Michael Mandel retired from the partnership at the end of 2018. He focused on structured finance and has been instrumental in numerous innovative and creative transactions, representing commercial banks, investment banks and investment funds in transactions, restructurings and bankruptcies primarily involving the transportation, real estate, financial, communications and energy sectors.

In connection with his structured finance work, Michael was involved in leasing transactions, representing equity investors, lessees and lenders in leveraged lease financings of aircraft, ships, rail cars, manufacturing facilities and energy distribution facilities. His work has focused on cross-border as well as domestic leases, and he has played a pivotal role in the acquisition and disposition of multibillion-dollar leasing companies, as well as in advising airline creditors’ committees in bankruptcy proceedings.

Michael headed the firm’s response effort to the economic recovery programs that were implemented by the Federal Reserve, the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, advising clients on the programmatic requirements of the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the Public-Private Investment Program, among others. He provided the perspective of a transactional practitioner in evaluating financial legislation, working closely with the firm’s public law and policy practice.

Aside from the aviation industry, Michael’s financial restructuring work has included reorganizations and out-of-court restructurings for national real estate and health care companies as well as financial service institutions, energy companies and publishing companies, advising holders of debt and equity positions, as well as creditors’ committees.

Michael also represented commercial airlines, public and private companies and individuals in connection with aircraft acquisitions, sales, financings and refinancings.

Earlier in his career, Michael worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a special assistant, first to Secretary Patricia Roberts Harris and later to Moon Landrieu.

Prior to working at HUD, he served as director and counsel of Urban Government Affairs, National Association of Home Builders, providing technical support and legal assistance to more than 650 state and local home builder associations across the country.