Alejandro Sainz heads the Insolvency, Restructuring, and Commercial Bankruptcy practice area and is a member of the Financial, Corporate Restructuring, and Compliance practice groups, as well as the Corporate Governance and Investigations practice groups. He has more than 30 years of experience advising and representing clients (both debtors and creditors) on all legal aspects related to complex insolvency and restructuring matters, in Mexico and across borders (including both out-of-court and court proceedings in Mexico—commercial bankruptcy proceedings—and the Mexican legal aspects of U.S. Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 proceedings), as well as in legal matters involving financial issues, liability management, refinancing, corporate reorganizations, and asset sales in special or complex situations.

Throughout his career, he has represented corporate clients in various industries, both nationally and internationally, domestic and foreign companies (both public and private), and several ad-hoc committees of international bonds and notes issued abroad by Mexican issuers, as well as other domestic and foreign banks, key creditors, suppliers and vendors.

He is also recognized for his service to the community by providing pro-bono representation to various organizations. He is a Mediator certified by the Mexican Mediation Institute and has participated in numerous complex negotiations as lead counsel. He has taught and participated in several courses, seminars, postgraduate courses and panels in Mexico and abroad, on topics such as restructuring, commercial bankruptcy and cross-border restructuring and insolvency proceedings. In addition, he actively participates in several boards of directors and committees.

Ari Lefkovits is Managing Partner of Apotheo. Prior to founding Apotheo, Ari was a Managing Partner at Delos Capital, where he focused on special situations and private investments. Before Delos, Ari spent more than two decades at Lazard, where he was a Managing Director advising on capital solutions, restructuring, and liability management transactions totaling over $300 billion.

Ari has over 25 years of experience advising investors, senior executives, and boards of directors on complex corporate finance matters. During his tenure at Lazard, he worked in both the New York and London offices and advised on many of the firm's largest and most complex engagements, receiving multiple industry awards in the process.

He has advised companies, boards, creditors, investors, unions, and government entities across a wide range of situations, including mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and reorganizations, debt exchanges and other liability management transactions, spin-offs, debt and equity financings, and joint ventures.

Ari has testified before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, various state courts, and the New York Stock Exchange. He speaks frequently on industry panels and in the press and has been recognized as one of Turnarounds & Workouts' "People to Watch" and one of The M&A Advisor's "40 Under 40" corporate finance professionals.

Ari holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.

Ari is a Registered Representative of BA Securities, LLC.

Bill Derrough is a Managing Director and Chairman of Global Debt Advisory & Restructuring at Jefferies & Company. He recently rejoined after 17 years at Moelis & Company where he was a Managing Director and Global Head of the Capital Structure Advisory and co-founded the Capital Structure Advisory group which helped establish one of the world’s leading capital structure advisory and debt restructuring teams, which completed more than 750 transactions globally, representing over $1.5 trillion in value. 

Prior to Moelis & Company, Bill co-founded and co-headed the Recapitalization & Restructuring Group at Jefferies & Company. Bill began his investment banking career at Salomon Brothers Inc. 

Bill has over 35 years of investment banking experience, having advised all types of parties in major strategic transactions, including companies, boards of directors, institutional credit investors, public and private shareholders, unions, and governmental entities. 

Bill holds a B.A. in Soviet Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. He currently serves on the boards of Youth INC (New York City), Bennington College, Scouting America, Regis High School (New York City), and the Academy of St. Joseph (New York City). He is a past board member of the National Pastoral Life Center and Lambda Legal and served as Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee from 2017-2021. 

Mr. Friedman is a Partner in the Ares Credit Group, where he focuses on opportunistic credit investing. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Ares Credit Group's Opportunistic Credit Investment Committee. Prior to joining Ares in 2017, Mr. Friedman was an Associate in the Financial Restructuring Group at Milbank LLP and a Secondee at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. in the Special Situations and Distressed Investing Group. Previously, Mr. Friedman was a Judicial Law Clerk in the District Court for the District of Columbia. He currently serves on the board of directors for the parent entity of Convene Global Holdings LLC. Mr. Friedman holds a B.A. from Emory University, where he was appointed to the Pi Sigma Alpha Honors Society; a J.D., summa cum laude, from The George Washington School of Law; and a four-year executive program in corporate finance and accounting at Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School. During law school, Mr. Friedman was a George Washington Scholar and received the Charles Glover Award and the Justice Thurgood Marshall Civil Liberties Award.

Carter Simpson is a Managing Director and Head of Restructuring for Liquid Credit Strategies (LCS) in Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BXCI) based in New York. Mr. Simpson leads restructuring, workout, and liability management transactions for BXCI’s LCS business which manages over $120 billion across corporate bonds, leveraged loans, CLOs and Multi-Asset Credit. Mr. Simpson also serves as a member of the LCS US Investment Committee.

Mr. Simpson joined Blackstone in 2012 and has held a variety of roles across the firm’s liquid and private corporate credit strategies in both New York and London. Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Simpson worked as an analyst in the Leveraged Finance group at Deutsche Bank’s New York office.

Mr. Simpson received a BA in Economics from Princeton University.

Biography

• Founder and co-leader of Akin’s integrated capital solutions practice.
• Represents asset managers and their portfolio companies in complex transactions typically arising from credit and hybrid investments.
• Market-leading experience in complex special situations, liability management and out-of-court restructurings, distressed M&A, the transactional aspects of in-court restructurings, crisis management and post-reorganized corporate governance and sale transactions.

The world’s most sophisticated asset managers call upon Dan Fisher to structure, execute and protect their highly complex credit, hybrid and other capital solutions investments.

Dan, the founder and co-leader of Akin’s market-leading capital solutions team and a former member of the firm’s Management Committee, has decades of experience counseling credit-heritage investors on evolving market dynamics and opportunities across sectors, geographies, deal structures and economic cycles. He began his career as a public M&A lawyer and brings the judgement, rigor, problem solving and deal leadership skills inherent in that practice to bear in every transaction he leads.

As a result of the unique range of Dan’s practice, his pragmatic approach to transactions, his focus on realistic solutions and risk assessment and his wide-ranging market knowledge and contacts, Dan is frequently called upon to solve the thorniest and most sensitive challenges facing his clients and their investments, including:

• Emerging trends in liability management, BSL and private credit lender dynamics and cooperation agreements.
• Structuring front-end credit investments, typically in the non-sponsor, hybrid capital or opportunistic spaces.
• MNPI and the securities laws aspects of corporate restructurings.
• Developing trading and corporate governance protocols and safeguards for companies emerging from a restructuring.
• Crisis management.
• Asset management and recovery strategies and workouts of non-performing or opportunistic investments.

Dan frequently speaks and is quoted on developments in liability management, distressed transactions and credit market dynamics, including at industry conferences, and is often asked to discuss the latest market developments at his clients’ limited partner/investor meetings and to interact with LPs and allocators.

Mr. Hilty is Global Co-Head of Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Restructuring Group and has been employed by the firm for nearly 40 years. Mr. Hilty has advised companies, secured lenders, bondholders, and other creditor groups in out-of-court restructurings, prepackaged or prearranged Chapter 11 bankruptcies, and unplanned Chapter 11 reorganizations. In addition, he has been involved in the financial restructuring of several European and Latin American-based companies, advising both debtors and creditors, including designing and structuring out-of-court exchange offers and prearranged reorganizations in local European and Latin American jurisdictions. 

In addition to assisting clients with financial restructuring services, Mr. Hilty has provided clients with a variety of other investment banking and valuation services, including debt financings for distressed and non-distressed companies, advising on the acquisition or sale of companies and/or operating divisions in a distressed and non-distressed environment, and raising debt and equity capital.

Mr. Hilty holds a B.S. in Commerce with a concentration in Finance from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce

David J. Cohen is a partner in Weil’s Restructuring Department and is based in New York and Miami, where he serves as Co-Managing Partner of the Miami office. David has extensive experience representing debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, sponsors, lenders, bondholders, acquirors, and other key stakeholders in U.S. and cross-border corporate restructurings, both in-court (including chapter 11, chapter 15, receivership, and other insolvency proceedings) and out-of-court, as well as in liability management transactions, distressed financings, and distressed M&A matters across a wide range of industries.

