Concentrates on debtors’ and creditors’ rights, corporate restructurings and bankruptcy law.
Has led numerous high-profile restructurings in the energy, oilfield services, power, health care, retail and media industries.

Michael represents official and unofficial committees of unsecured creditors, secured lender groups, debtors, boards of directors and special committees, debtor in possession (DIP) lenders, plan sponsors and acquirers of businesses and assets in large, complex chapter 11 cases and domestic and international out-of-court restructurings.

Michael has played a leading role in many high-profile recent restructurings in the energy, oilfield services, power, health care, retail and media industries.

Representative Work

Curo Group Holding Corp.: Counsel to the debtor, a leading consumer credit lender serving the U.S. and Canada, in its chapter 11 cases involving over $2.1 billion of debt.
CommScope: Counsel to an ad hoc group of cross holders in connection with a potential restructuring of CommScope, an American fiber optic and cable provider.
Audacy: Counsel to an ad hoc group of senior secured second lien lenders in negotiations related to the prepackaged chapter 11 cases of Audacy and its subsidiaries, an American broadcasting company, involving $1.6 billion in liabilities.
GWG Holdings: Counsel to the Official Committee of Bondholders in the chapter 11 cases of GWG Holdings and its affiliates, a financial services firm that invests in secondary life insurance assets and sells life insurance-backed bonds, involving over $2 billion in liabilities.
GEO Group: Counsel to an ad hoc group of senior unsecured noteholders of The GEO Group and its affiliates, the world's second largest operator of secure facilities.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E): Counsel to the ad hoc committee of senior unsecured noteholders in the chapter 11 cases of PG&E and its affiliates, the largest energy utility in the U.S., involving over $30 billion in liabilities. To date, this is the seventh-largest bankruptcy in U.S. history. Innovation Award (New York Law Journal)
CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.: Counsel to an ad hoc group of unsecured noteholders in the chapter 11 cases of CBL and its affiliates, owner of a property portfolio across 26 states, involving $2.6 billion in liabilities. Successful Restructurings of the Year (Turnarounds & Workouts)
Chesapeake Energy: Counsel to Franklin Advisors in the chapter 11 cases of Chesapeake Energy and its affiliates, the second-largest producer of natural gas in the U.S., involving $9 billion in liabilities. Successful Restructurings of the Year (Turnarounds & Workouts)

Pacific Drilling S.A.: Counsel to an ad hoc group of secured noteholders in the second chapter 11 restructuring of Pacific Drilling and its affiliates, an offshore ultra-deepwater drilling company, involving $1.1 billion in liabilities. Energy Deal of the Year (The M&A Advisor)
Weatherford International: Counsel to the ad hoc noteholder committee in the multijurisdictional cases of Weatherford International and its affiliates, one of the world's largest oilfield services firms, involving $8.3 billion in liabilities. Large Energy Restructuring of the Year (Turnaround Atlas Awards)
CHC Group Ltd.: Counsel to an informal secured noteholder group that served as plan sponsor in the chapter 11 cases of CHC Group and its affiliates, a provider of helicopter transportation services to the offshore oil and gas industry, involving $2.19 billion in liabilities. Corporate Turnaround of the Year - Large/Mega (Turnarounds Atlas Awards)
Jonah Energy: Counsel to an ad hoc noteholder group in the $1.3 billion out-of-court restructuring of Jonah Energy, one of the largest privately held natural gas producers in the U.S.
Rex Energy Corporation: Counsel to an informal second lien noteholder group in the chapter 11 cases of Rex Energy and its affiliates, a natural gas E&P company, involving approximately $930 million in liabilities.
Hercules Offshore: Counsel to Hercules Offshore and its affiliates, an owner and operator of one of the largest jackup rig and liftboat fleets worldwide, in its second chapter 11 restructuring involving $600 million of liabilities.
NRG Rema / Genon Mid-Atlantic: Counsel to the independent governance committees of the boards in the chapter 11 cases of NRG Rema and Genon Mid-Atlantic and its affiliates, providers of energy, capacity, ancillary and other energy services to wholesale customers, involving $2.1 billion of liabilities.

"Michael has the experience, vision and expertise to steer investors through the most complex restructurings."

Chambers USA, 2022

Education
J.D., Rutgers School of Law - Newark, 1989
B.A., University of Vermont, 1986

Clerkships
U.S.B.C., District of New Jersey

Bar Admissions
New Jersey
New York

Recognitions

Chambers Global, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2012-2024.
Chambers USA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2016-2024.
American Jewish Committee (AJC), National Human Relations Award, 2022.
The Legal 500 US, 2017- 2018, 2022-2023.
Euromoney, Expert Guides, Best of the Best, United States - Restructuring and Insolvency, 2022.
The American Lawyer, Northeast Trailblazer, 2021.
Turnarounds & Workouts, Outstanding Restructuring Lawyer, 2016.
The Who's Who Legal, Insolvency & Restructuring, 2016, 2020-2021.