Alston & Bird has enhanced and expanded its Financial Restructuring & Reorganization Group by adding partners J. Eric Wise and Matthew K. Kelsey. Resident in New York, Wise and Kelsey will continue their practice of advising clients on complex Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court restructurings, foreclosures and enforcements, related special situations financing, and other corporate transactions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Eric and Matt, veteran restructuring lawyers who have practiced together for nearly 20 years as trusted advisors to many clients, including financial institutions, special situation lenders, and investment funds that are active in the restructuring space,” said Gerard Catalanello, partner and chair of Alston & Bird’s Financial Restructuring & Reorganization Group. “Our new partners add extraordinary interdisciplinary experience and significant depth to our restructuring capabilities, which create important synergies with our partners who focus on private credit and bank lenders, structured finance, distressed debt trading, sponsor-backed buyouts, and other finance transactions.”

Wise and Kelsey join from Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where their restructuring practice also involved M&A, debt and equity financings, and other transactions aimed at balance sheet restructurings to protect valuable, over-leveraged assets. They represent secured lenders, ad hoc creditor groups, official committees, debtors, equity holders, agents, and trustees, among others. Their practices span a broad range of industries, including shipping, telecommunications, health care, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, real estate, retail, steel, automotive, chemicals, energy, transportation, financial services, construction, infrastructure, and paper and forest products. Wise and Kelsey are thought leaders on important restructuring topics and leverage their experience to advise on divergent lender interests and complex debt structuring, garnering significant attention from professional services audiences.

“We are excited to join Alston & Bird, a firm that shares our commitment to teamwork and excellent service. This move allows us to continue delivering outstanding results for our clients, whose interests have always been our paramount concern,” said Kelsey.

“In this next chapter of our long-term collaboration, we aim to help clients navigate the increasingly aggressive, dynamic, and complex restructuring environment by identifying and implementing thoughtful and innovative solutions. Alston & Bird’s fantastic corporate and litigation areas, combined with its robust and nationally recognized restructuring practice, make for an ideal platform for accomplishing that,” added Wise.

The arrival of Wise and Kelsey continues the restructuring group’s momentum and strategic growth following the recent additions of partner Leah Fiorenza McNeill in Atlanta and counsel Stephen Blank in New York, underscoring Alston & Bird’s commitment to meeting client needs as economic markets continue to show signs of disruption and uncertainty.

Alston & Bird’s Financial Restructuring & Reorganization Group handles a range of restructuring matters that involve complex issues and high financial stakes in the U.S. and abroad. The group assembles dedicated teams who represent secured lenders, funds, ad hoc creditor groups, indentured trustees, creditors’ committees, debtors, and buyers of distressed assets in out-of-court restructurings and bankruptcy cases. In addition, the group advises master servicers, special servicers, agents, participants, and other financial institutions on complex financial transactions involving out-of-court workouts, debt restructurings, receivership appointments, fiduciary duties, investigations, examinations, fraudulent conveyances, and remedy enforcement procedures.