David advises companies, sponsors, ad hoc creditor groups, DIP lenders, secured lenders, and other creditors in complex restructurings, recapitalizations, and related transactions. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in Bankruptcy by Law360, an “On the Rise” attorney by the Daily Business Review, an “Emerging Leader” by The M&A Advisor, and an “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer” by Turnarounds & Workouts. He has also been included among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers and its Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation list.

David regularly speaks on bankruptcy and restructuring panels and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Miami School of Law and University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Dennis O'Donnell has extensive experience in corporate reorganization and bankruptcy-related litigation matters.

He represents debtors, lenders, official and unofficial committees, significant creditors, equity holders, examiners, and acquirors in chapter 11 cases, chapter 15 cases, loan restructurings and out-of-court workouts. He has played significant roles in some of the largest and most complex chapter 11 cases of the past 30 years, including FTX, Solar Mosaic, SAS, Northvolt, Instant Brands, Village Roadshow, Archdioceses of New Orleans, Alpha Latam, Avianca, BLT, LightSquared/Ligado, Relativity, ResCap, Arcapita, Momentive, Vitro, Journal Register, TOUSA, Lehman Brothers, Refco, Enron, Olympia & York, and Maxwell Communications. He has also written and spoken extensively on current chapter 11, chapter 15, real estate foreclosure and enforcement, and broker/dealer liquidation issues and developments. 

Dennis has appeared in federal courts throughout the US, including before the United States Supreme Court, the Second Circuit of Appeals, the Third Circuit of Appeals and numerous district and bankruptcy courts.

Elizabeth A. LaPuma has more than 20 years of experience in financial advisory, capital markets, strategic transactions and corporate governance. Ms. LaPuma currently serves as Chair of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee of Ionic Digital Inc. (NYSE: IOND) and as a member of the Board and Audit Committee of The Children's Place, Inc. (NYSE: PLCE). Ms. LaPuma has previously served as a director of several other public companies, including Big Lots and WeWork. She also has extensive experience as an independent director for private companies sponsored by Apollo Global Management, Oaktree Capital Management, Centre Partners, TPG Sixth Street, One Rock Partners, and numerous other large private equity sponsors, as well as Braskem Idessa, the Mexico joint venture owned by Brazilian petrochemicals company Braskem S.A and Indesa.  Prior to serving as a professional fiduciary, Ms. LaPuma served as Managing Director and Head of Balance Sheet Advisory at UBS, Managing Director and Head of Asset Management Services at Alvarez & Marsal, and in key roles with BlackRock, Lazard, and Credit Suisse. Ms. LaPuma holds an M.B.A. and B.S. in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.

Fran Blair joined PSP Investments in 2018 and serves as a Managing Director in the firm’s direct investing Credit business, where he heads the distressed credit and rescue finance strategy in New York. Mr. Blair is a member of the Global Credit Investment Committee for private credit and liquid/syndicated leveraged credit in addition to leading the firm’s restructuring and post-reorganization corporate governance efforts. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Transcendia Holdings Inc., Fleet Farm Group LLC, and Coronis Health I, LLC, with past board experience including Crash Champions LLC (formerly Service King), Dayton Superior Corporation, and Penson Technologies LLC (formerly Penson Financial Services). In addition to his corporate governance roles, Mr. Blair has extensive experience serving on creditor and ad hoc committees in restructurings and bankruptcies, including cases such as Indiana Toll Road. Prior to PSP, Mr. Blair was a Managing Director at Solus Alternative Asset Management LP, where he was a founding member of the investment team in 2007. He previously held roles in credit investing, trading, and restructuring at Deutsche Bank and began his career in the Financial Sponsors Group at Bankers Trust. Mr. Blair holds a BA in Economics from Hamilton College.

Judge Alfredo R. Pérez joined the Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court in July 2024.   Prior to his position on the bench, Judge Pérez practiced in Houston for 43 years.  For the past 22 years he was a partner in Weil’s restructuring department and served, for 10 years, as the managing part of the Weil’s Houston office. He represented large corporate debtors and other parties in complex bankruptcy cases across the country. Judge Pérez retired from Weil at the end of 2023. 

Judge Chris Lopez was appointed to serve as a United States Bankruptcy Judge in 2019. He is one of two judges serving on the Southern District of Texas Complex Case Panel. 

Before his appointment, Judge Lopez was a member of the Business, Finance & Restructuring Group of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. When in private practice, Judge Lopez focused on representations ranging from top global corporations in mega-restructurings to middle-market debtor and creditor representations. 

Judge Lopez earned a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. He also earned a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston, where he was a proud member of the Track and Field Team.

Judge Lopez currently serves as a board member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, a conferee of the National Bankruptcy Conference, an observer on the Judicial Insolvency Network, a member of the advisory committee to the University of Chicago Center on Law and Finance, and an advisor to the State Bar of Texas Young Lawyers Committee.

Jochen is a Managing Director in Lincoln’s Capital Advisory Group.  He advises companies, creditors, sponsors and other constituents in uncertain and complex situations.  With close to two decades of experience across liability management, recapitalization transactions and in-court restructurings, Jochen has represented stakeholders in ~ 50 transactions exceeding $100 billion of capital.  

Prior to joining Lincoln, Jochen was a Managing Director in Greenhill’s liability management and restructuring practice. Notable assignments include representations in the multi-jurisdictional restructuring of Digicel, the municipal restructurings of Detroit and Puerto Rico, the Energy Future Holdings restructuring, the in-court restructuring of Global Eagle, Incora’s liability management and subsequent restructuring, Yak Access’ out-of-court restructuring, the Juice Plus+ out-of-court recapitalization and Scripps’ liability management transaction, among others. 

Earlier in his career, he held roles in capital structure advisory and investment banking.  

Jochen holds a Bachelor of Science in finance and accounting from HEC Montreal and a Master of Business Administration from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Columbia Business School. He speaks both English and German. 

Josh Mendelsohn is a Managing Director in Guggenheim Securities’ Capital Structure Advisory Practice. Mr. Mendelsohn’s experience includes advising companies, governments, sponsors, investors and creditor constituents on restructuring, liability management, M&A and financing transactions. 

Mr. Mendelsohn was recognized as a 2023 “Rising Star” of the restructuring industry by PETITION.   Mr. Mendelsohn's recent notable experience includes advising Lumen Technologies on its $15BN liability   management transaction, the largest ever of its kind. Mr. Mendelsohn has also been recognized for his work advising Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia’s flag air carrier on its comprehensive $13B+ restructuring, for which Mr. Mendelsohn was awarded the 2023 Turnaround Management Association Mega Company Turnaround / Transaction of the Year.

Prior to joining Guggenheim, Mr. Mendelsohn was at Millstein & Co., which was acquired by Guggenheim.   Mr. Mendelsohn earned a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Leonard Klingbaum serves as head of the firm’s Capital Solutions group, leading a cross-disciplinary platform that draws upon a single multidisciplinary team of lawyers aligned to serve clients throughout an investment’s lifecycle.

Mr. Klingbaum provides strategic and results-oriented advice to clients in complex private credit and special situations finance, event-driven and opportunistic transactions, and liability management exercises. He advises credit funds and other asset managers, direct lenders, alternative capital sources, borrowers (including private and public companies), and sponsors across the full spectrum of financing and capital structure solutions.

His work spans the capital stack and ranges from lower middle-market transactions to large-cap financings.

A trusted adviser in high-stakes and time-sensitive situations, Mr. Klingbaum counsels clients on both out-of-court and in-court financing matters. His experience frequently involves new-money investments, debt equitizations, and creative structuring solutions designed to address challenged or shifting capital structures and evolving market conditions.

