LeClairRyan Adds Fifteen to Newark Office

On May 11, 2016

LeClairRyan adds eight attorneys and seven professional staff to its Newark office.

Joining the national law firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights practice as partners are Charles Forman, Michael Holt, Daniel Eliades, Erin Kennedy, Kim Lynch, William Waldman, David Catuogno and Michael Connolly. All were most recently with Forman Holt Eliades & Youngman LLC, where they were members of the firm.  Additionally, the team includes three legal assistants, two paralegals, a practice group specialist and a trustee case administrator.

The team will become an integral part of LeClairRyan’s national bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice which is comprised of nearly 50 attorneys firm-wide. They have a depth of experience representing secured and unsecured creditors, trustees, fiduciaries, franchisors, financial institutions, debtors, and official and unofficial creditor committees in bankruptcy matters across geographies and industries.  As a group, they regularly handle Chapter 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcy cases, insolvency proceedings, restructurings, workouts, all aspects of bankruptcy litigation, including avoidance actions, and non-dischargeability actions.

Ilan Markus, leader of LeClairRyan’s Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights practice said, “Our new colleagues are highly skilled and well-respected bankruptcy lawyers. Their experience enhances the full range of services we offer and we are looking forward to working with them.”

“Our team has practiced together for many years,” said Forman.  “It was important for us to join a firm with a strong national bankruptcy practice that also allowed us to offer additional services to our clients.  We already have found a number of opportunities with our clients and our new colleagues at LeClairRyan.”

Eliades and Catuogno represent franchisors in out-of-court workouts with distressed franchisees and appear on behalf of franchisors in bankruptcy cases of franchisees throughout the United States. They also represent franchisors in state and federal courts, protecting their intellectual property and brand value on a national basis.

Eliades, Catuogno and Waldman also represent financial institutions in loan restructuring, collection and foreclosure matters.  Eliades and Waldman additionally represent timeshare resort owners in various capacities.

“LeClairRyan is a great fit for our team,” said Eliades.  “Being a part of national bankruptcy, franchise and hospitality teams allow for us to not only continue to provide efficient and effective legal services to our clients, but also to grow and enhance our practice across the country.  We are excited to be a part of the LeClairRyan team.”

Forman, former managing member of Forman Holt Eliades & Youngman LLC, is a nationally recognized bankruptcy trustee appointed by the United States Justice Department and a fiduciary in Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors, Receiverships, Directorships and Liquidating Trusts.  Holt, Kennedy, Connolly and Lynch often represent trustees in addition to the representation of debtors and other parties in insolvency proceedings.  Lynch acts as a fiduciary in Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors.

“Charlie, Dan and all of the members of the team are talented, client-service minded lawyers who add substantial depth to our Firm,” said C. Erik Gustafson, the firm’s chief executive officer. “I am pleased to welcome them to LeClairRyan.”

LeClairRyan’s Newark office, established in 2008, now has 106 employees, which includes 57 lawyers.

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