Bankruptcy Group Joins New York Office from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
NEW YORK, May 10, 2007 – O’Melveny & Myers LLP announced today that Michael J. Sage, formerly the co-chair of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP’s Financial Restructuring Group, along with fellow former Stroock partners Gerald C. Bender, Doron Lipshitz, and Patricia M. Perez, have joined O’Melveny’s New York office. Michael Sage will be co-head of O’Melveny’s Business Restructuring and Reorganization Group, along with San Francisco-based partner Suzzanne Uhland.
Arthur B. Culvahouse, Jr., Chair of O’Melveny & Myers, said, “We are delighted that these outstanding lawyers have joined our firm. Not only is the strengthening of our restructuring practice a key priority in our firm’s strategic plan, but also their particular experience in representing private equity and distressed funds builds on the strengths of our M&A and private equity practice in New York and meshes seamlessly with our established and well regarded West Coast restructuring practice. As the level of restructuring activity in the marketplace increases, we are pleased to have some of the most well respected and highly regarded lawyers serve our clients.”
Michael J. Sage added, “We could not be more pleased to be joining O’Melveny & Myers. The Firm’s restructuring practice is uniquely complementary to our areas of focus and O’Melveny’s commitment to the growth of the restructuring practice will be tremendous assets for our clients. We look forward to serving some of the world’s premier financial institutions from this strong national platform and the firm’s presence in Europe and Asia will enable us to focus on international insolvencies as well.”
Brad Okun, head of O’Melveny’s New York office said, “The addition of Michael and his team provides us with a unique opportunity to expand the breadth and depth of our restructuring practice in New York. Their addition will enhance our ability to represent our East Coast clients and continue to build on the strength of our growing New York private equity and M&A practices.”
Michael J. Sage, formerly the co-chair of Stroock’s Financial Restructuring Group, has a restructuring practice that focuses on the representation of funds, with a particular emphasis on the M&A aspects of bankruptcy practice. Private equity and distressed debt funds are a focal point of his expertise and he is recognized as a leading lawyer with a strong national reputation in this area. He represents ad hoc bondholder committees, official creditors’ committees, acquirers, and debtors in bankruptcy proceedings and out-of-court restructurings. An active component of Michael’s practice is the representation of financial institutions that have acquired substantial strategic positions in debt securities, and the bankruptcies, out-of -court restructurings, and divestitures relating to such acquisitions.
Gerald C. Bender has a practice encompassing all aspects of financial restructuring. He represents unofficial and official bondholders’ and creditors’ committees, institutional investors, secured and unsecured creditors and debtors in out-of-court restructurings and chapter 11 reorganizations. Gerald also has significant experience in the litigation of complex bankruptcy and commercial disputes.
Doron Lipshitz concentrates on public and private M&A transactions, venture capital and other private equity investments and divestitures, and corporate restructurings. He regularly represents corporations and private funds in such transactions and advises corporations and their boards of directors regarding corporate governance matters and the fiduciary duties of officers and directors.
Patricia M. Perez regularly represents private investment firms and bondholder committees in corporate restructuring transactions. She has extensive experience in advising corporations and private funds on public and private M&A transactions, joint ventures, and private equity investments and divestitures.
About the Firm
With more than 1,000 lawyers in 13 offices worldwide, O’Melveny & Myers LLP helps industry leaders across a broad array of sectors manage the complex challenges of succeeding in the global economy. We are a values-driven law firm, guided by the principles of excellence, leadership, and citizenship. Our commitment to these values is reflected in our dedication to improving access to justice through pro bono work and championing initiatives that increase the diversity of the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.omm.com
