Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added John Houghton to the firm’s London office, where he will serve as Chair of the London Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice. Houghton is former Global Co-Chair of the Restructuring & Special Situations Practice, and former European Head of Restructuring & Special Situations, at Latham & Watkins, where he practiced for nearly 20 years.
With an emphasis on complex cross-border matters, Houghton focuses his practice on advising creditors, sponsors, insolvent companies, directors, and insolvency practitioners on all areas of international restructurings, insolvency, and corporate rescues. He also advises parties seeking to fund into existing insolvencies and restructurings or who are interested in acquiring distressed businesses.
“We have been patiently building a world class restructuring and bankruptcy practice, across the United States and around the world,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Greenberg Traurig’s Executive Chairman. “While markets and deals remain very strong, every instinct tells us that we are not far from a time when our restructuring, bankruptcy and disputes lawyers will be busier than ever. Experience tells us that the time to build for the next cycle is before it gets here, and that hiring top quality, seasoned talent, and collaborating as a unified global team, are the keys to being ready when it comes.”
“It was the depth and breadth of the Greenberg Traurig restructuring and bankruptcy, funds, real estate, corporate, M&A, disputes and finance practices, and the now-mature and consistently excellent European platform, that attracted me to the firm, as well as the opportunity to build something very special in London,” Houghton said. “I am excited by the opportunity to work with first-class professionals in five European markets, a fast-growing London office, 30 U.S. offices including 300 lawyers in New York and major offices in the strongest growth centers in the United States–Florida, Texas, California, Chicago, the Southwest and beyond–as well as Latin America, Asia and Israel.”
Fiona Adams, Managing Shareholder of the firm’s London office and Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Corporate Practice, said, “John brings a wealth of experience and enhances our offering in the restructuring space.”
Shari Heyen and David Kurzweil, Co-Chairs of the firm’s Global Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice, added, “He understands how to proactively help clients resolve and take advantage of opportunities that may arise in complex distress situations, and has been a well-known global leader in the practice for many years, especially in Europe.”
Houghton received an LLM from University College London, and an LLB from Brunel University. He has garnered many recognitions and awards for his work. His accolades include The Legal 500 Hall of Fame – Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency, and Leading Individuals – Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency; Chambers Europe Guide, “Restructuring/Insolvency – UK,” ranked; and IFLR1000, “Highly Regarded”. He was previously a member of teams that received the following recognitions: Acquisitions Monthly magazine, “Restructuring Deal of the Year”; IFLR, Middle East Awards, “Restructuring Deal of the Year”; American Lawyer Awards, “Global Finance Deal of the Year: Restructuring (Europe)”; M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards, “Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year”; IFLR, European Awards, “Restructuring Deal of the Year”; Global M&A Network, Turnaround Atlas Awards, “Global Restructuring Law Firm of the Year”; and Acquisitions Monthly, “Restructuring Deal of the Year.”
