Robert J. Feinstein is the managing partner of the firm’s New York office. He represents debtors, creditors’ committees, equity committees, acquirers, and examiners in business reorganizations and related litigation. He also has experience representing debtors, committees, foreign representatives, and other case constituencies in crossborder chapter 11 cases and chapter 15 cases. Recent engagements include lead counsel to the creditors’ committees in the chapter 11 cases of J. Crew, Whiting Petroleum, Ascena Retail Group, Ditech, Jevic Transportation, the Weinstein Company, Open Road Films, Cobalt International Energy, Bon-Ton Stores, A&P, Sports Authority, Aeropostale, AMF Bowling Worldwide, Reddy Ice Corporation, Coach Transportation and Circuit City Stores; and conflicts counsel to the creditors’ committees appointed in the ResCap and Chrysler LLC cases. On the debtor side, he represented Digital Domain Media Group, boxer Mike Tyson, and General Media (publisher of Penthouse magazine) in their chapter 11 cases. His crossborder representations include the Canadian receiver for Blockbuster Canada in its chapter 15 case the Canadian monitor in the Essar Steel case.
Rob is an adjunct professor in the LL.M. Bankruptcy Program at St. John’s University School of Law, associate editor of the Norton Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, contributing editor of Norton Bankruptcy Law and Practice 2d, has authored numerous articles, and frequently lectures on bankruptcy topics. He holds an “AV Preeminent Peer Rating,” Martindale-Hubbell‘s highest recognition for ethical standards and legal ability, and is ranked among Bankruptcy/Restructuring attorneys by Chambers USA. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law every year since 2018. Additionally, he was listed by The Lawdragon as one of the 2023 and 2022 “500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers” and one of the 2020 “500 Leading Global Restructuring & Insolvency Lawyers.” He is a graduate of Lafayette College and received his J.D. (magna cum laude) from Boston University School of Law.
Education
- Lafayette College (A.B. 1978)
- Boston University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1981)
Bar and Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- 1982, New York
- 1982, Massachusetts
- Creditors’ committees in Aeropostale; AMF Bowling Worldwide; Agway; Ascena Retail Group; Barneys New York; BCBG Max Azria; Berry-Hill Galleries (Coram Capital); Bon-Ton Stores; Brooke Corporation; Chinos Holdings (J.Crew); Christopher & Banks; Chrysler (conflicts counsel); Cinemex; Circle Fine Art Corp.; Circuit City Stores; Coach America; Cobalt International Energy; CraftWorks; Ditech; Earth Fare; Empire Beef; ERG Resources; Fairway Market; Flying J; Foss Manufacturing; Frank Parsons, Inc.; Freedom Communications (2015); Foodfirst Global Restaurants; Frank Theatres; Freedom Communications (2009); Gas City; Goodrich Quality Theaters; Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P); Gymboree (2019); Haggen Holdings; Hollander Sleep Products; International Shipholding; Irving Tanning ; Jevic Holding; JHT Holdings; Loews Cineplex Entertainment; Lou Pearlman and Trans Continental Airlines; Movie Gallery Inc. I and II; Namco LLC; National Envelope; Neff Corporation; Open Road Films; Palm Harbor Homes; Payless Holdings (I and II),Pennsylvania Fashions; Reddy Ice; Residential Capital (conflicts counsel); Salander O’Reilly Galleries; Shopko; Signal International; Sports Authority; Studio Movie Grill; Strauss Discount Auto; Wehrenberg Theaters; The Weinstein Company; Whiting Petroleum
- Equity security holders’ committee in Tuesday Morning
- Ad hoc movie studio committee in the Blockbuster chapter 11 case, Ad hoc committee of EFIH second lien holders in the Energy Future bankruptcy (conflicts counsel)
- Chapter 11 debtors in Penthouse Magazine publisher General Media (named one of the “Top 10 Successful Restructurings of 2004” by Turnarounds & Workouts); boxer Mike Tyson; Dice (named one of the “Top 10 Successful Restructurings of 2003” by Turnarounds & Workouts); Digital Domain Media; ACandS; Hvide Marine; Venture Stores; Hexcel Corporation; Dana Corporation (conflicts counsel)
- Receiver for Blockbuster Canada in chapter 15 case; Canadian monitor in Essar Steel case
- Examiner appointed in Ralph Esmerian and R. Esmerian, Inc. chapter 11 cases
- Equity holder in Elite Model Management
- Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy
- Vice chair (2015-16), co-chair (2016-), International Bar Association Insolvency Section Reorganization & Workouts Subcommittee
- Member, International Insolvency Institute
- Member, Bar Association of the City of New York Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization (2008-11)
American Bankruptcy Institute, International Bar Association, Norton Bankruptcy Institute, St. John’s University School of Law, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Turnaround Management Association,
“Second Circuit Review,” Norton Bankruptcy Law Advisor (1992-2020); “Charitable Hospitals in Chapter 11,” 1999 Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law 25 (1999/2000); co-author with I. Scharf, “Update on the Role of Examiners in Chapter 11 Cases,” 2004 Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law 421 (2004); co-author, “LBO Litigation, Financial Projections and the Chapter 11 Plan Process,” 21 Seton Hall Law Review 559 (1999)
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