Blank Rome announced that Mitchell M. Brand and Harris J. Diamond have joined the firm as Partners in the Finance, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy group in the New York office. Brand and Diamond focus their practices on asset-based lending; leveraged cash flow lending; second lien, mezzanine, and unitranche financings; as well restructuring, workout and bankruptcy matters. They join from Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP and previously were with Otterbourg P.C. where Brand practiced for 33 years.
“We are thrilled to continue our firm’s 2019 strategic growth with the addition of Mitch and Harris,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s Managing Partner and CEO. “They bring a diverse financial and restructuring background that further bolsters our leading financial services practice. Currently with more than 150 attorneys, our New York office has experienced sustained growth over the past several years. With the relocation of our office to 1271 Avenue of the Americas scheduled for later this month, we are well positioned to continue to welcome accomplished attorneys like Mitch and Harris in the market, with an eye toward continued expansion.”
The firm’s Finance, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy group now has 65 attorneys throughout the country.
The duo collectively counsels regional and national banks, commercial finance companies, hedge funds and credit funds, private equity firms, and other institutional and individual investors on a wide range of matters involving asset-based and cash flow lending (including cross-border and unitranche financing), general corporate lending, secured and unsecured financing, and leveraged and structured finance. They also have extensive experience handling Chapter 11 debtor-in-possession and exit financings, debt restructurings, financial and corporate restructuring, creditor representation, loan workouts, and asset protection during the restructuring and bankruptcy processes. They provide commercial lending counsel across many industries, including wholesale distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and transportation, among others, and draw on their combined background and extensive experience to advise clients on special situations, side pocket investments, illiquid or troubled debt and/or equity investments, restructuring distressed equity and/or debt transactions, acquisition financing and distressed debt investing.
“Mitch and Harris are a great fit, adding further depth and experience to our national team,” said Lawrence F. Flick, Chair of Blank Rome’s Financial Services Industry group. “Their strong experience in a number of industries, including healthcare, consumer products, retail, manufacturing, distribution and equipment financing, as well the specialized counsel they offer during special situations—from distressed transactions to complex restructurings—will be of tremendous benefit to our clients.”
“When looking at Blank Rome’s strategic platform and deep bench in its financial services industry group in key markets including New York, California, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Texas, the decision for us to join the Firm was easy,” Brand and Diamond said in a joint statement. “With Blank Rome’s reach across the country, led by strong lawyers in dozens of practice areas, including technology, healthcare, leveraged finance, real estate, lender finance, retail and maritime, among others, we will be able to provide unparalleled resources to our clients.”
To date in 2019, Blank Rome’s New York office has added Michael Peskowitz and Lauren Scarantino as partners and Michael Denci as an associate in the Real Estate group; Jeffrey Cohen as a partner in the Corporate group; Mara Levin as a partner in the Labor and Employment group; and Rachel Cohn as an associate in the Corporate Litigation group.