Michael Riela 1

 

Michael J. Riela

Partner riela@thsh.com 212-508-6773 LinkedIn

Practice Areas

Areas of Focus

  • Creditors' Rights
  • Bankruptcy Reorganizations and Liquidations
  • Distressed M&A Transactions
  • Debtor-in-Procession (DIP) and Exit Loan Financing
  • Workouts
  • Bankruptcy Litigation
  • Cybersecurity and Privacy

Industries

Michael Riela 1

Michael J. Riela

Partner riela@thsh.com 212-508-6773 LinkedIn

Practice Areas

Areas of Focus

  • Creditors' Rights
  • Bankruptcy Reorganizations and Liquidations
  • Distressed M&A Transactions
  • Debtor-in-Procession (DIP) and Exit Loan Financing
  • Workouts
  • Bankruptcy Litigation
  • Cybersecurity and Privacy

Industries

Biography

Michael advises clients in complex corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, data privacy and cybersecurity matters. He is also an experienced general business attorney, advising clients in general corporate, finance and litigation matters, including negotiating and drafting complex commercial contracts.

Michael is a frequent author and speaker. The “Publications” and “Events” tabs highlight many of his recent articles and speaking engagements.

Creditors’ Rights & Business Reorganization and Insolvency Litigation

Michael has in-depth experience in advising clients in corporate and real estate Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, M&A transactions involving distressed sellers, debtor-in-possession (DIP) and bankruptcy exit loan facilities, secondary market trading of distressed debt and trade claims, and insolvency-related litigation. He has particular experience defending complex preference and fraudulent transfer cases, and with handling professional retention and fee dispute matters in bankruptcy cases. Michael focuses on helping clients minimize cost, delay and risk by developing and implementing out-of-court strategies when possible.

Michael’s clients primarily include distressed companies, officers and directors, indenture trustees, hedge funds, private equity firms, landlords, professional services firms (including major accounting firms), trade creditors, contract counterparties and shareholders.

Michael’s restructuring and bankruptcy practice spans across numerous different industries, though much of his recent work has been focused on the staffing, real estate, construction, retail, technology, and cannabis industries.

Michael is also a panel mediator in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern and Eastern District of New York and the District of Delaware.

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy

Michael assists clients identify, evaluate and manage risks associated with their data privacy and security practices. He advises clients on various U.S. federal and state privacy and data security laws and rules, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the New York State Department of Financial Services cybersecurity regulation, HIPAA, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and state data breach notification laws. He also advises clients with respect to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and with respect to cross-border data transfers.

Michael helps clients evaluate their data security risks, and prepares and helps clients implement security documentation, including written information security programs, systems access policies and incident response plans. After a data breach occurs, Michael assists clients in addressing legal, operational and reputational risks arising from the breach.

Michael is a Certified Information Privacy Professional / United States Private Sector (CIPP/US), a Certified Information Privacy Professional / Europe (CIPP/E) and a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), which are designations awarded by The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Michael is an active volunteer in the community, serving as a Cub Scout leader and a Little League baseball coach. He also serves on the board of directors of the Edgemont School Foundation and is a member of the Career Committee of the University of Michigan Alumni Association of New York City.

  • Distressed companies in out-of-court workouts and Chapter 11 cases, including:
    • FLAG Telecom Holdings Limited
    • Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc.
    • Solutia Inc.
    • SOMS Technologies LLC
    • Numerous out-of-court workouts
  • Lender groups, indenture trustees and administrative agents in major Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court workouts, including:
    • Atrium Corporation
    • Berkline/Benchcraft, LLC
    • Buffets Inc.
    • Delta Air Lines Inc.
    • Extended Stay Inc.
    • J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc.
    • Legends Gaming LLC
    • Maher Terminals LLC
    • Nortel Networks Inc.
    • Pacific Energy Resources Ltd.
    • Premier International Holdings Inc.
    • Siméus Foods International, Inc.
  • Financial institutions as secured lenders in bankruptcies and state law remedies involving defaulted equipment financing arrangements.
  • Purchasers and sellers in distressed and non-distressed M&A transactions, including the following transactions:
    • Evergreen Solar, Inc.
    • SOMS Technologies LLC
    • Sonic Telecommunications International, Ltd.
    • Urban Communicators PCS Limited Partnership
    • U.S. Aggregates, Inc.
    • Vectrix Corporation
  • Lenders in connection with debtor-in-possession (DIP) and exit loan facilities.
  • Secured lenders in connection with foreclosure actions and in connection with credit-bidding for their collateral.
  • Defendants in litigation matters in jurisdictions throughout the United States, including:
    • American Home Mortgage
    • Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC.
    • Champion Enterprises
    • Federation Employment and Guidance Service, Inc.
    • First Magnus Financial Corp.
    • HomeBanc Mortgage Corp.
    • The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.
  • Professional services firms in bankruptcy retention and fee litigation matters in bankruptcy cases throughout the United States.
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Delphi Corporation et al.Chapter 11 cases.
  • Servicers and master servicers in dozens of Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 cases involving defunct residential mortgage originators.