Mr. Klingbaum’s practice is distinguished by its cross-disciplinary approach, enabling him to guide clients seamlessly from financing strategy and execution through distressed M&A and restructuring outcomes. His breadth of experience across market cycles allows him to deliver commercially grounded, legally precise advice in some of the most complex transactions in the market. He is widely recognized for his leadership in credit opportunities and special situations finance and for his ability to develop practical solutions to sophisticated investment challenges.

Marc Puntus joined Centerview Partners in 2011 to establish its debt advisory & restructuring practice, which he co-heads.

Centerview is a premier provider of independent investment-banking advisory services, with industry-leading expertise in M&A, independent board advice, special committees, shareholder activism, debt and equity financing and debt advisory, liability management and restructuring.

During his over 30-year career, Marc has led restructuring, financing and M&A assignments for companies, creditors, acquirers, shareholders and other stakeholders across a wide array of industries. 

Some of Marc’s recent and more notable engagements, include:

• SVB Financial Group – parent company of Silicon Valley Bank.
• Celsius Network Ltd.— global crypto platform and BTC miner.
• Alacrity Solutions – insurance claims services provider.
• Sirva Worldwide – global moving and relocation services provider.
• Avison Young – global commercial real estate services provider.
• Diamond Sports Group – first lien lenders.
• Dish Networks – DNC convertible noteholders.
• Caesars Entertainment Corp. – public parent company of largest U.S. gaming operator.
• Silvergate Bank – crypto-focused bank. 
• Patriot Coal – coal mine operator.
• Westmoreland Coal – coal mine operator.
• Could Peak – coal mine operator.
• Catalina Marketing – CPG and retail-focused personalized ad provider.
• Foxwoods/MPTN – operator of Foxwoods casino and hotel properties.
• Clearwire Corporation – global mobile and fixed wireless platform.
• JC Penney – retailer, pre-ch. 11 transactions.
• Sears – retailer, pre-ch. 11 transactions.
• ResCap – largest domestic non-bank mortgage originator/servicer.

Prior to joining Centerview, Marc was a Managing Director and founder of Miller Buckfire & Co. Prior to that he was a member of the financial restructuring group of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein where he began his investment banking career.

Marc began his career, post-law school, as a restructuring associate and, thereafter, a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

Marc received a J.D. (cum laude) from Boston University School of Law and a B.S.B.A./Finance (magna cum laude) from Georgetown University.

Marc Strauss, Senior Managing Director at Crestline

Mr. Strauss joined Crestline in 2019 and focuses on US Corporate Credit. Prior to joining Crestline, Marc worked at LStar Capital and FS Investments, where he was responsible for deal sourcing, execution and asset management for unitranche, junior capital, and special situation debt investments. In addition to his investing experience, Mr. Strauss provided debt advisory and capital raising services while working at Jefferies Financial Group and Rothschild & Co. Mr. Strauss has a BA from the University of Rochester, a JD from the University of Virginia, and a MBA from Columbia Business School.  Mr. Strauss currently serves on the Board of Directors of ClareMedica, Genuine Health Group and Upperline Health.

Marjorie (Margie) has been providing turnaround and interim management expertise to companies around the country for over 37 years. Her experience in developing and implementing strategic and financial plans has successfully driven business success and controlled costs for her clients. Margie spent over 35 years at several middle market turnaround and restructuring firms, frequently serving as interim Chief Restructuring Officer and Chief Financial Officer for companies experiencing financial difficulties. As part of those engagements, she provided cash flow management services, conducted business plan viability analyses, designed and steered turnaround action plans, managed debt and equity placement, sourced refinancing and leveraged her deep expertise in forensic accounting. Margie’s work has spanned many industries, including retail, car rental and sales, distribution, health care, education, manufacturing, food and beverage and professional services. Margie has been involved with a number of organizations. She is a past chair and member of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC). She is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and Treasurer and Board Member of the American College of Bankruptcy Foundation. Margie is a current member as well as a Past President, Director and Member of the Past President’s Council of the Northeast Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association. She is also an active member of the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI). Margie has earned the Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP) designation as administered by the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) to recognize business professionals with extensive experience and expertise in representing corporations in the renewal process, both in and out of the courts. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Bridgeport.

Marija Pecar is a partner in the Special Situations and Financial Restructuring groups at Paul Hastings, with expertise on a wide range of capital solutions involving both performing and non-performing debt.  

Marija has experience across a variety of opportunistic and hybrid credit transactions, direct lending, bridge and rescue financings, liability management transactions, loan-to-own and other distress-for-control transactions, and both domestic and cross-border restructurings (including Chapter 11 debtor-in-possession financings). Marija’s predominantly creditor-side client base comprises leading investment and commercial banks, private credit providers, alternative asset managers, BDCs, CLOs, hedge funds and insurers. Her practice is industry and sector agnostic, with transactions involving TMT, energy, infrastructure, retail, consumer, healthcare, crypto and financial services. 

The core of Marija’s practice is enabling credit investors to capitalize on opportunities that require sophisticated analysis and complex structuring, find creative ways to leverage documentary weaknesses and counterparty pressure points to maximize returns, and hedge against downside scenarios in times of financial distress. Clients turn to Marija for her ability to navigate challenging situations that are often inherently off-market, lack precedent and call for bespoke structures. 

Prior to joining Paul Hastings, Marija practiced at two other major international firms in New York, as well as one in London.  As a result of her career experience in both London and New York, and her dual-qualification under both New York and English law, Marija is frequently involved in cross-border transactions and works closely with the firm’s London and other foreign offices. 

Michael B. Cox is CEO, CEO of Seabury’s airline investment banking, restructuring and corporate advisory business. Mr. Cox joined Seabury as a partner in Seabury’s principal advisory practice in April 1998. He has over 30 years of corporate and advisory experience covering corporate recovery, cash management, business planning and crisis management. At Seabury, Mr. Cox has advised numerous airline and helicopter clients on a variety of projects, including airline treasury, corporate finance, and airline restructuring. In addition, Mr. Cox has been qualified as an industry expert in various commercial disputes involving aircraft leasing matters, airline valuations and business plans for the passenger, helicopter and cargo sector.

Nick is a partner in Maples and Calder’s Dispute Resolution & Insolvency team in the Maples Group’s Cayman Islands office. He provides a wide range of advice on international restructurings, contentious and non-contentious insolvency issues, structured finance and derivatives. He specialises in cross-border insolvency, schemes of arrangement and structuring transactions to mitigate against the risks of insolvency. Nick joined the Maples Group in 2015.  He previously worked for Allen & Overy LLP in London. Nick has been ranked by Legal 500 as a ‘Leading Partner’ and ranked in Chambers and Partners. Nick is a member of the Cayman Islands Insolvency Rules Committee.

Rachel Strickland is global chair of the firm’s business restructuring practice and brings decades of experience to advising distressed companies and investors in complex restructuring matters. Companies turn to Rachel in Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings, while top private equity firms, hedge funds, and strategic investors seek out her guidance when maximizing recoveries and acquiring distressed targets. She also has significant experience in mass tort restructuring matters.

Consistently recognized in Chambers USA and Chambers Global as a leading bankruptcy and restructuring lawyer, Rachel has advised debtors, creditors, and other stakeholders in precedent-setting restructurings across industries, including media, transportation, financial services and technology, along with financial and strategic investors. Clients have included Walgreens Boots Alliance, DISH Network, KKR, and JPMorgan Asset Management, among many others.

Rachel is known for being “smart and effective” and “can command a room and drive the process,” according to Chambers. In addition to Chambers, she has been lauded by The Legal 500 US, Crain’s New York Business, Turnarounds & Workouts, and Business Insider, which named Rachel among “ten lawyers who navigated the biggest bankruptcies in history.”

A leader in the bankruptcy law community, Rachel is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, recognizing “exceptional bankruptcy professionals for their work, their contributions to the administration of justice, their public service and their integrity.” She has served as a member of the Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Rachel lectures on bankruptcy-related matters for seminars and panels sponsored by the Turnaround Management Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and other professional organizations.

