Robert represents distressed companies, significant creditor constituencies, and related parties in complex and high-stakes corporate and public sector restructurings. He is creative and pragmatic in developing case strategy but also prepared to aggressively leverage litigation positions as needed to advance his clients’ goals. His clients appreciate his insight and informed guidance in crafting strategies that account for the numerous competing interests and motivations of various stakeholders in distressed situations. 

Robert has led private sector restructuring engagements in a broad range of industries, including energy, telecommunications, automotive/manufacturing, real estate, gaming and hospitality, media and entertainment, retail, and aviation. Among his clients are distressed companies, independent directors, ad hoc and official creditors’ and retirees’ committees, pension systems, secured and unsecured creditors, distressed-asset investors, lessors, trustees and liquidating agents. He has also served as a federal court receiver in an enforcement action by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Additionally, Robert provides effective transactional advice regarding contractual risk management, agile counsel in matters involving supply chain distress, and skilled litigation representation, including in matters involving liability management transactions, fraudulent transfer actions, preference actions and other commercial and bankruptcy-related matters. 

Among his engagements in public sector restructurings, Robert played a central role in the two largest in-court restructuring cases in U.S. history, having represented the Detroit Retirement Systems in the City of Detroit bankruptcy (holding claims of $6 billion) and the Official Retiree Committee in the bankruptcy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (holding claims of $58 billion).

Robert's recent experience includes:

  • Served as lead counsel to the Official Committee of Retirees in the restructuring proceedings for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, representing the interests of 167,000 public-sector retirees who, along with active employees, are owed approximately $58 billion in connection with the funding of their accrued pensions
  • Represented a special committee of independent directors of Intelsat (Luxembourg) S.A. in the highly complex and contentious Chapter 11 bankruptcy of global satellite communications provider Intelsat S.A. and 35 affiliated debtors, successfully restructuring $14 billion of debt
  • Represented a special committee of independent members of upstream oil and gas company Bruin E&P Partners, LLC regarding various issues in connection with the negotiation of a restructuring support agreement and prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy that restructured $1 billion of funded debt
  • Represented debtor owner of high-end mixed-use real estate development in Manhattan in successful single-asset real estate (SARE) chapter 11 bankruptcy, restructuring in excess of $100 million of debt
  • Served as special restructuring counsel to the Detroit Retirement Systems in the City of Detroit’s landmark Chapter 9 bankruptcy case
  • Served as counsel to the Official Committee of Retirees in the Chapter 11 proceedings for Tupperware Brands Corporation

  • University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
  • University of Michigan, B.A.

Bars

  • New York
  • Illinois
  • Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals: First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals: Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals: Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals: Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court: Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court: Southern District of New York

Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2010-2026); Litigation - Bankruptcy (2019-2026)

Legal 500, Finance, Restructuring (including Bankruptcy); Corporate (2018)

Lawdragon 500 - Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers Guide (2024-2025)

New York Metro Super Lawyers (2024)

Member, American Bankruptcy Institute, NYC Bankruptcy Conference Advisory Board (2018-2022)

Member, Turnaround Management Association (Former Director, Detroit Chapter)

UJA-Federation of New York, Restructuring Industry Event - Executive Committee