Partner Deryck Palmer Named Co-Chair of Cadwalader’s Financial Restructuring Department

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, one of the world’s leading law firms, announced that Deryck A. Palmer has been named Co-Chairman of the firm’s Financial Restructuring Department, joining colleague Bruce R. Zirinsky in managing the 65-member team of lawyers.

“We are very pleased that Deryck is assuming a prominent management role at the firm. The larger and more diverse and dispersed Cadwalader becomes, the more we rely on our department leaders to integrate people and practices and capitalize upon growth. Deryck has all of the qualities we look for in a leader and, on behalf of our management team, we look forward to working with him and Bruce to continue to enhance the restructuring platform in all of our offices,” said Christopher White, the Chairman of Cadwalader and the Co-Chairman of the firm’s Corporate Department.

“I have known Deryck for many years, having hired him many years ago at Weil Gotshal and having played a significant role in encouraging him to join Cadwalader. Not only do I respect his legal expertise and enjoy working with him, but I know that he will bring to bear tremendous skills in practice development, client management, and associate development.” said Mr. Zirinsky, Co-Chairman of the Financial Restructuring Department. “We make a great team.”

Mr. Palmer noted “I am honored at the trust that Cadwalader and my colleague and mentor Bruce Zirinsky have placed in me. I have learned much over the years from Bruce, who is an astute lawyer and compelling leader, and look forward to working with him and all of our financial restructuring partners as we chart a strategic vision for our team in the U.S., the UK and Asia.”

Mr. Palmer concentrates his practice in the representation of debtors as well as creditors under chapter 11, and has handled a wide variety of workout, corporate restructuring, and bankruptcy matters. He also has significant experience in Chinese commercial transactions and played a key role in advising on China’s new bankruptcy code prior to its enactment into law, a development which is expected to open the Asian markets to even further adoption of Western finance techniques. Recognized by Turnarounds and Workouts as one of the nation’s top “Outstanding Bankruptcy Lawyers,” Mr. Palmer serves as the Co-Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Business Bankruptcy Committee’s Healthcare Working Group and is a member of both the New York State Bar Association Committee on Bankruptcy and Committee on Courts and the Community. He is also a former member of the Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He lectures at many of the major law schools nationwide and is an Adjunct Professor of Law, teaching advanced topics in bankruptcy and corporate reorganization, at New York Law School. The co-author of History of Bankruptcy Law in the Second Circuit (Matthew Bender & Co., 1995) and Restructuring: The Search for Value in a Troubled Enterprise (Euromoney Books, 1993), he is also the co-author of a forthcoming treatise on China’s new bankruptcy law.

Mr. Palmer is a member of the Bureau of National Affairs Advisory Board for the Bankruptcy Law Reporter and sits on the Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Harbor, Inc., Insol International, Greater New York Councils Boy Scouts of America, Maplewood Village Alliance, Syracuse University, and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. Mr. Palmer received his B.A. from Syracuse University and his J.D. from the University of Michigan. He recently received the Chancellor’s Citation for Exceptional Achievement from Syracuse University, which recognizes outstanding contributions in scholarship, research, teaching, and creative work.

About Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, established in 1792, is one of the world's leading international law firms, with offices in New York, London, Charlotte, Washington and Beijing. Cadwalader serves a diverse client base, including many of the world's top financial institutions, undertaking business in more than 50 countries in six continents. The firm offers legal expertise in antitrust, banking, business fraud, corporate finance, corporate governance, environmental, healthcare, insolvency, insurance and reinsurance, intellectual property, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, private client, private equity, real estate, regulation, securitization, structured finance, and tax. More information about Cadwalader can be found at www.cadwalader.com.