Rachel holds leadership roles in several New York-based organizations. She currently serves on the board of directors for Her Justice (formerly known as inMotion), which provides pro bono legal services to women living in poverty in New York City, and has also supported Tina’s Wish, a cancer research nonprofit named in memory of former chief judge of the Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court, Tina Brozman.

Richard J. Cooper is one of the preeminent cross-border bankruptcy and restructuring lawyers in the United States and is the recognized leader in cross-border and sovereign restructurings involving companies and countries in Latin America and other emerging markets.

His practice focuses on domestic and international corporate, municipal, and sovereign restructurings, as well as liability management and capital solutions transactions. Rich is known for his innovative work on behalf of institutional investors, creditors, corporate clients, governments, state-owned entities, ad hoc creditor committees, and other parties in connection with in and out-of-court insolvency proceedings and complex financings, including rescue and DIP financings. He has advised clients involved in some of the most prominent and noteworthy restructurings and liability management exercises in and outside of the United States over the last two decades.

Rich is regularly recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Chambers Latin America, Latinvex, Latin Lawyer, Financial Times, Global M&A Network, Legal 500 Latin America, Legal 500 U.S., IFLR1000, Lawdragon, and others. Previously, Law360 singled him out as a “Bankruptcy MVP,” and Turnarounds & Workouts has named him four times as one of the country’s “Outstanding Restructuring Lawyers,” an honor given to just 15 lawyers across the USA each year.  

At M3 Partners, former Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert D. Drain is a Senior Advisor and Co-Head of Fiduciary Services, focusing on trusteeships, monitorships, examinerships, and similar appointments related to restructurings. He also advises across M3’s broader engagements. 

Judge Drain retired from the bench in 2022, after serving more than 20 years on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, one of the busiest and most influential bankruptcy circuits in the country. He was appointed to the bench in 2002 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Judge Drain began his career with more than 20 years in private practice, including 10 years as a partner in the bankruptcy group of a global law firm. Judge Drain has presided over some of the most significant bankruptcy cases in recent years, including Purdue Pharma, Hostess Brands, Sears, Delphi, A&P, Varig S.A., Yukos, and Parmalat, and he has served as a court-appointed mediator in complex cases such as Cengage, Quicksilver, and Puerto Rico Electric and Power Authority (PREPA). Judge Drain is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, a member and former board member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, and a former board member and officer of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges. Judge Drain currently serves on the FDIC’s Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee. 

Judge Drain is a member of the International Insolvency Institute, and he was a founding member and chair of the Judicial Insolvency Network, which was responsible for developing guidelines adopted by U.S. and courts abroad for cooperation and communication in transnational insolvency cases. Judge Drain has also served as adjunct professor at the St. John’s University School of Law LL.M. in its Bankruptcy Program and Pace University School of Law. 

Judge Drain received his B.A. from Yale College, cum laude, and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar for three years.

Robin Chiu is a Managing Director at Portage Point Partners in the firm’s New York office where she assists companies and their stakeholders to develop and execute strategies to restructure. She has over two decades of experience advising on balance sheet and financial issues.

Prior to joining Portage Point, Robin was a Senior Managing Director in Teneo’s Financial Advisory Group which she joined with Teneo’s acquisition of Goldin Associates. Prior to Goldin, Robin worked in the debt capital markets group of Barclays Capital where she advised clients on financing, capital structure and risk management. Before joining Barclays, Robin was an investment banker at Wasserstein Perella working on high yield transactions.

Robin has served as financial advisor, Chief Restructuring Officer and Chief Financial Officer and has led companies through both in- and out-of-court restructurings. Her engagements have included Nogin, uBiome, The Big Apple Circus, Ezra Holdings, China Fishery, Madison Square Boys and Girls Club, Revlon and Toys “R” Us. Her creditor side representations include the stalking horse and DIP lender in NextPoint, general obligation bondholders in Puerto Rico and Detroit, a major hedge fund in Caesars and the official creditor committees in Fibertower and Ditech. Robin has also performed and led business plan reviews, due diligence assignments, valuations and other complex financial analyses.

Robin received her Master of Business Administration with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Environmental Engineering Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Scott J. Greenberg is a partner in Gibson Dunn's New York office, Global Chair of the firm’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Practice Group and a member of the firm's Executive Committee.

Scott focuses on representing debtors and creditors in in-court and out-of-court restructurings. Chambers USA describes Scott as “an exceptional lawyer and dealmaker” that is “brilliant, super connected and great at managing adversaries and clients.” As “one of the best in the market at navigating complex situations", he “offers strong expertise representing lenders in connection with Chapter 11 cases”, particularly those in the retail and pharmaceutical sectors.

Awards and Accolades:

• Chambers USA, Band 1 NY and Nationwide “Bankruptcy/Restructuring” (2016 – 2026)
• Legal500, "Hall of Fame: Restructuring" (2025)
• The Best Lawyers in America®, “Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights, Insolvency and Reorganization Law”, and “Bankruptcy Litigation” (2024 - 2026)
• Lawdragon, ““Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyer” (2023 – 2025), “Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyer” (2022), and “500 Leading Lawyers in America” (2022)
• Turnarounds & Workouts, "Outstanding Restructuring Lawyers" (2020 - 2022, 2024 - 2025)
• IFLR1000, “Highly Regarded” (2024)
• New York Metro Super Lawyers (2016 – 2024)
• The Legal 500 US, “Leading Lawyer: Restructuring” (2023 – 2024)
• The American Lawyer, “Dealmaker of the Year” (2021)
• Law360, “Bankruptcy MVP” and “Rising Star” (2015)

Scott represents distressed companies as lead counsel and has a market-leading practice on the credit side where he recently represented term lenders in:

• The $1.1 billion new money debtor-in-possession financing and chapter 11 cases of First Brands Group, a global automotive aftermarket parts supplier.
• The global restructuring of Altice France, addressing approximately €25 billion of secured debt and represented the first large scale liability management exercise in Europe.
• The restructuring of package delivery company Lasership in restructuring $1.5 billion in maturing liens.
• Representing an ad hoc group of first lien lenders and unsecured noteholders of Cision, an international communications and PR platform and software provider, in a Liability Management exercise.
• The restructuring of CommScope, an American network infrastructure provider base that designs and manufactures network infrastructure products, which secured commitments of over $3.15bn in new first lien term loans and $1bn in first lien notes.
• The restructuring of Global Medical Response, America’s leading provider of ground medical transportation and mobile healthcare services.
• The $946 million out-of-court debt restructuring of Jo-Ann Stores and its affiliates.
• The out-of-court distressed exchange for Radiology Partners, implementing a complex-multi-tranche exchange that involved a paydown of $250 million of secured debt and the issuance of $720 million of new equity.
• The prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring of Mallinckrodtplc and opioid trust formed in its previous bankruptcy case.
• The comprehensive, cross-border recapitalization of Venator Materials PLC, a global manufacturer and marketer of chemical products, through a prepackaged Chapter 11 process.
• The $1.2 billion Chapter 11 restructuring of North America’s largest cinema advertising network National CineMedia.
• The restructuring of Cyxtera Technologies, a Miami-based data center colocation and interconnection services provider.
• The debt restructuring of Envision Healthcare, a national medical group and KKR portfolio company.
• The out-of-court restructuring of Elevate Textile which reduced the company’s debt load to $384 million from $778 million.
• Filing for Chapter 11 protection to curt more than $8 billion of debt for Diamond Sports Group, a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
• The $3.44 billion amend-and-extend transaction for Intrado, providing a substantial paydown and de-leveraging of the company.
• The out-of-court debt restructuring of The Geo Group, Inc., a fully integrated real estate investment trust.
• The $1.7 billion in debt issued by LED manufacturer Lumileds, LLC in connection with their successful prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization.
• The $6 billion sale of specialty pharmaceutical company Endo International’s assets to first-lien lenders in Chapter 11, ending a multiyear effort to resolve opioid liabilities.
• The debt restructuring of Form Technologies, a global oilfield products company.
• The $1 billion in-court debt restructuring of business process outsourcing company iQor US Inc.
• The Chapter 11 restructuring of private equity-backed restaurant franchisee NPC International after reaching a restructuring support agreement (RSA) with lenders.
• A $120 million term loan financing and sale of €160 of Tranche 1 Notes in the restructuring of Technicolor, SA.
• The $630.5 million out-of-court restructuring of Global Eagle Entertainment’s liquidity and capital structure.
• Serta Simmon’s sweeping victory in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, providing one of the largest bedding manufacturers in North America with capital structure relief and upholding the validity of a market-changing pre-bankruptcy financing transaction.

