Morgan Lewis will bolster its finance team by bringing in five partners in New York—a transactional restructuring and bankruptcy litigation team led by Richard Stern and including Michael Luskin, Stephan Hornung, Matthew O’Donnell, and Alex Talesnick. This team will further strengthen the firm’s services to financial institutions across corporate, finance, bankruptcy, litigation, and restructuring needs.

“Expanding our presence in New York—an important financial market for many of our clients—at a key time in the world economy puts us in a great position to assist clients with a variety of financing needs, whether they involve restructuring transactions or litigation,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Clients rely on Morgan Lewis for the highest level of counsel, and welcoming this team in New York expands the depth of our service offerings.”

“Richard, Michael, Stephan, Matthew, and Alex have worked together for nearly a decade and they bring welcome connections with financial institutions and in-depth knowledge of transactional restructuring and bankruptcy,” said Jonathan Bernstein, leader of the firm’s finance practice. “As an added benefit, having worked together previously, our newest colleagues understand the importance of close collaboration and we expect they will quickly synergize with the larger finance team across Morgan Lewis.”

New Partners

Richard chaired the restructuring and bankruptcy practice of a national law firm and prior to that represented financial institutions for more than 30 years at Luskin, Stern & Eisler, a bankruptcy boutique he co-founded with Michael Luskin in 1989. Richard represents financial institutions in out-of-court workouts, restructurings, bankruptcy proceedings, and lending transactions involving complex financial restructurings.

Michael focuses on representing financial institutions in commercial litigation in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts. He has defended creditors against avoidance, “lender liability,” and numerous other actions and represented creditors in loan restructurings and out-of-court workouts.

Matt co-led the debt finance practice of a national law firm and prior to that was a partner at Luskin, Stern & Eisler. He represents financial institutions on the full range of lending transactions, loan restructurings, out-of-court workouts, and bankruptcy proceedings.

Stephan represents financial institutions and other creditors in commercial litigation in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts across the United States. Stephan also regularly represents financial institutions in non-judicial foreclosures, UCC sales, and out-of-court workouts and restructurings. He was a partner with the rest of the team at both a national law firm and Luskin, Stern & Eisler.

Alex represents financial institutions in out-of-court workouts, restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings, and asset-based and leveraged financing transactions. Alex has experience in all aspects of bankruptcy proceedings, including cash-collateral negotiations, 363 asset sales, credit-bidding, pre-negotiated plans of reorganization, exit financing, and distressed debt and claims trading. He was a partner with the rest of the team at both a national law firm and Luskin, Stern & Eisler.