Corporate restructurings and special situations, with an emphasis on representing official and ad hoc creditors’ committees, investors, lenders, debtors and acquirers of businesses in large, complex in-court and out-of-court transactions.
Involved in some of the largest restructurings in U.S. history.
Significant experience representing clients in the entertainment, retail, hospitality, telecommunications, logistics and energy industries.

Phil represents debtors, official and ad hoc creditors’ committees, secured lenders, debtor in possession lenders, institutional investors, hedge funds and acquirers of businesses and assets in chapter 11 cases of all sizes and complexity, as well as in connection with special situations and out-of-court restructurings.

Phil is an effective negotiator and dealmaker, with clients saying, "He is very much of the school of constantly negotiating and trying to get to a deal early.”

He has handled complex multibillion-dollar matters, including multiple cross-border transactions across numerous industries.

Representative Work

Yellow Corporation: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of Yellow Corporation, an American-based trucking and transportation services company that operated one of the largest less-than-truckload networks in North America, involving over $1.2 billion of liabilities.
Avaya: Counsel to an ad hoc group of first lien lenders in negotiations related to the prepackaged chapter 11 cases of Avaya and its affiliates, a multinational cloud communications and collaboration services company, involving $4 billion in liabilities.
Cineworld: Counsel to an ad hoc group of secured lenders in the chapter 11 cases of Cineworld and its affiliates, the world’s second-largest movie chain, involving $4 billion in liabilities.
Travelport: Counsel to an ad hoc group of secured term loan lenders in an out-of-court recapitalization of Travelport Worldwide, a provider of distribution, technology and payment solutions for the travel and tourism industry.
Rudolph W. Giuliani: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, on a pro bono basis, in the chapter 11 cases of Rudolph W. Giuliani, American politician and former mayor of New York City, involving over $152 million in liabilities.
Casa Systems: Counsel to an ad hoc group of lenders in the chapter 11 cases of Casa Systems, a telecommunications solutions company, involving approximately $200 million of liabilities.

GTT: Counsel to GTT Communications and its affiliates, operator of one of the largest Tier 1 internet networks in the world, in their chapter 11 cases involving $4.5 billion in liabilities. Successful Restructurings of the Year (Turnarounds & Workouts)
Carestream: Counsel to an ad hoc group of senior secured first and second lien lenders in the chapter 11 cases of Carestream Health and its affiliates, a leading global provider of medical imaging and nondestructive testing products, involving approximately $1 billion in liabilities. Successful Restructurings of the Year (Turnarounds & Workouts)
iHeartMedia: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of iHeartMedia and its affiliates, the largest owner of radio stations in the U.S., involving $16 billion in liabilities. Transaction of the Year: Mega Company Transaction (TMA Awards)
J.C. Penney: Counsel to the first lien minority group in the chapter 11 cases of J. C. Penney and its affiliates, one of the largest U.S. department store chains, involving $5 billion in liabilities. Large Cap Restructuring Deal of the Year (The Deal)
Sears: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of Sears and its affiliates, once the largest retailer in the world, involving $5.6 billion in liabilities. Restructuring and Insolvency Deal of the Year (IFLR1000)
Sungard: Counsel to Sungard Availability Services and its affiliates, a global operator of colocation data and disaster recovery centers, in their chapter 11 cases involving more than $500 million in liabilities and the sale of substantially all of the company’s assets; previously, counsel to the company’s prepetition secured lenders and unsecured noteholders in what was at the time the fastest chapter 11 restructuring ever.
Loyalty Ventures: Counsel to Loyalty Ventures and its affiliates, an operator of customer loyalty programs, in their chapter 11 cases involving over $656 million in liabilities.
TPC: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of TPC Group and its affiliates, a petrochemical manufacturing company, with $1.3 billion in funded debt obligations and hundreds of millions of dollars in tort liabilities. Successful Restructurings of the Year (Turnarounds & Workouts)
Frontier Communications: Counsel to an ad hoc group of unsecured noteholders in the chapter 11 cases of Frontier Communications and its affiliates, an American telecommunications company, involving $17 billion in liabilities. Telecommunications Services Deal of the Year (M&A Advisor)

GTT: Counsel to GTT Communications and its affiliates, operator of one of the largest Tier 1 internet networks in the world, in their chapter 11 cases involving $4.5 billion in liabilities. Successful Restructurings of the Year (Turnarounds & Workouts)
Carestream: Counsel to an ad hoc group of senior secured first and second lien lenders in the chapter 11 cases of Carestream Health and its affiliates, a leading global provider of medical imaging and nondestructive testing products, involving approximately $1 billion in liabilities. Successful Restructurings of the Year (Turnarounds & Workouts)
iHeartMedia: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of iHeartMedia and its affiliates, the largest owner of radio stations in the U.S., involving $16 billion in liabilities. Transaction of the Year: Mega Company Transaction (TMA Awards)
J.C. Penney: Counsel to the first lien minority group in the chapter 11 cases of J. C. Penney and its affiliates, one of the largest U.S. department store chains, involving $5 billion in liabilities. Large Cap Restructuring Deal of the Year (The Deal)
Sears: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of Sears and its affiliates, once the largest retailer in the world, involving $5.6 billion in liabilities. Restructuring and Insolvency Deal of the Year (IFLR1000)
Sungard: Counsel to Sungard Availability Services and its affiliates, a global operator of colocation data and disaster recovery centers, in their chapter 11 cases involving more than $500 million in liabilities and the sale of substantially all of the company’s assets; previously, counsel to the company’s prepetition secured lenders and unsecured noteholders in what was at the time the fastest chapter 11 restructuring ever.
Loyalty Ventures: Counsel to Loyalty Ventures and its affiliates, an operator of customer loyalty programs, in their chapter 11 cases involving over $656 million in liabilities.
TPC: Counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of TPC Group and its affiliates, a petrochemical manufacturing company, with $1.3 billion in funded debt obligations and hundreds of millions of dollars in tort liabilities. Successful Restructurings of the Year (Turnarounds & Workouts)
Frontier Communications: Counsel to an ad hoc group of unsecured noteholders in the chapter 11 cases of Frontier Communications and its affiliates, an American telecommunications company, involving $17 billion in liabilities. Telecommunications Services Deal of the Year (M&A Advisor)

"He develops strategic direction well and is passionate about advocating for clients."

Chambers USA, 2021

Education
J.D., Hofstra University School of Law, with distinction, 1998
B.A., College of Charleston, 1994

Bar Admissions
New York

Recognitions

Chambers USA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2014-2024.
Turnarounds & Workouts, Outstanding Restructuring Lawyer, 2018, 2022.
The Legal 500 US, Restructuring (including Bankruptcy): Corporate, 2015-2024; Leading Lawyer.
Law360, Rising Star, 2010.
Turnarounds & Workouts, Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer, 2008.