Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announced today that the firm has added a national team of premier restructuring, insolvency and finance attorneys to its strong bench of practitioners serving financial institutions. The team consists of Craig Barbarosh, who will be based in Orange County and New York; Bill Freeman, Jan Cate and Brad Wolf, who will join the firm as partners in Los Angeles, opening an additional office in the downtown area; and Karen Dine, who will join as a partner practicing in Katten’s New York office. In addition, Mr. Barbarosh will join Katten’s leadership team and help expand the firm’s relationships with and breadth of professional services for financial institutions and related entities.
This team, led by Mr. Barbarosh, a recognized leader in the financial restructuring world, handles sophisticated restructuring/insolvency engagements and high-level banking matters nationally and in the United Kingdom. Together, they have built one of the most successful practices in the areas of financial restructuring and insolvency and related business advice. Their clients include institutional lenders, investment and private equity funds, indenture trustees and bondholders, official and unofficial creditors’ and equity committees, distressed debt investors, and trade creditors involved in both in- and out-of-court restructurings and insolvency proceedings. Financial institutions draw upon the team’s experience in representing clients involved in financial and operational restructurings spanning a wide range of industries including real estate, oil and gas, retail, manufacturing, gaming and hospitality, aviation, life sciences, food and beverage, chemical and mortgage lending.
“Katten’s addition of partners of this magnitude and talent demonstrates our deep commitment to serving the breadth of legal needs for our financial industry clients,” said Vincent A. F. Sergi, Katten’s national managing partner. “Craig and the team have earned preeminence in the tight-knit bankruptcy and banking communities because of their renowned expertise and business savvy related to restructurings and debt financing. Their counsel will be of tremendous value to our clients across the country and throughout the world. I welcome Craig’s strategic vision and leadership skills as he joins our Board and management team in planning for the continued growth and development of our firm.”
Mr. Barbarosh, who has served as lead counsel on a wide range of high-profile restructurings, is a frequently sought-after speaker and author about bankruptcy and governance-related matters. Clients describe him as “a truly amazing and effective attorney,” according to Chambers USA. He has received national recognition and numerous awards for his legal work, including the designation of Top Lawyer by U.S. News and Client Service All-Star by BTI, both in 2012.
Mr. Freeman provides creditors’ rights advice to financial institutions and other fiduciaries in workouts and bankruptcy cases. Ms. Cate has broad experience in all aspects of complex, high-stakes debt financing, as well as representing lenders in financial restructurings. Mr. Wolf specializes in loan restructurings and workouts. Ms. Dine represents stakeholders involved in Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings.
“With an impressive base of private equity, hedge fund, financial institution and other financial services clients, Katten offers an ideal platform for our team to excel for our clients,” added Mr. Barbarosh. “The firm’s vision to bolster its already top-notch restructuring, insolvency and finance teams on a national level and beyond is very exciting. We anticipate working seamlessly across practice groups and geographies to serve the comprehensive needs of our clients at the highest levels of performance. The full complement of our team’s skills integrated into Katten’s global capabilities will be formidable. We look forward to combining our relationships, expertise and teams to serve financial clients throughout the world with first-class counsel.”
All of the new additions formerly practiced with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
