Kesha Tanabe

Kesha Tanabe is an attorney at Vogel Law Firm in Fargo, North Dakota whose practice focuses on business bankruptcy, restructuring, trustee matters, and related commercial disputes. Tanabe works with debtors, creditors, trustees, businesses, and other parties in bankruptcy and restructuring matters on business bankruptcy, Subchapter V matters, restructuring, trustee work, litigation, and bankruptcy-related counseling. The practice is grounded in the specific legal and business issues reflected in those matters, with attention to the governing law, the client’s objectives, and the practical steps required to move a matter forward.

Tanabe’s education includes a J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, a master’s degree with honors from the London School of Economics, and a B.A. in political science from the University of St. Thomas, magna cum laude. Her legal education also included international study at Central European University in Budapest. This background supports careful legal analysis, research, writing, and problem solving in the matters handled in practice. It also provides context for evaluating legal risk, explaining available options, and connecting technical rules to the real-world decisions clients need to make.

Tanabe’s experience includes serving as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota from 2022 to 2025, sitting by designation in the District of South Dakota, serving as a Subchapter V trustee, and teaching bankruptcy law. Tanabe returned to private practice in 2025 with extensive experience in bankruptcy litigation, trustee matters, restructuring, and professional education. These matters have involved bankruptcy courts, restructuring proceedings, trustee assignments, and national professional education programs.

Kesha Tanabe has also been recognized for board certification as a Business Bankruptcy Specialist and the 2024 Trailblazer Award, along with other professional recognition in bankruptcy practice. Through her teaching, mentoring, speaking, and service within the bankruptcy bar, Tanabe remains engaged with the professional and practical issues that affect this area of law. Clients benefit from advice that is tied to the facts of the matter, the applicable legal framework, and the business or personal considerations that influence how a legal issue should be addressed.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Vogel Law Firm
• Member, State Bar Association of North Dakota
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• Member, Fort Berthold District Tribal Court
• Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
• Member, National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees

Licensed State

• North Dakota
• Minnesota
• New York

Awards & Badges