Michael R. Handler

• Representation of an ad hoc group of minority term lenders in connection with the chapter 11 cases of American Tire in the District of Delaware.
• Representation of Blue Torch in respect of its senior secured term loan holdings (and stalking horse credit bid and DIP financing) in connection with the chapter 11 cases of Troika Media Group in the Southern Disrtrict of New York.
• Representation of Capital One in connection with the amend and extend of the Prime REIT and KBS REIT III credit facilities.
• Representation of BC Partners, as lead arranger, in the financing and recapitalization of Riddell.
• Representation of Bittrex Global in connection with the chapter 11 cases of its affiliate Bittrex US in the District of Delaware.
• Representing Archegos Capital Management and the Archegos Fund, a multibillion dollar family office, in connection with its liquidation and winddown.
• Represented Pareteum Corporation and its affiliated debtors as special corporate and finance counsel in connection with their Chapter 11 cases in the Southern District of New York.
• Represented Joerns Healthcare, LLC in connection with its incremental priority lien financing transaction
• Represented Goldman Sachs Bank USA as senior lender and DIP lender in connection with the Chapter 11 case of ORG GC Midco, LLC, the parent company of GC Services, in the Southern District of Texas and out-of-court restructuring of its non-debtor affiliates.
• Represented Man GLG as senior lender, DIP lender and exit lender in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc. and its affiliated debtors in the District of Delaware.
• Represented an ad hoc group of term lenders in connection with a maturity extension amendment for Outerstuff LLC.
• Represented an ad hoc group of minority term loan lenders and DIP lenders in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of Ascena Retail Group, Inc. in the Eastern District of Virginia
• Represented an ad hoc group of term loan lenders in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of Production Resource Group, L.L.C. and certain of its affiliates.
• Represented an ad hoc group of term loan lenders and DIP lenders in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of APC Automotive Technologies LLC in the District of Delaware
• Represented Cardone Industries in connection with its out-of-court restructuring
• Represented an ad hoc group of term loan lenders and DIP lenders in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. and its affiliated debtors filed in the Southern District of New York
• Represented Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group, as the sole term loan lender and DIP lender, in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of Gymboree Group, Inc., and its affiliated debtors filed in the Eastern District of Virginia.
• Represented an ad hoc group of term loan lenders in the Chapter 11 cases of Joerns Healthcare, LLC, and its affiliated debtors filed in the District of Delaware.
• Represented a cross-over secured and unsecured term loan lender group in the Chapter 11 cases of Nine West Holdings, Inc. and its affiliated debtors filed in the Southern District of New York.
• Represented an ad hoc group of term lenders in connection with a maturity extension amendment for MoneyGram International Inc.
• Represented an ad hoc group of term loan lenders in the Chapter 11 cases of Charlotte Russe, Inc. and its affiliated debtors in the Chapter 11 cases filed in the District of Delaware.
• Represented Global Brokerage, Inc. and its affiliated debtors in its Chapter 11 cases filed in the Southern District of New York.
• Represented the ad hoc first lien term loan committee in the Chapter 11 cases of Payless Holdings LLC and its affiliated debtors filed in the Eastern District of Missouri.
• Represented UBS AG, as agent for the second lien term loan lenders, in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of The Brock Group.
• Represented Jack Cooper Enterprises, Inc. (“JCEI”) and Jack Cooper Holdings Corp. (“JCHC”) in connection with its refinancing and exchange (with a stapled prepackaged chapter 11 plan of reorganization) of JCEI’s 10.50%/11.25% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2019 and JCHC’s 9.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2020.
• Represented Invesco and Octagon Credit Investors in the Chapter 11 cases of DACCO Transmission Parts (NY), Inc and its affiliated debtors filed in the Southern District of New York.
• Represented a group of equity holders in connection with the Chapter 11 Cases of GMG, Inc. and its affiliated debtor filed in the Southern District of New York.
• Represented Ascribe Capital Management and Gates Capital Management, Inc. in ION Geophysical’s refinancing and exchange of its 8.125% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2018.
• Represented multiple brokerage creditors in connection with the Chapter 11 Cases and SIPA Case of MF Global filed in the Southern District of New York.

Michael Handler focuses on representing lenders and bondholders across the capital structure and companies in all aspects of workout, restructuring, special situation financing matters and distressed M&A transactions. Michael also has significant experience in connection with investment manager and broker-dealer liquidations and wind-downs, private credit restructurings and insolvency-related structured finance matters.

Michael is at the forefront of intercreditor litigation and related issues, having led significant contested matters concerning the protection of minority lender rights in the American Tire, Ascena Retail Group, Inc. and 24 Hour Fitness chapter 11 cases and the Boardriders, Inc. litigation in New York Supreme Court. Michael is a leading authority on intercreditor issues, and is regularly featured by Bloomberg, WSJ, Debtwire, among others, to provide insights.

Michael has been recognized by the American Bankruptcy Institute as a member of the 2024 “40 Under 40” Emerging Leaders in Insolvency Practice, Financier Worldwide as a 2024 Distinguished Advisors, Turnarounds & Workouts as a 2023 Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer and by Best Lawyers Ones to Watch for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Michael also devotes significant time and resources in support of New York philanthropic initiatives, including as an active fundraiser for Tina’s Wish, Her Justice, and the UJA Federation of New York (as a member of the UJA’s NextGen Bankruptcy & Restructuring Committee). Michael earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in history, summa cum laude, from Emory University and his law degree, cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law, where he served as an Executive Articles Editor of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology.