Akin Restructuring Partner Ira Dizengoff Talks Dealmaking Approaches, 2023 Takeaways on ‘Legal Lens’ Podcast

Akin financial restructuring partner Ira Dizengoff appeared on Debtwire’s Legal Lens podcast to discuss dealmaking, key takeaways from 2023 and the outlook for the new year.

The episode covers Ira’s path to financial restructuring law, his early experiences as an intern in bankruptcy court, and his road to Akin and the growth and development of the firm’s restructuring practice.

Ira also spoke about his approach to dealmaking based on 30 years of practice in very large cases: “One, no case is exactly the same. They’re all bespoke. They all have unique levers. So, appreciate that. Your experience informs the outcome. And you can say, ‘Oh, we did X, Y and Z in this case.’ But it doesn’t mean it always fits exactly the problem that’s in front of you…Two is: In large cases, leadership matters. That’s leadership on the adviser side. That’s leadership on the investor side. That’s leadership on the company side…Appealing to the leadership, those that are in the position to actually drive outcomes, matters. Now, you have to be thoughtful. And you have to be respectful. And you have to understand how to bridge gaps. But if you do that, the outcomes actually are determinative, and they actually make a difference. I think that that saves billions of dollars, honestly, over time…So, it’s not an easy thing to do. It kind of requires all the tools in the toolkit that everybody has, but it’s how you get to deals.”

He offered his views on the lessons from 2023 that will extend into 2024 and beyond on the topics of liability management, creditors jockeying for position, and the need for guidance in the mass tort restructuring arena on third-party releases.

To hear the full episode, click here.