Scott received his law degree in 2002, with honors, from Emory University School of Law, and was elected to the Order of the Coif. He graduated cum laude from Boston University in 1999.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Scott was a partner at Jones Day from 2013 to 2019, where he also served as co-head of the Jones Day Business Restructuring & Reorganization practice. He began his career as an associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in their restructuring practice.

Scott is Chairman of the Board of One Simple Wish, a not-for-profit assisting children in foster care in the U.S.

Prior to joining King Street in 2026, Sean was a Managing Director at Ducera Partners where he advised clients on complex capital structure and restructuring matters. Before joining Ducera Partners, Sean was a Director on the distressed desk at Citi and a senior member of the Distressed and Special Situations team at Nuveen Asset Management. Earlier in his career, Sean held senior roles at Duane Park Capital Management and Penn Capital Management covering both high yield, claims and distressed securities.

Stephen Usher is a Managing Director for BC Partners’ Credit Business and joined the firm in 2023.

Previously, Stephen was a Managing Director for Lafayette Square’s Credit Business. Prior to that, he spent over a decade as a Partner for the event driven hedge fund Standard General. Additionally, Stephen was a Founding Partner leading the credit trading effort for Serengeti Asset Management. Stephen spent close to a decade as a VP for Goldman Sachs Bank Loan and Distressed Trading Business in London and New York.

Stephen is currently a board member for Turning Point Brands (TPB-NYSE) and has served as a board member for Mount Logan Capital (MLC.NE). He is currently an advisor to the investment committee for The California Endowment in Los Angeles and has served on the board of Harlem School of the Arts. He graduated from Wesleyan University in CT with a BA.

Mr. Anifowoshe is a Managing Director and Head of Restructuring in the Fortress Credit Funds Business’ Corporate Loan and Securities group. Since joining Fortress in 2020, Mr. Anifowoshe has focused on special situations, restructurings, and distressed debt across the Fortress platform. Prior to joining Fortress, Mr. Anifowoshe was a Vice President in the Restructuring and Debt Advisory group at Evercore where he advised debtors, lenders, and sponsors on a broad range of restructuring, bankruptcy, capital raising, and liability management transactions across multiple industries. Mr. Anifowoshe began his financial career in capital markets at Barclays in New York, where he focused on fixed income products for institutional clients. Mr. Anifowoshe received his B.A. from Yale University, his J.D. from Columbia Law School, and his MBA from Columbia Business School.

Mr. Anifowoshe is a Managing Director and Head of Restructuring in the Fortress Credit Funds Business’ Corporate Loan and Securities group. Since joining Fortress in 2020, Mr. Anifowoshe has focused on special situations, restructurings, and distressed debt across the Fortress platform. Prior to joining Fortress, Mr. Anifowoshe was a Vice President in the Restructuring and Debt Advisory group at Evercore where he advised debtors, lenders, and sponsors on a broad range of restructuring, bankruptcy, capital raising, and liability management transactions across multiple industries. Mr. Anifowoshe began his financial career in capital markets at Barclays in New York, where he focused on fixed income products for institutional clients. Mr. Anifowoshe received his B.A. from Yale University, his J.D. from Columbia Law School, and his MBA from Columbia Business School.

Josh Brody’s practice focuses on representing clients in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and other distressed situations, including out-of-court restructurings, liability management transactions, debtor-in-possession financing and distressed asset sales. He represents a diverse range of creditors at all levels of complex structures, including secured and unsecured, bondholders and term loan holders, indenture trustees, creditors’ committees, and trade creditors. Josh also advises hedge funds and other financial institutions on the rights and remedies of debtholders and in understanding elaborate corporate and capital structures.

Josh joined Cleary Gottlieb as a partner in 2025 from another major international law firm.

HONORABLE STACEY G. C. JERNIGAN

Chief Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court

1100 Commerce St., Room 1254

Dallas, TX 75242-1496

214-753-2040

Judicial History:  Appointed to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, 

Dallas Division, on May 12, 2006.  Over 200 written opinions may be accessed at www.txnb.uscourts.gov

Prior Legal Experience (Private Practice):  Practiced 17 years in the Business Reorganization and Bankruptcy Practice Group at Haynes and Boone, LLP (Dallas, TX office), 1989-2006.  Head of Bankruptcy Practice Group (2000-2006); Partner (1997-2006); Associate (1989-1996).  Represented all types of parties-in-interest in large Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court workouts.  Specific industry expertise:  energy companies; healthcare and other regulated entities; real estate businesses; public companies.  

Prior Legal Experience (Public Sector—Special Assignment):  Adviser to the California Legislature (Speaker of the Assembly Robert Hertzberg), Sacramento, California (Jan.-Aug. 2001), in connection with the California utility financial crisis involving PG&E utility company.

Teaching: Adjunct Professor, SMU Dedman School of Law, Creditors Rights.

Recent Speeches and Panel Presentations:

1. Elder Fraud, FJC Workshop for Bankruptcy Judges, St. Petersburg, FL (Apr. 2025) and Minneapolis, MN (July 2025).
2. Mass Torts and Existential Threats to Corporate Entities, 43rd Annual University of Texas/Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, Austin, TX (Nov. 2024).
3. First, Do No Harm: Overseeing Bankruptcies in Hospitals and Other Critical Care Settings, FJC Workshop for Bankruptcy Judges, Overland Park, Kansas (June 2024).
4. Non-Profit Companies in Bankruptcy, Joint ABI/NCBJ Program, Seattle, WA (Sept. 2024). 
5. Bankruptcy Judges Panel, Univ. Of Chicago/BYU Winter Bankruptcy Conference, Deer Valley, Utah (Mar. 2024). 
6. Arbitration in Bankruptcy, ABI Winter Leadership Conference, Scottsdale, AZ (Nov. 2023)
7. Chapter 11 Issues, 42nd Annual University of Texas/Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, Austin, TX (Nov. 2023).  
8. Views from the Bench, ABI Conference, Washington, DC (Sept. 2023).
9. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency, ABI Southeast Bankruptcy Conference, Amelia Island, FL (July 2022). 
10. Fifth Circuit Cases that Every Bankruptcy Lawyer Should Know, State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Bench-Bar Conference, San Antonio, TX (June 2023). 
11. Hot Topics in Healthcare:  What to Do When the Stimulus Money Runs Dry? 41st Annual University of Texas/Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, Austin, TX (Nov. 2022).

Professional Memberships and Honors:  Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification; Member, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (International Committee and Security Committee); Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy (frequent speaker at its conferences); Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation; Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation; Master, former Board Member, Serjeant of the Inn, and occasional Bankruptcy Course Instructor for John C. Ford American Inn of Court; Member, American Bankruptcy Institute (frequent speaker at conferences); Bankruptcy Observer to Fifth Circuit Judicial Council; Member, State Bar of Texas Bankruptcy Section; Member, Dallas Bar Association Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section; Co-Chair of the Center for American and International Law’s Biennial Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Bench-Bar Conference, New Orleans, LA (2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024); Judicial Co-Chair of the National “Roadways to the Federal Bench: Who, Me?  A Bankruptcy Judge?” (a diversity and inclusion event sponsored by the Judicial Conference of the United States Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System)); Planning Committee for the Annual University of Texas/Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference, Austin, TX (for approximately 20 years).   

