| Biography:
Jeffrey W. Levitan, a recognized member of the Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization Bar, is a partner in Proskauer Rose LLP's Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice Group. Throughout the past twenty years, Jeffrey has had significant involvement in many large and complex corporate reorganizations. He represents and has represented a broad range of clients in Chapter 11 proceedings and restructurings, including debtors, funders of reorganization plans, secured creditors, trustees and creditors committees.
Some of the large reorganizations and liquidations Jeffrey has played a key role in as counsel to the debtor include: Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc.; Superior Telecom, Inc.; Morris Material Handling, Inc.; Todd Shipyards Corporation; Price Communications Corporation; Paul Harris Stores, Inc.; Lone Star Industries and its affiliates; LJ Hooker Corporation, Inc. and its affiliates, including Bonwit Teller and B. Altman; Trader Horn, Inc.; Ithaca Industries, Inc.; Reeves Industries Inc.; Lechters, Inc.; The Museum Company Inc.; and Provell, Inc. Jeffrey also represented the Chapter 11 Trustee appointed in Allegheny Health Education and Research Foundation, a multi- billion dollar healthcare insolvency.
Jeffrey has represented numerous investors and acquirors of financially distressed assets including Mauser-Werke in its acquisition of the assets of Russell-Stanley Corp. pursuant to a prepackaged plan of reorganization, Wycoff and Richmond University Medical Center in their acquisitions of three hospitals from St. Vincent’s Medical Center, and one of the co-proponents of the Olympia & York Chapter 11 Plan.
On the creditors' side, Jeffrey represented groups of U.S. Bondholders in opposing two Section 304 proceedings seeking recognition of Argentine restructuring, and represented ML Media in connection with its claims and joint venture interests in the Adelphia bankruptcy cases. He also was retained by the unsecured creditors committee in the Chapter 11 cases of LogoAthletic, Inc., Apex One, Inc. and Scoreboard Inc. He has also represented numerous other claimants, both secured and unsecured, in pursuing claims against debtors.
Jeffrey has represented major licensors in bankruptcy cases involving the sports industry, including SLM International; Fleer/Skybox; Pinnacle Brands Inc.; Starter Corporation; Genesis Direct, and Fruit of the Loom/Pro Player. Also, Jeffrey represented the National Hockey League in connection with the Chapter 11 case filed by the Pittsburgh Penguins and represents numerous professional sports leagues and teams in connection with insolvency related matters.
Finally, Jeffrey has been involved in numerous out-of-court loan restructurings.
Jeffrey is a member of the Bankruptcy and Reorganization Committee of the New York City Bar Association and is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Jeffrey is a 1983 graduate of New York Law School, where he was Articles Editor of the Law Review. He served as law clerk to the Honorable Edward J. Ryan, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Southern District of New York, from 1983 to 1985. Jeffrey is a frequent lecturer on bankruptcy matters.
Jeffrey frequently writes on bankruptcy topics and is the author of, among others, the following:
- Client Alert, “Dismiss That Lawsuit! Recent Delaware Governance Decisions Restrict Creditor Litigation Against Boards of Troubled Companies and Distressed Debt Investors” - June 2007
- “Executive Compensation, Reconciling Best Practices with § 503”, ABI NYC Bankruptcy Conference Materials, May 2007.
- Client Alert, “All’s Fair in Love, War and Restructuring: Solutia Bondholders Denied “Equal and Ratable” Lien Status - Implied Covenant of Good Faith Does Not Trump Explicit Indenture Provisions” - May 2007
- Client Alert, "Attack on Grid Interest: Adelphia Bankruptcy Court Denies Lenders' Claims" - May 2006
- “Restrictions Imposed on Use of Reorganization Plan Tools,” New York Law Journal, November 2005
- “Use and Misuse of U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in Foreign Restructurings,” Norton Bankruptcy Law Advisor, April 2005
- “In the Insolvency Zone; Corporate Distress Can Alter Fiduciary Duties for Boards and Directors,” Legal Times, April 2004
- “Recent Cases Interpret Section 363 'Free and Clear' Asset Sales Broadly,” New York Law Journal, August 2003
- “The Effect of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings on License Agreements,” The Licensing Journal, March and April 1999
- “Handling Intellectual Property Issues in Business Transactions: Strategies for the Business Lawyer," Practising Law Institute - Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, and Literary Property Course Handbook Series: Bankruptcy Issues in IP Transactions, May 1998
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