Otterbourg Launches Mass Tort Bankruptcy Practice Group

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Otterbourg P.C. announced today the launch of its Mass Tort Bankruptcy Practice Group. The move makes formal what had been treated as a highly-successful informal practice group within Otterbourg for the past few years.

The practice group advises and represents creditors and fiduciaries of creditors – including tort claimants, governmental units, official committees, ad hoc committees, future claimant representatives, and settlement trust trustees and committees – in anticipation of, during, and after plan confirmation of, bankruptcies involving substantial mass tort liabilities.

This cross-departmental practice group is led by Bankruptcy and Restructuring Partner Sunni P. Beville and Litigation Partner Adam C. Silverstein and receives, as it always has since Otterbourg entered the mass tort bankruptcy space, ongoing and invaluable input from Melanie Cyganowski, retired Chief Judge of the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York and Chair of Otterbourg’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Department.

Otterbourg is already firmly entrenched as a leader in this practice area, having played important roles in industry-shaping cases including In re LTL Management LLC; In re Aearo Technologies LLC, et al.; In re Purdue Pharma L.P., et al.; and In re Mallinckrodt PLC, et al.

“After working extensively on many of the biggest cases, we are excited to formally launch our Mass Tort Bankruptcy Practice Group to further expand our work in this growing practice area,” said Otterbourg chairman Richard L. Stehl. “Adam, Sunni and Melanie all have unusually broad experience that will enable them to successfully guide clients through these complex matters.”

When bankruptcy is filed, the group’s attorneys have the ability to immediately launch into action for clients to prepare pleadings, appear in court, and lead and coordinate with other represented creditor constituents to address the myriad immediate issues invariably raised by the debtor company. As the bankruptcy proceeds, the group’s attorneys have the know-how and collaboration skills to serve as counsel or co-counsel to individual creditors, official and ad hoc committees of tort and governmental claimant committees or representatives serving future claimants through plan confirmation and trust distributions. Post-plan confirmation, the group’s attorneys also can advise and represent settlement trust trustees and committees.

“We are thrilled to launch this new group and look forward to delivering unparalleled guidance and innovative solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs,” said Beville. “Since joining the firm earlier this year, I am confident in our ability to achieve success for our clients and make an impact across the industry.”

“I am honored and excited to lead with Sunni a talented, cross-departmental team committed to continuing Otterbourg’s standard of excellence in these cases,” Silverstein said. “This move reconfirms Otterbourg’s deep commitment to this area of law and further enables us to provide our clients the highest level of service.”

About Otterbourg P.C.

Otterbourg P.C. offers clients a unique combination of legal insight and practical solutions and is known for its integrity, legal expertise, stability and business knowledge. The firm, established in 1909, regularly represents clients in matters of national and international scope, including banks, finance companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, real estate investment firms, corporate clients and high net-worth individuals. The firm’s practice areas include domestic and cross-border financings, litigation and alternative dispute resolutions, real estate, restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, and trusts and estates.