Daniel Desatnik is a partner in the Business Solutions, Governance, Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group. He earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he graduated as a James Kent Scholar and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. His practice focuses on the representation of debtors, creditors’ committees, equity committees, and creditors in chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings.
Daniel is one of the core members of the Proskauer team representing the Financial Oversight and Management Board of Puerto Rico (FOMB) in its successful restructuring of Puerto Rico’s $74 billion debt load, lowering its liabilities by $33 billion and saving it over $50 billion in debt service payments. He played a key role in the $6 billion Title VI restructuring of the Governmental Development Bank’s debt. He currently plays a key role in the restructuring of the operations and over $9 billion of debt of Puerto Rico’s electric utility, PREPA.
Daniel was named to American Bankruptcy Institute’s 2023 Class of 40 Under 40, the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judge’s 2024 NextGen Class, and recognized by Best Lawyers in America in its "Ones to Watch" list in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. He has successfully argued precedent-setting cases before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in federal bankruptcy court. He has been featured on panels and podcasts on bankruptcy law topics, and his articles have been published in industry-leading outlets such as Debtwire and Reorg Research.
Prior to law school, Daniel earned a B.A. and M.A. in political science at Emory University. Daniel uses his political science background to understand how the legal and policy environment impact corporate restructuring efforts.
Daniel is a top-ranked competitive tennis player. As a junior, Daniel won several high profile and national-level tennis tournaments. Daniel played varsity tennis for Emory University and represented the United States in the 2017 Maccabiah Games held in Israel, earning wins over professionally ranked competition.
James Kent Scholar
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
Senior Digital Editor, Columbia Business Law Review
magna cum laude
American Bankruptcy Institute: Class of 40 Under 40 2023
National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges NextGen 2024
Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2021-2025