Miscellaneous Publications:  Fiction legal thrillers: Mystic Spires Post-Mortem:  A Cold Case Legal Thriller, ISBN: 978-1-61254-725-1 (Brown Books Publishing Oct. 14, 2025); He Watches All My Paths, ISBN:   978-1-79406-707-3 (Amazon Books 2019); Hedging Death, ISBN: 978-1-63363-581-4 (White Bird Publications 2022). 

Education:  J.D., University of Texas School of Law, 1989; B.B.A., magna cum laude, Southern Methodist University, 1986.    

Personal:  Married to a retired Dallas Police Officer.  Mother to two adult children and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.  The family enjoys international travel. 

JUDGE BRENDAN LINEHAN SHANNON 

United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Delaware 

Brendan Linehan Shannon is a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Delaware.  He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University, and his law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.  

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Shannon was a partner with Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP in Wilmington, Delaware.   Since his appointment in 2006, Judge Shannon has managed a full Chapter 11 docket, and he also handles all Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy cases filed in the State of Delaware.  He served as Chief Judge of the Bankruptcy Court from 2014 through 2018. Judge Shannon was reappointed by the Third Circuit to a second 14-year term on March 13, 2020.  In 2025, Judge Shannon received the William Norton Award for Judicial Excellence.   The Norton Award is presented annually by the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges to a judge who has demonstrated excellence as a scholar, writer and jurist.

  Judge Shannon was appointed by Chief Justice Roberts to serve on the Judicial Conference Committee for the Administration of the Bankruptcy System in 2015.  His term of appointment to that Committee ended in 2022.  In 2023, Chief Justice Roberts appointed Judge Shannon to the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management.  Judge Shannon also serves as Chair of the Third Circuit Judicial Council Committee on Bankruptcy.  Judge Shannon has served on intercircuit assignment to the District of Puerto Rico since April 2022 when he was appointed to serve as the judicial mediator for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Company’s Title III insolvency proceedings.

 Judge Shannon is an adjunct professor in the Bankruptcy L.L.M. Program at St. John’s University School of Law in New York, and previously taught at Widener School of Law in Delaware.  He serves on the Board of Editors of Collier on Bankruptcy (16th ed.) and is a contributing author for Collier Forms.  Judge Shannon also serves on the Advisory Board for the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review.  Judge Shannon speaks frequently at bar education programs and judicial conferences, and he regularly serves as a faculty member in training programs for new chief bankruptcy judges organized by the Administrative Office of United States Courts. 

In 2011, Judge Shannon was selected to serve as a member of the National Bankruptcy Conference.  The 60-member Conference was created in the 1930s, and its mission is to serve as a resource to Congress on bankruptcy legislation.  Judge Shannon is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a member of the Delaware State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Rodney Inns of Court. 

Tom is a Partner and Co-Founder at Ames Watson. Prior to Ames Watson, Tom was the founder of Severn Partners, a private equity firm that acquired more than a dozen companies in the defense, retail, light manufacturing and service sectors. Over the past 18 years, Tom has developed extensive operating experience across more than two dozen different companies. Today, Tom serves as the Chairman & CEO of Lids Sports Group. Tom started his career as an infantry and special operations officer in the United States Marine Corps. Tom graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a BA and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Tom lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife and three children.

Marc Puntus joined Centerview Partners in 2011 to establish its debt advisory & restructuring practice, which he co-heads.

Centerview is a premier provider of independent investment-banking advisory services, with industry-leading expertise in M&A, independent board advice, special committees, shareholder activism, debt and equity financing and debt advisory, liability management and restructuring.

During his over 30-year career, Marc has led restructuring, financing and M&A assignments for companies, creditors, acquirers, shareholders and other stakeholders across a wide array of industries. 

Some of Marc’s recent and more notable engagements, include:

• SVB Financial Group – parent company of Silicon Valley Bank.
• Celsius Network Ltd.— global crypto platform and BTC miner.
• Alacrity Solutions – insurance claims services provider.
• Sirva Worldwide – global moving and relocation services provider.
• Avison Young – global commercial real estate services provider.
• Diamond Sports Group – first lien lenders.
• Dish Networks – DNC convertible noteholders.
• Caesars Entertainment Corp. – public parent company of largest U.S. gaming operator.
• Silvergate Bank – crypto-focused bank. 
• Patriot Coal – coal mine operator.
• Westmoreland Coal – coal mine operator.
• Could Peak – coal mine operator.
• Catalina Marketing – CPG and retail-focused personalized ad provider.
• Foxwoods/MPTN – operator of Foxwoods casino and hotel properties.
• Clearwire Corporation – global mobile and fixed wireless platform.
• JC Penney – retailer, pre-ch. 11 transactions.
• Sears – retailer, pre-ch. 11 transactions.
• ResCap – largest domestic non-bank mortgage originator/servicer.

Prior to joining Centerview, Marc was a Managing Director and founder of Miller Buckfire & Co. Prior to that he was a member of the financial restructuring group of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein where he began his investment banking career.

Marc began his career, post-law school, as a restructuring associate and, thereafter, a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

Marc received a J.D. (cum laude) from Boston University School of Law and a B.S.B.A./Finance (magna cum laude) from Georgetown University.

Fran Blair joined PSP Investments in 2018 and serves as a Managing Director in the firm’s direct investing Credit business, where he heads the distressed credit and rescue finance strategy in New York. Mr. Blair is a member of the Global Credit Investment Committee for private credit and liquid/syndicated leveraged credit in addition to leading the firm’s restructuring and post-reorganization corporate governance efforts. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Transcendia Holdings Inc., Fleet Farm Group LLC, and Coronis Health I, LLC, with past board experience including Crash Champions LLC (formerly Service King), Dayton Superior Corporation, and Penson Technologies LLC (formerly Penson Financial Services). In addition to his corporate governance roles, Mr. Blair has extensive experience serving on creditor and ad hoc committees in restructurings and bankruptcies, including cases such as Indiana Toll Road. Prior to PSP, Mr. Blair was a Managing Director at Solus Alternative Asset Management LP, where he was a founding member of the investment team in 2007. He previously held roles in credit investing, trading, and restructuring at Deutsche Bank and began his career in the Financial Sponsors Group at Bankers Trust. Mr. Blair holds a BA in Economics from Hamilton College.

Mr. Gatto was one of the first employees at Silver Point Capital, a credit-focused global investment firm. After joining the Firm in April 2002, he became the first non-founding partner in January 2003. He has helped grow the business from $120 million of investable capital in 2002 to ~$40 billion. Today, he is the head of the Firm’s Private Side Businesses.

Prior to joining Silver Point, Mr. Gatto worked at Goldman Sachs as a senior member within the Special Situations Investing Business. 

Outside of Silver Point, Mr. Gatto is an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School and Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, where he teaches courses on credit analysis, and distressed value & special situation investing.

He authored the credit investing textbook - “The Credit Investor’s Handbook: Leveraged Loans, High Yield Bonds and Distressed Debt.”

Mr. Gatto received an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.A. in Economics from Cornell University.

David M. Feldman is Global Co-Head of the Restructuring & Insolvency practice in New York. David brings more than 30 years of experience representing large and sophisticated credit funds, private equity firms, financial institutions, and companies in complex bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, and distressed asset and debt transactions. He is consistently ranked as a leading Bankruptcy and Restructuring lawyer by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, describing him as “an excellent strategist with an ability to guide his clients through restructurings efficiently and successfully,” that he “is very smart,” and “very experienced,” highlighting “his in-depth understanding of technical issues” and his “fantastic strategic vision”.

Scott Alberino is a partner at Akin and represents debtors, official creditor committees, informal creditor groups, equity holders, and other stakeholders in all aspects of corporate liability management, restructuring, bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings. He regularly advises boards of directors of public and private companies on issues facing financially distressed companies, including fiduciary duties, corporate governance and executive compensation. Scott also regularly represents private equity funds, hedge funds and other financial institutions that are acquiring control positions in financially distressed companies and in structuring debtor in possession (DIP) and exit financing.

