Otterbourg P.C. announced that Keith N. Costa has joined the firm as a member in the restructuring and bankruptcy practice, and Michael Wenger has joined the firm as counsel in the banking and finance practice. Costa focuses his practice on the representation of creditors nationwide, with extensive experience in commercial litigation and a strong history of handling reorganizations, out-of-court restructurings, and private equity firm acquisition of distressed debt and assets. He frequently serves as a court-appointed chapter 11 trustee and examiner, and serves in other fiduciary roles including as counsel to official committees of unsecured creditors and as special counsel to boards of directors.

Costa is also a court certified mediator for both New York and Delaware, which has led to his service, both as mediator and arbitrator, in the Madoff and Lehman Brothers bankruptcy cases. He comes to Otterbourg from Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland Perretti LLP, where he was a partner. He previously served for 10 years as Assistant U.S. Trustee for the Southern District of New York, where he was involved in some of the largest and most complicated bankruptcy cases ever filed.

Wenger focuses his practice on factoring and finance. He comes to Otterbourg from Rosenthal & Rosenthal, Inc., a privately owned factoring and finance company, where he was General Counsel. He has extensive experience drafting and negotiating agreements for all aspects of factoring and asset-based lending transactions. He previously was an associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in its Banking and Finance practice.

“Keith and Michael have exceptional reputations and are strong additions to our bankruptcy and finance groups,” said Richard L. Stehl, Otterbourg’s chairman. “Our clients will benefit from their vast experience and exceptional commitment to client service.”

Costa said, “Otterbourg is one of the premier insolvency firms in New York, and its national leadership representing clients in major bankruptcy cases for decades dovetails perfectly with my practice.”

Costa has been an active member of the American Bankruptcy Institute since 2001 and has been recognized by his peers for the past two years on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list in the practice areas of both Mediation and Business Bankruptcy. He earned his JD from The American University, Washington College of Law, and his BA from the University of Connecticut Honor’s Program.

Wenger is a member of the board of directors of the Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys. He earned his JD from Columbia Law School and his BA from the University of Rochester.