Donald S. Bernstein
Recognized as one of the world’s leading restructuring lawyers. Represents all parties in major corporate restructurings and insolvency proceedings.
Don, a partner of the firm for 37 years and Chair of the Restructuring practice, is globally recognized as a leader in financial restructuring and insolvency law. He represents corporate clients, creditors, acquirers, liquidators and receivers in complex restructurings and insolvency proceedings, and advises financial institutions and other market participants regarding legal risks involved in derivatives, securities, digital and other financial transactions.
Among Don’s numerous honors, he served as Chair of the National Bankruptcy Conference, President of the International Insolvency Institute and Chair of the New York City Bar Association Committee on Bankruptcy. He is a Fellow and Scholar-in-Residence of the American College of Bankruptcy and was a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11.
Don has testified at five Senate or House Judiciary Committee hearings on bankruptcy legislation.
He is on the Board of Directors of UJA-Federation of New York.
Experience
- Lenders, bondholders and other creditors and trading counterparties in restructurings and bankruptcy proceedings, including those of AG Mortgage Investment Trust, MFA Financial, Murray Energy, China Fisheries, Tribune Companies, Delphi Automotive, Syncora, Lehman Brothers, Refco, C-BASS, Centro Properties, Enron, Conseco, Adelphia, Bethlehem Steel, McLeodUSA, Dow Corning, Memorex Telex, R.H. Macy, Morrison-Knudsen, Drexel Burnham Lambert, Crown Paper, U.S. Office Products and Toshoku America
- Companies, sponsors, owners or acquirers in restructurings and reorganizations, including Toys “R” Us, Ford Motor Company, BCBG, Fresh & Easy Markets, U.S. Industries, LTV Steel, Lomas Financial, Liberte Investors, Allis-Chalmers and Johns-Manville
- Liquidators or receivers in international insolvency proceedings, including those of L.J. Hooker and Princeton Economics/Cresvale International
- Global financial institutions, such as JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, on credit exposures, global credit risk management and resolution planning
Insights
News
Recognition
American College of Bankruptcy – Fellow
American Lawyer – “Dealmaker of the Year,” 2010
Chambers Global and USA – Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Senior Statesman
IFLR1000 – Restructuring and Insolvency, United States, Market Leader
Expert Guides – “Best of the Best USA,” Restructuring and Insolvency
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) – Restructuring & Insolvency, Global Elite Thought Leader
Best Lawyers – “Lawyer of the Year,” Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2013
Education
- cum laude
Qualifications and admissions
- State of New York
- U.S. District Court, E.D. New York
- U.S. District Court, S.D. New York