Department profile

Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite

USA Guide 2026 : New York

Kirkland & Ellis

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Ranked Individuals

About

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

For more information about Kirkland & Ellis’ practices, please visit kirkland.com/services.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite - New York

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Kirkland & Ellis LLP maintains a market-leading reputation in the bankruptcy and restructuring field, with formidable capabilities in its representation of all parties but particularly excelling in company-side representations. The firm offers an exceptionally deep bench of experienced attorneys with expertise in handling insolvency-related matters for a variety of domestic, international and multinational corporations. The team maintains broad-ranging industry sector expertise, including energy, retail and media.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

Kirkland & Ellis advised Ascend Performance Materials Holdings and ten of its subsidiaries in its voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

They hold an encyclopaedic knowledge of the bankruptcy process that they easily and seamlessly bring to bear.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
Kirkland & Ellis are considered the gold standard in the restructuring community. Their knowledge of the law across various jurisdictions and their deep bench is not easily replicated.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
Kirkland lawyers are always available and responsive, no matter when you need to speak to them. I don't recall any time where I've contacted a Kirkland lawyer and haven't heard back the same day.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
They are the top of the class in terms of their capabilities.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
They are very impressive in how they are able to be creative around very complex situations and come up with a client-centred solution.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Band 1
Band 1
Edward O Sassower
Edward Sassower is frequently called upon to handle Chapter 11 proceedings and distressed M&A. He offers notable experience in the retail sector.
He is able to diagnose problems and make it relatable to clients. His knowledge of the facts of cases is second to none. The depth of factual information that he digests and can utilize is really impressive.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
Edward is considered one of the gold standard restructuring lawyers in the industry.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
He is a world-class relationship lawyer and is staggeringly commercial.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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Band 1
Band 1
Joshua A Sussberg
Joshua Sussberg is highlighted for his experience in significant bankruptcies in the retail industry, as well as those concerning cryptocurrency.
Josh is one of the leaders of the restructuring bar. He has unparalleled experience and commercial instincts.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
Josh is known as one of the best restructuring lawyers in the industry.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
He is one of the most respected bankruptcy lawyers in the country and for good reason.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
Josh is absolutely excellent and works on a ton of cases. He is always reachable and shows up very well in court.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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Band 2
Band 2
Christopher J. Marcus
Christopher Marcus is highlighted for his experience in Chapter 11 proceedings, regularly acting for clients from a variety of industries including media, energy and retail. He has a particular focus on company-side representations.
He is a highly skilled professional.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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Band 2
Band 2
Nicole L Greenblatt
Nicole Greenblatt is adept at handling a wide range of bankruptcy matters, including Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings.
She is an outstanding attorney.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Christine Okike
Christine Okike is known for her work for both debtor and creditor clients in significant restructuring transactions. Her broad industry capabilities cover cryptocurrency, technology and healthcare.
She is very smart, hard working and commercial.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Christopher Greco
Christopher Greco advises clients on Chapter 11 proceedings, with recent experience across both the retail and oil and gas sectors. He comes well recommended for his representation of debtors.
Chris is always available, asks the right questions and gives very good advice.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Joshua A Feltman
Joshua Feltman is well respected in the market for his handling of bankruptcy matters. He is sought out to advise on high-profile corporate restructurings and has notable experience acting for clients in the retail and hospitality sectors.
Josh has done cutting edge transactions. He is very creative, extremely smart and comes up with solutions to problems.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
He is an exceptional restructuring lawyer with outstanding sophistication and commercial judgment. He provides clear, decisive advice in the most complex and high-stakes situations and is consistently responsive and engaged.
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Band 3
Band 3
Joshua Greenblatt
Joshua Greenblatt is a litigation partner, who has particular expertise in bankruptcies and restructurings.
He is super smart, savvy and really knows his way around the world of restructuring disputes and liability disputes.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
Josh is a great litigator in that he is both very knowledgeable and experienced, but also very practical in the advice he gives and the strategies he employs to secure positive outcomes for his clients.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
Josh is a very shrewd and commercially-minded litigator. He is exceptional in cases involving contested restructurings and liability management transactions.
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Band 3
Band 3
Steven Serajeddini
Steven Serajeddini is well known for his bankruptcy work, with recent experience acting on retail and healthcare-related bankruptcy matters.
He is very outcome-oriented, driving transactions to successful conclusions especially when the other parties are difficult to work with. Steven develops creative strategies to reach those positive outcomes.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
He is extremely responsive, client-friendly and always gets the job done.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
Steven is a deep and strategic thinker and usually is several steps ahead of others.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
He is innovative, creative and clients turn to him with their most complex problems.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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Band 6
Band 6
Matthew C. Fagen
Matthew Fagen has experience in Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings. He is sought after by creditor and debtor clients.
Matthew is an excellent lawyer who can manage complex transactions to a successful conclusion.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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Up and Coming
Up and Coming
Aparna Yenamandra
Aparna Yenamandra is a flourishing talent in the New York market. She is active in restructurings across a swath of industries.
Aparna is brilliant at bringing stakeholders together to reach consensus in the most difficult of circumstances.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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Up and Coming
Up and Coming
Emily Geier
Emily Geier is an up-and-comer with a growing practice representing clients in large restructurings.
Emily is a great lawyer who gives clients solid, practical, common sense advice that leads to successful restructuring transactions.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
She is one of the most pleasant and brightest lawyers I have worked with. Clients love her knowledge base and her work ethic.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring: The Elite respondentUSA
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