Scott Welkis has worked for more than 25 years in the debt financing space, guiding clients on both sides of transactions in the origination, negotiation and completion of an extensive range of traditional and alternative financing arrangements. Drawing on his long experience in debt and distressed financing, as well as with in-court and out-of-court restructurings, Scott strategizes, structures and executes creative, market-leading and often bespoke financing solutions for clients. He advises and represents capital providers — banks and traditional financial institutions, and established and emerging alternative capital sources, including credit funds, hedge funds and distressed investors — in the origination and structuring of a wide spectrum of corporate debt financings, including senior, subordinated and unsecured financings, leveraged loans, and asset-based loans. Scott also guides private and public companies, including post-restructured companies, in structuring and executing financing transactions for their short- and long-term capital needs, including new money financings, rescue loan transactions and debtor-in-possession (DIP) financings. He advises companies throughout the debt life cycle, navigating them through financial challenges, restructurings and other distressed situations that frequently include complex intercreditor issues and governance concerns.

Mauricio Jannet

Managing Partner at Blink Capital Solutions, with over 25 years of experience in the financial sector. Former Managing Director at ExeFin, CEO LATAM at GMAC Rescap, and MD of Capital Markets at GMAC Financiera. Holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Science in Economics, and a BBA from Texas Christian University.

His expertise spans mortgage and construction loan origination, valuation of mortgage loan portfolios, real estate asset servicing, structuring real estate financing, and mortgage-backed securitizations. 

He has participated in numerous debt restructuring operations across various sectors, including non-bank financial institutions, hospitality, oil & gas, and real estate. Additionally, he has extensive experience in establishing complex, tailor-made financing structures within the in Mexico.

With more than a decade of experience in the bankruptcy and restructuring arena, Whitney brings a deep understanding of complex transactions and unparalleled knowledge of legal process and procedure to advising public and private companies facing capital structure, liquidity, liability management, financial disclosure, and other transactions. At C Street, Whitney has guided several companies through their strategic communications process, including WeWork, Belk, Brightspeed, Rackspace, 2U, Robertshaw, and Mobileum. She also advises individual creditors and creditor groups, as well as buyers of distressed assets.

Prior to joining C Street, Whitney was a partner at global law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she oversaw a number of complex and high-profile restructuring matters. During her legal career, she advised companies through complicated special situations, including Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Prima Wawona, Yellow Corporation, HONX, Inc. STX Filmworks, Inc., American Tire Distributors, Inc., and numerous others. In addition to Whitney’s company-side representations, Whitney regularly counseled private equity and investment funds, both in and out of court, and on corporate governance matters related to sponsors’ portfolio companies.

Whitney holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Colorado and a J.D. degree from American University Washington College of Law. She is a member of the Illinois bar.

David has more than 25 years of restructuring experience in providing both interim management and advisory services that span multibillion-dollar to middle-market situations. His experience crosses numerous industries, including retail, healthcare, restaurant, automotive, manufacturing, mining, entertainment, education, and consumer products and services. He has represented companies, secured lenders and unsecured creditors. David is Co-Leader of the Americas Restructuring Practice. David also Co-Leads the Lender Advisory practice advising hedge funds and private credit lenders in distressed situations.   David has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Montclair State University in New Jersey. 

•David is currently leading the team advising At Home in their in-court restructuring.  He recently served as CRO of Franchise Group and previously served as the CRO at Party City.   He led the restructuring of Akumin, Inc an outpatient diagnostic imaging provider and led the team advising Cano Health, a $3B+ healthcare provider and primary care physician network.  

•David has advised hedge funds and private credit lenders at Envision Healthcare, Save-a-Lot, CarbonLite, Outcome Health as well as several other non-public distressed credits.  

•Previously David has served as CRO of mental-health-services provider Bellwether Behavioral Health; as CRO of frac sand producer Preferred Sands; as CRO and interim CFO of RCS Capital Corporation; as CRO of $1.3-billion global automotive and transportation company Mark IV Industries; and as interim CFO and chief operating officer of Malden Mills, creator of Polartec fleece.

•Some of David’s other company representations include financial advisor to Diamond Sports Group, Akorn Pharmaceutical, Bumble Bee tuna and Jack Cooper Transport during their respective in court restructurings.  He served as financial advisor to Crossmark during its successful out of court restructuring and served as financial advisor to ModSpace. 

David J. Cohen is a partner in Weil’s Restructuring Department and is based in New York and Miami, where he serves as Co-Managing Partner of the Miami office. David has extensive experience representing debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, sponsors, lenders, bondholders, acquirors, and other key stakeholders in U.S. and cross-border corporate restructurings, both in-court (including chapter 11, chapter 15, receivership, and other insolvency proceedings) and out-of-court, as well as in liability management transactions, distressed financings, and distressed M&A matters across a wide range of industries.

David advises companies, sponsors, ad hoc creditor groups, DIP lenders, secured lenders, and other creditors in complex restructurings, recapitalizations, and related transactions. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in Bankruptcy by Law360, an “On the Rise” attorney by the Daily Business Review, an “Emerging Leader” by The M&A Advisor, and an “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer” by Turnarounds & Workouts. He has also been included among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers and its Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation list.

David regularly speaks on bankruptcy and restructuring panels and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Miami School of Law and University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Michael Chaisanguanthum is a Managing Director at UBS Asset Management.  He joined Credit Suisse Asset Management (the predecessor to UBS Asset Management) in 2007 and is the Head of Restructuring for the Credit Investments Group, where he focuses on workouts, restructurings, and distressed credits.  Prior to joining Credit Suisse Asset Management, he was an associate with Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.  Michael holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Matthew is a General Partner and the head of OrbiMed’s Royalty and Credit Opportunities team. He has been with OrbiMed since 2010 and helped launch the firm’s first dedicated royalty and credit fund. He has led over $6 billion of investments in the structured credit and royalty space. Prior to joining OrbiMed, Matthew was responsible for pharmaceutical licensing and acquisitions at Ikaria. He has worked in healthcare for 30 years, including life sciences investing at Fortress Investment Group and global commercial strategy at GSK. Matthew received his M.B.A. from Duke University with a concentration in Health Sector Management. At OrbiMed, he is focused on providing structured capital solutions to fund growth across healthcare and life sciences.

Derek Hunter is a partner in the Miami and New York offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Derek advises companies, ad hoc committees, private equity firms and other investors on capital structure, liquidity and other strategic solutions for public and private companies across industries, including liability management transactions, exchange transactions, refinancings, amend and extend transactions, mergers and acquisitions, out-of-court restructurings and Chapter 11 court proceedings. Derek also advises boards of directors and senior management on fiduciary duties and corporate governance.

Mobi joined Centerbridge in 2018. Prior to joining Centerbridge, Mobi was an Analyst in the Restructuring and Special Situations Group at PJT Partners.

Evan Lederman is a Partner, Co-Head of Credit at J.F. Lehman & Company (“JFL”), an alternative asset manager with approximately $8 billion of AUM. Mr. Lederman has 20 years of investing, legal and restructuring experience across the credit spectrum, ranging from performing to distressed. He has chaired various creditor committees in some of the largest and most complex restructurings and serves on numerous public and private corporate boards, including currently serving as a director of JFL portfolio company, PURIS and Team, Inc.

Previously, Mr. Lederman was a Partner at Fir Tree Capital Management, a multi-billion dollar investment manager, where he was Co-Head of Credit and Special Situations. Mr. Lederman began his career as a restructuring and litigation attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

A native of New York, Mr. Lederman graduated magna cum laude from New York University, where he earned a B.A. in political science and government and was the all-university commencement speaker. He also graduated with honors from New York University School of Law, where he received a J.D.

