Daniel Shamah has joined Cooley’s New York office as a partner in the firm’s expanding business restructuring practice and global litigation department. He joins from O’Melveny & Myers, where he was a partner in the restructuring group and served as co-chair of the firm’s bankruptcy litigation practice. Shamah is widely recognized as one of the top restructuring attorneys in the US, known for his experience with restructuring and insolvency matters, as well as related complex commercial litigation, especially among leading financial institutions. His practice at Cooley will focus on bankruptcy, insolvency and lender liability matters, along with counseling the firm’s expansive client platform across a range of sectors and industries.
“Daniel is one of the industry’s most talented restructuring attorneys, and we could not be more thrilled to welcome him to the Cooley team,” said Cullen Speckhart, chair of Cooley’s business restructuring practice and partner in charge of the firm’s Washington, DC, office. “As our business restructuring practice continues to expand and thrive, Daniel’s impeccable judgment and unique experience bridging traditional restructuring and litigation work makes him a perfect fit for our team.”
“Daniel’s arrival marks yet another exciting step in the strategic investment we are making in our restructuring team and the overall growth of Cooley’s elite litigation practice,” said Mike Attanasio, chair of Cooley’s global litigation department. “His impressive track record advising companies and prominent financial institutions will greatly enhance our ability to meet current and future market demand across all aspects of insolvency proceedings, bankruptcy-related litigation and more.”
Throughout his career, Shamah has advised public and private companies in restructuring and related litigation matters. He also has represented major financial institutions, private equity sponsors and hedge funds in protecting their interests as institutional financial investors in special situations, navigating lender liability, addressing fraudulent conveyances, and advising on fiduciary duty and distressed debt investments. Shamah has represented clients at the center of some of the most widely publicized restructuring matters in the US and also has deep experience advising companies and financial institutions in cross-border insolvency and chapter 15 cases. He also previously served as a law clerk for the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York from 2008 to 2009.
“Having had firsthand experience working alongside several attorneys from Cooley, I am excited to join the amazing talent on this team and to be a part of a firm that truly prioritizes a collaborative culture and cross-functional approach to client service,” said Shamah. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to help innovative companies and financial clients as they grapple with critical challenges.”
Cooley’s business restructuring practice is among the most active corporate restructuring and bankruptcy practices in the US, with a reputation for providing forward-focused advice to clients with respect to business risk management and strategic implementation. The practice has experience in all aspects of in- and out-of-court restructurings for private and public companies, and guides clients in all aspects of insolvency proceedings, acquisitions, distressed M&A transactions and bankruptcy-related litigation. The team has handled thousands of insolvency-related disputes, contested matters and adversary proceedings in the past five years – including playing a significant role in some of the largest bankruptcy and out-of-court restructuring cases for Mallinckrodt, Enjoy Technology, Endo International, LTL Management (Johnson & Johnson), Packable, Ascena (Ann Taylor), Lord & Taylor, 24 Hour Fitness and JCPenney.