Blank Rome announced that Rick Antonoff joined the firm as a partner in the Finance, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy group. Antonoff brings nearly 25 years of bankruptcy law experience to the firm, with added emphasis on cross-border cases and insolvency issues arising in structured finance, securitization, and derivatives. He is based in the Firm’s New York office.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rick to Blank Rome,” said Alan J. Hoffman, Chairman and Managing Partner. “With the economy continuing to recover from the financial crisis, we are seeing more leveraged and high-yield financings, more cross-border transactions, more distressed investing, and more risk-taking as lenders and investors look for new avenues for growth. Rick’s extensive experience advising top tier financial institution creditors and investors makes him an excellent fit for our firm and our clients.”
Antonoff joins Blank Rome from the Financial Restructuring Group at Clifford Chance. In his practice, he represents secured and unsecured creditors, official and ad-hoc committees, investors, and other parties in bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court restructuring, commercial litigation, financing, and distressed mergers and acquisitions.
Antonoff represented major creditors in some of the largest Chapter 11 cases, including Arcapita, Refco, American Airlines, LA Dodgers, GSC Group, Extended Stay Hotels, and HearUSA. He also represented a member of the bank steering committee in several of the monoline insurance company restructurings, including Ambac, FGIC, and MBIA. Along with his work for leading financial institutions, Mr. Antonoff advised private equity firms such as Fortress and C-III Capital, and operating companies such as Siemens, Mitsui, GDF Suez, and The Hisense Group (China). A growing facet of his practice is cross-border bankruptcies and transactions, especially in Latin America, where he was U.S. bankruptcy counsel to Varig Airlines, and advises clients with interests in the Argentina bonds litigation.
“With companies chasing higher returns and increasing their focus on global expansion, Rick’s years of restructuring and cross-border experience will further strengthen the Firm’s resources in New York and provide enhanced capabilities in working with businesses in foreign countries,” said Regina Stango Kelbon, Co-Chair of the Finance, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy group.
Antonoff added, “I’m excited to join a Firm that is known for its strength in financial services and has a deep and nationally recognized leading bankruptcy practice. Key areas that support my practice—banking and finance, commercial real estate, structured finance, litigation, and M&A, to name a few—are strong here, and complement the work I do for my clients.”
Antonoff received his JD, cum laude, from Cardozo Law School where he was Senior Editor of Law Review, and his BA from Binghamton University. He is a member of the Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and Chair of the Subcommittee on Intercreditor Issues; the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association; and the American Bankruptcy Institute. He recently served as a Board Member and Secretary of New York Junior Tennis & Learning, the largest tennis and education-themed community not-for-profit organization in the U.S.
With 500 attorneys serving clients around the globe, Blank Rome is an international law firm representing businesses and organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start-up entities. Founded in 1946, Blank Rome advises clients on all aspects of their businesses, including commercial and corporate litigation; consumer finance; corporate, M&A, and securities; environmental, energy, and natural resources; finance, restructuring, and bankruptcy; intellectual property and technology; labor and employment; maritime, international trade and government contracts; matrimonial; products liability, mass torts, and insurance; real estate; tax, benefits, and private client; and white collar defense and investigations. Blank Rome also represents pro bono clients in a wide variety of cases and matters.