Cozen O’Connor welcomed veteran litigator Steven J. Weisz, one of Canada’s best known and highly regarded restructuring and insolvency attorneys, to its North American Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring group. Weisz, who joins the firm’s Toronto office as a shareholder, will play a key role in further expanding Cozen O’Connor’s restructuring and insolvency practice to serve both domestic and international clients with business operations in Canada and the United States.
Recognized as a leader in Canadian insolvency law by Chambers and Partners, Lexpert, Best Lawyers, the International Financial Law Review (ILFR), and Who’s Who Legal, Weisz brings to the firm nearly four decades of insolvency and restructuring experience, first as a leader of the restructuring and insolvency practice at one of Canada’s largest full-service firms, and then as founder of a Toronto-based boutique that focuses exclusively on complex domestic and multinational insolvencies.
Known for his pragmatic, cost-efficient approach to even the most complex multidisciplinary issues, Weisz regularly counsels and represents boards of directors, debtor corporations, court officers, suppliers, distressed asset purchasers, lending syndicates, and bondholders in what are often pressing matters involving distressed debt and assets.
“Steve brings us more than three decades of helping Canadian debtors and creditors develop and execute workable solutions, from restructuring debt and selling assets to maximizing creditor recoveries,” said Mark E. Felger, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring group. “That’s the type of experience we need to build a seamless cross-border insolvency practice for our business clients, whether they’re based in Canada, the United States, or the European Union.”
“Our goal is twofold: to expand our bankruptcy practice while also building a first-class, full-service Canadian-based law firm,” said Shane Hardy, co-office managing partner of the firm’s Toronto office. “Steve is going to play an important role in making both of those things happen. Brigeeta Richdale, office managing partner in Vancouver, is also thrilled with the firm’s continued expansion and adds, “As one of the country’s leading bankruptcy litigators, Steve’s standing within Canada’s legal community will help us identify and attract talented lawyers to our Canadian team.”
In addition to his work as a litigator, Weisz is an active member of the Social Media and Intervention committees at the Insolvency Institute of Canada, general editor of the National Creditor Debtor Review, and a former executive with the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). A frequent speaker at industry conferences, he’s also part of the mentoring program at the University of Toronto Law School and a guest lecturer for the LLM Commercial Law program at the Osgoode Hall Law School.
“I chose Cozen O’Connor because the firm offers a collaborative, friendly environment and the chance to be part of a fast-growing, high-quality bankruptcy team,” Weisz said. “In addition, the entrepreneurial spirit here is similar to mine, and the firm’s size and scope will provide invaluable legal resources to me and my clients.”
Weisz earned his LLB at the University of Toronto and his B.A. in economics and math at the University of Toronto – Trinity College. In his free time, Weisz supports the United Jewish Appeal, Prostate Cancer Canada, and the Bay Street Fore a Cause Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports Toronto’s underprivileged children and participates in and supports the Ride to Conquer Cancer, an annual two-day cycling event from Toronto to Niagara Falls, in support of cancer research at The Princess Margaret Hospital In Toronto.