Catherine Youngman

Practice Areas

Managing Partner of the Morristown office and a member of the firm's Strategic Growth Committee, Catherine is a seasoned bankruptcy attorney with more than 29 years of experience guiding companies and creditors through complex financial situations.

In client references provided to Chambers, Catherine has been described as “smart and even-keeled” and as someone who “offers great and practical business solutions.” She is also noted for her “strong legal mind and great commercial sensibilities."

Catherine has wide-ranging financial restructuring experience, having represented large and small businesses in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 proceedings. She also has served as a government-appointed Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 Trustee in thousands of cases, overseeing and operating businesses while they are in bankruptcy. She knows how to assess the best way forward for a business, and how make hard choices.

Career

Prior to joining Fox Rothschild, Catherine was a partner at Forman Holt Eliades & Youngman LLC. She was also previously a partner at two boutique law firms for more than 15 years.

Professional Memberships

Immediate Past Chair, The Lawyers Advisory Committee, District of New Jersey | American Bankruptcy Institute | Turnaround Management Association | New York Institute of Credit | Member, International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) | Past Member, Third Circuit Lawyers Advisory Committee (2016-2019)

Personal

Seton Hall University School of Law, (J.D.) | Syracuse University (M.P.A.), (B.A.)

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Bar Admissions: New Jersey, New York

Work Highlights

- ASHINC – Served as Liquidating and Litigation trustee during the company’s Chapter 11 Bankruptcy proceedings, overseeing payment of claims of $38 million and overseeing litigation with damage claims in excess of $350,000.

- Served as Chapter 7 trustee for a national freight shipping and brokerage firm, as well as its subsidiaries. To date, more than $75 million in secured claims have been satisfied through the administration of the debtors’ assets and receivables. Catherine operated the debtor during the wind down, bringing more than 3,000 tractor trailers in from the road in an organized fashion while overseeing 1,500 employees.

- Represented Creditors Committee seeking to recoup Pension Plan benefits that the debtor attempted to eliminate through Chapter 11. The debtor and its parent company were forced to satisfy its pension obligations.

- Provided restructuring advice to a large regional manufacturing entity, saving the business and 750 jobs. Catherine reviewed and restructured tiered loans and corrected organizational issues that led to greater efficiency and profitability.

- Served as a trustee for a well-known Atlantic City restaurant in Chapter 11. Catherine oversaw the installation of a point of sale system to increase efficiency and track inventory, helping the establishment turn around in six months. The restaurant was then successfully sold.

- Topps Meat Company, LLC – Served as trustee for one of the largest national suppliers of frozen hamburgers after the recall of its beef products due to E. coli contamination. In the process, Catherine oversaw the sale of the company’s intellectual property and physical assets while ensuring all contaminated products were destroyed.

- Headliners Entertainment Group Inc. – Served as Chapter 7 trustee for a publicly traded company owning and operating comedy clubs under the name “Rascals,” as well as dance clubs, entertainment complexes and a media library with original digital recordings of performances by several comedians, including Chris Rock, Jeff Foxworthy, Colin Quinn, Andrew Dice Clay, Wanda Sykes, Drew Carey, Tim Allen, Rosie O’Donnell, Darryl Hammond and Joy Behar. All of the assets were liquidated.

- Served as Liquidating trustee in a matter where all assets were diverted to Pakistan. Catherine used International Law to recover assets and collect on judgments.

- Served as Chapter 7 trustee for an individual debtor who failed to disclose her ownership of jewelry valued at more than $350,000. Catherine successfully obtained the jewelry with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals. The debtor was denied her discharge and remained fully responsible for her debts.