Todd Solomon has over 25 years of investing experience specializing in restructuring, distressed, opportunistic credit, and special situations.  Mr. Solomon is Head of Restructuring at Lord Abbett & Co where he is responsible for the oversight and leadership of restructuring and workout situations globally.  In addition, Mr. Solomon is Portfolio Manager of Distressed and Special Situations. 

Mr. Solomon was a Managing Principal at Halcyon Capital Management LLC where he held numerous roles, including Portfolio Manager of Halcyon Liquid Strategies and Director of Research.  He was a member of the Firm’s Investment Management and Risk Management Committees.  Mr. Solomon also was Director of Research at TCW Distressed LLC.

Mr. Solomon began his career at Chase Manhattan Bank in the Private Placement Group.  He previously served as Senior Research Analyst at Triage Capital Management and an Associate specializing in M&A and Corporate Finance at Citigroup in the Investment Banking Global Communications Group.  Mr. Solomon earned his BA, with a concentration in Managerial Economics, from Union College and his MBA from Columbia Business School.  

Jose Kliksberg has worked with distressed and high yield credits in emerging markets for the last 20 years. He has worked at various credit funds covering EM corporates including Moneda Asset Management, Black River and currently at Kawa Capital. He was a credit analyst at Morgan Stanely and Bank of America Special sits desks and an M&A banker at JPMorgan. Throughout his career he has restructured, invested, and advised various Latin American companies. He has a degree in Finance from the University of Maryland and an MBA from MIT Sloan.

After long and successful careers in commercial real estate, Andy Graiser and Emilio Amendola co-founded A&G Real Estate Partners in 2012. Previously, in 1992, they founded and then later sold DJM Realty. In total, they’ve been business partners for 30 years.

A go-to resource for board members and C-suite executives at healthy and distressed companies across all industries--as well as lenders, investment bankers, private equity firms, financial advisors and attorneys--Andy plays a leadership role on each project, from commencement to successful conclusion. Those efforts have led to numerous industry accolades for A&G, including prestigious awards for its role on specific projects from the likes of the Turnaround Management Association and Global M&A Network, as well as Real Estate Advisory Firm of the Year in 2019 and 2020 from Global M&A Network, and  2021 Retail Real Estate Influencer from GlobeSt.com/Real Estate Forum.

His key areas of expertise include lease renegotiations and terminations, real estate optimization and dispositions, facilitation of growth opportunities, real estate valuations, and sales.

Andy and his team have achieved occupancy cost savings approaching $8 billion on behalf of 750+ clients in every real estate sector, while selling more than $12 billion of owned real estate and  leases.

Respected by the extended real estate community, Andy is a trusted advisor to innumerable clients of all sizes in retail, restaurant, education, office, family entertainment, movie theater, supermarket, warehouse/distribution, and various other sectors. The clients he is most closely associated with include A&P Supermarkets, Apex family entertainment, Chico’s, Cinepolis Theaters, Claire’s, Dowling College, Eileen Fisher, GNC, Hanna Anderson, Mattress Firm, Palace Entertainment, Party City, RadioShack, rue21, Ruth Chris, Sequential Brands, Supervalu, Tailored Brands and Tuesday Morning.

A frequent speaker, Andy is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Commercial Real Estate Professionals and Investors Group, Real Estate & Debt Symposiums, the Turnaround Management Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the Secured Financial Network.

His philanthropy includes the Runway of Dreams Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation, and More Than Words.

Based in New York, Andy is an avid sports fan, trivia connoisseur and enjoys traveling with his family.

Mr. Villen is a member of Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Restructuring Group with a special focus on the Latin America region. He has more than two decades of global investment banking experience, including corporate restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, and the issuance of both debt and equity securities.

Mr. Villen’s prior experience includes providing advice to major parties-in-interest in a broad range of transactions, including Atento, Mexarrend, Volcan Compañía Minera, WOM S.A., Alpha Credit, Credito Real, Oi S.A., Unifin Financiera, Grupo Mega, Credivalores, Grupo Aeroportuario de la Ciudad de Mexico, Corporación GEO, Nextel Mexico, Nextel Brazil, Panrico, Martinsa-Fadesa, Levantina, Bodybell, Banco Estado, Afore XXI, Frontier Communications, Windstream Holdings, Guitar Center, The Weinstein Co., Relativity Media, SFX Entertainment, Rhythm & Hues Studios, Independent News & Media, IBAHN Corp., Quizno’s, Sbarro, Culligan International, IAP Worldwide Services, Reichhold Industries, UniversalPegasus International, Gibson Brands, and Den-Mat, among others.

Before joining Houlihan Lokey, Mr. Villen worked with Prudential Financial’s M&A and Corporate Development Group in Newark, New Jersey. He started his career with Deutsche Bank’s Financial Institutions Group in London. 

Mr. Villen holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Pontificia de Comillas University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He speaks fluent Spanish and French.

James H.M. “Jamie” Sprayregen serves as Vice Chairman Global Strategy & Growth at Hilco Global. As a key advisor and strategic growth partner to CEO and founder Jeffrey Hecktman, he shares direct oversight of the firm’s rapidly expanding financial services platform with other key members of the executive leadership team. 

Jamie is one of the most well-known and highly regarded dealmakers and thought leaders in the restructuring, corporate reorganization and M&A community. He founded Kirkland and Ellis’ worldwide Restructuring Group, building it from inception in 1990 to become the premier restructuring group in the world, and the only one ranked tier 1 in every major region globally. As a partner in the Chicago and New York offices of Kirkland & Ellis, he served on the law firm’s worldwide management committee from 2003-2006 and 2009-2019. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2006 and served as co-head of its Restructuring Group, advising clients in restructuring and distressed situations. He rejoined Kirkland three years later. 

Chambers & Partners has praised Jamie for his “outstanding reputation for complex Chapter 11 cases” recently noting he is “a go-to for big issues” and a “bankruptcy guru.” In the 2022 edition of Chambers USA, sources described Jamie as “a rock star – the Mick Jagger of the bankruptcy bar.” Chambers said that clients it spoke to noted that he is “probably the best restructuring lawyer in the world” and is “a luminary in the field” of restructuring and insolvency.

Sources have also commented that he is “a premier restructuring expert” and “in a class of his own” with “unbelievable technical capabilities” and “deep experience he can draw upon.” He has been praised as a “great clients’ lawyer, admired for his unflustered ways” and for his ability “to take extraordinarily complex issues and make them understandable for boards and executive management teams.” 

Prior editions of Chambers guides have described Jamie as “a world-class practice leader,” “one of the deans of the Bar,” and “a restructuring genius and one of the best strategists in the country” noting that clients look to him as someone who is “providing leadership and strategic guidance on the big issues.” Sources commended Jamie for his “incredible work ethic and skill” and for his ability to “bring a mastery of the law to practical application.” Clients are “impressed by his boundless energy to work on issues” and note that Jamie is “very good in complicated and difficult situations.” 

In March 2010, Jamie was selected by The National Law Journal as one of “The Decade’s Most Influential Lawyers.” Jamie was named “Global Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyer of the Year” in 2013 by Who’s Who Legal Awards, receiving more votes from clients and peers than any other individual worldwide. In October 2013, Jamie was inducted into the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Turnaround, Restructuring, and Distressed Investing Industry Hall of Fame. 

From 2013-2015, Jamie was appointed to serve a two year term as the President of INSOL International, the world’s leading international insolvency association. Jamie is also an Adjunct Full Professor of Finance at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he teaches a combined Wharton/Penn Law course on “Corporate Restructuring.”

Jamie received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Michigan.

Carlos Galvez (San Francisco) joined KKR in 2015 and is a Director on the Credit team, focused on leveraged credit funds and portfolios. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Galvez worked at Overland Advisors where he was a special situations analyst and event-driven analyst supporting multi-strategy hedge funds. Prior to Overland Advisors, Mr. Galvez worked at Lincoln International as a vice president advising on mergers and acquisition transactions, sales of distressed assets and leveraged buyouts. Mr. Galvez holds a B.A. and B.S. in Mathematics and Economics from Stanford University and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.