College:

  • University of California at Los Angeles (Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics and Minor in Accounting 1998)

Law School:

  • University of Michigan Law School (JD 2001)
  • Vedder Price P.C.
  • Latham & Watkins LLP
  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Professional:

  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals
  • New York City Bar Association (Member of the Standing Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization)
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Turnaround Management Association
  • State of New York
  • State of New Jersey
  • State of California
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of New York, District of New Jersey, Central and Northern Districts of California, and Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal for the Second and Third Circuits
  • Rising Stars - Super Lawyers: 2016
  • NY Metro Super Lawyers: 2018-2021

Case Studies

Sorry, there are no Case Studies related to this Attorney.

Publications

News

Events

Michael advises clients in complex corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, data privacy and cybersecurity matters. He is also an experienced general business attorney, advising clients in general corporate, finance and litigation matters, including negotiating and drafting complex commercial contracts.

Michael is a frequent author and speaker. The “Publications” and “Events” tabs highlight many of his recent articles and speaking engagements.

Creditors’ Rights & Business Reorganization and Insolvency Litigation

Michael has in-depth experience in advising clients in corporate and real estate Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, M&A transactions involving distressed sellers, debtor-in-possession (DIP) and bankruptcy exit loan facilities, secondary market trading of distressed debt and trade claims, and insolvency-related litigation. He has particular experience defending complex preference and fraudulent transfer cases, and with handling professional retention and fee dispute matters in bankruptcy cases. Michael focuses on helping clients minimize cost, delay and risk by developing and implementing out-of-court strategies when possible.

Michael’s clients primarily include distressed companies, officers and directors, indenture trustees, hedge funds, private equity firms, landlords, professional services firms (including major accounting firms), trade creditors, contract counterparties and shareholders.

Michael’s restructuring and bankruptcy practice spans across numerous different industries, though much of his recent work has been focused on the staffing, real estate, construction, retail, technology, and cannabis industries.

Michael is also a panel mediator in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern and Eastern District of New York and the District of Delaware.

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy

Michael assists clients identify, evaluate and manage risks associated with their data privacy and security practices. He advises clients on various U.S. federal and state privacy and data security laws and rules, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the New York State Department of Financial Services cybersecurity regulation, HIPAA, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and state data breach notification laws. He also advises clients with respect to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and with respect to cross-border data transfers.

Michael helps clients evaluate their data security risks, and prepares and helps clients implement security documentation, including written information security programs, systems access policies and incident response plans. After a data breach occurs, Michael assists clients in addressing legal, operational and reputational risks arising from the breach.

Michael is a Certified Information Privacy Professional / United States Private Sector (CIPP/US), a Certified Information Privacy Professional / Europe (CIPP/E) and a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), which are designations awarded by The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Michael is an active volunteer in the community, serving as a Cub Scout leader and a Little League baseball coach. He also serves on the board of directors of the Edgemont School Foundation and is a member of the Career Committee of the University of Michigan Alumni Association of New York City.

  • Distressed companies in out-of-court workouts and Chapter 11 cases, including:
    • FLAG Telecom Holdings Limited
    • Freedom Communications Holdings, Inc.
    • Solutia Inc.
    • SOMS Technologies LLC
    • Numerous out-of-court workouts
  • Lender groups, indenture trustees and administrative agents in major Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court workouts, including:
    • Atrium Corporation
    • Berkline/Benchcraft, LLC
    • Buffets Inc.
    • Delta Air Lines Inc.
    • Extended Stay Inc.
    • J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc.
    • Legends Gaming LLC
    • Maher Terminals LLC
    • Nortel Networks Inc.
    • Pacific Energy Resources Ltd.
    • Premier International Holdings Inc.
    • Siméus Foods International, Inc.
  • Financial institutions as secured lenders in bankruptcies and state law remedies involving defaulted equipment financing arrangements.
  • Purchasers and sellers in distressed and non-distressed M&A transactions, including the following transactions:
    • Evergreen Solar, Inc.
    • SOMS Technologies LLC
    • Sonic Telecommunications International, Ltd.
    • Urban Communicators PCS Limited Partnership
    • U.S. Aggregates, Inc.
    • Vectrix Corporation
  • Lenders in connection with debtor-in-possession (DIP) and exit loan facilities.
  • Secured lenders in connection with foreclosure actions and in connection with credit-bidding for their collateral.
  • Defendants in litigation matters in jurisdictions throughout the United States, including:
    • American Home Mortgage
    • Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC.
    • Champion Enterprises
    • Federation Employment and Guidance Service, Inc.
    • First Magnus Financial Corp.
    • HomeBanc Mortgage Corp.
    • The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.
  • Professional services firms in bankruptcy retention and fee litigation matters in bankruptcy cases throughout the United States.
  • The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Delphi Corporation et al.Chapter 11 cases.
  • Servicers and master servicers in dozens of Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 cases involving defunct residential mortgage originators.

College:

  • University of California at Los Angeles (Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics and Minor in Accounting 1998)

Law School:

  • University of Michigan Law School (JD 2001)
  • Vedder Price P.C.
  • Latham & Watkins LLP
  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Professional:

  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals
  • New York City Bar Association (Member of the Standing Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization)
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Turnaround Management Association
  • State of New York
  • State of New Jersey
  • State of California
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of New York, District of New Jersey, Central and Northern Districts of California, and Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal for the Second and Third Circuits
  • Rising Stars - Super Lawyers: 2016
  • NY Metro Super Lawyers: 2018-2021

Sorry, there are no Case Studies related to this Attorney.

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