Otterbourg announced the election of six new equity members, the most the firm has ever promoted in one year. The new Shareholders are David Castleman, Pauline McTernan, Nicholas Palazzolo, Michael Regina, Michael Rich and Lena Surilov. In addition, Otterbourg has named Gabriela Leon, Michael Maizel and Michael Pantzer to counsel. The large class is a testament to the firm’s success across multiple industries in New York.
 
“We applaud these nine outstanding attorneys for their well-deserved promotions, which recognize the excellent service they have provided to our clients over the years,” said Richard L. Stehl, Otterbourg’s chairman. “Their individual talents and dedication to the firm add tremendous value and does not go unnoticed. I look forward to their continued success and growth in these new roles.”
 
New Members:
 
David Castleman – Restructuring & Bankruptcy, Litigation, and Privacy & Cybersecurity
 
Mr. Castleman focuses primarily on federal equity receiverships and complex litigation in state and federal courts and serves as Receiver in the Southern District of New York over a $250 million alleged Ponzi scheme. He serves as vice-chair of the ABA’s Business Bankruptcy Committee’s Derivatives and Digital Assets Subcommittee and co-chair of the Amicus Committee of the National Association of Federal Equity Receivers, and he is a member of the Federal Bar Council and the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance. Mr. Castleman earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his A.B., cum laude, from Dartmouth College.
 
Pauline McTernan – Litigation, Restructuring
 
Ms. McTernan represents corporations, governmental agencies, financial institutions and entrepreneurs in a wide range of commercial litigation, class action and bankruptcy matters. She has advised clients on disputes involving a diverse array of issues, including breach of contract, fraud, entitlement to tax refunds, lender liability, mass torts, and employment and corporate governance matters. Ms. McTernan earned her J.D., cum laude, from New York University and her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
 
Nicholas Palazzolo – Banking & Finance
 
Mr. Palazzolo represents banks, commercial finance companies and other institutional lenders in connection with the structuring and documentation of loan transactions. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School and his B.S. from Binghamton University.
 
Michael Regina – Banking & Finance
 
Mr. Regina represents banks, commercial finance companies, factors, and other institutional lenders in connection with the structuring and documentation of loan transactions, including asset-based loans, term loans and other structured finance transactions, as well as portfolio acquisitions and dispositions. He also has expertise with syndicated and single lender transactions, as well as multicurrency and cross border transactions. Mr. Regina earned his J.D. summa cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Monmouth University.
 
Michael Rich – Banking & Finance, and Real Estate
 
Mr. Rich represents banks, hedge funds, private equity funds, commercial finance companies and other institutional lenders in connection with the structuring and documentation of lease and loan transactions, including asset-based, cash flow and structured finance transactions, and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions. Mr. Rich also represents buyers and sellers, whether individuals, joint ventures, or funds in connection with purchase and sale transactions, throughout the country – some including a single property, and others a large portfolio. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from St. John’s University School of Law and his B.A., summa cum laude, from St. John’s University.
 
Lena Surilov – Banking & Finance
 
Ms. Surilov represents financial institutions and other commercial finance companies in structuring, negotiating, and documenting domestic and cross-border complex debt financing transactions, with a focus on asset-based financing. She also represents single lenders and syndicates in revolving credit facilities, term loans, refinancings, acquisition financing, lender finance transactions, debtor-in-possession and bankruptcy exit credit financing transactions. Ms. Surilov works with companies in a variety of industries, including retail, manufacturing, technology, financial services, healthcare and service. She earned her J.D. from Boston College Law School, her M.B.A from Boston College Carroll School of Management and her B.A. from Wesleyan University.
 
New Counsel:
 
Gabriela Leon – Litigation
 
Ms. Leon focuses her practice on representing businesses and entrepreneurs in high-stakes litigation and arbitration. She earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School and her B.A. from Cornell University.
 
Michael Maizel – Restructuring & Bankruptcy
 
Mr. Maizel represents debtors, official and ad hoc creditors’ committees, and secured and unsecured creditors in all aspects of complex chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. He also represents receivers and other court-appointed fiduciaries and provides legal support in mediation. Mr. Maizel served as Law Clerk to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Nancy Lord. He earned his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and his M.A. and B.A. from Tulane University.
 
Michael Pantzer – Restructuring & Bankruptcy
 
Mr. Pantzer’s practice focuses on the representation of debtors, creditors, fiduciaries, and other parties in interest in commercial bankruptcy cases and other insolvency matters. He served as Law Clerk to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Alan Trust. Mr. Pantzer earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University at Buffalo School of Law, his M.B.A. from the University at Buffalo School of Management, and his B.A. from University of Hawai?i at Manoa.