its Chief Judge from 1983-1985. Mr. Pyle was a Judge of the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel from 1983 to 1985. After retiring from the bench, Mr. Pyle joined Jennings, Engstrand & Henrikson and began formation of the group that is now Pyle Sims Duncan & Stevenson. Mr. Pyle served as the chairman of Jennings, Engstrand & Henrikson’s bankruptcy group from 1985 until he was elected President of the firm in 1990.

Mr. Pyle’s contribution to the bankruptcy bar was substantial. He was involved in many of the significant Chapter 11 cases in the Southern District of California, first as a judge and later as an advocate. In addition to representing parties, Mr. Pyle served as an expert witness in bankruptcy related matters. Mr. Pyle was an active member of numerous organizations including the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, the National Association of Former Bankruptcy Judges, and the American Bankruptcy Institute. He was a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. Mr. Pyle was a founder and first President of the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum and served on the Board of Editors for the California Bankruptcy Journal. He was also a member of the Board of Directors for the California Bankruptcy Forum. He was a Master of the Bench of Louis M. Welsh, Chapter of the American Inns of Court Foundation. He served as a member of the U.S. District Court’s “Biden Committee” to assist the Southern District of California as a pilot District under the Civil Justice reform Act of 1991. In addition, Mr. Pyle was a Mediator for the Mediation Program of the Southern District of California. Given his status as a preeminent bankruptcy attorney, Mr. Pyle frequently served as a seminar panelist lecturing on bankruptcy topics for California Continuing Education of the Bar, the Rutter Group, San Diego Trial Lawyers Association and the National Business Institute. Mr. Pyle served as an Adjunct Professor at California Western Law School.

Mr. Pyle’s commitment to the San Diego community had likewise been extensive. As a member of the Rotary Club of San Diego since 1975, Mr. Pyle served as Director (1987-1989), Secretary (1989-1990) and President (1992-1993). He served as a Member of the Advisory Board of Trustees for Boys Clubs of San Diego, Inc., (1975-1987), a Member of the Board of Trustees of the United Methodist Church (1982-1985, Chair 1984-1985), and Charter Director Member of the San Diego High School Alumni Association.

A graduate of Stanford University (A.B. 1955; J.D. 1958), Mr. Pyle was admitted to the California Bar in 1959. Since admission to the Bar, Mr. Pyle had been an active member of the San Diego County Bar Association and chaired several committees. He was a Member of the American Bar Association and had served as a Representative to the Executive Council of the Conference of Barristers of the State Bar of California (1967-1970). He was also a Member of the Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission of the State Bar (1987-1988).