QUINN EMANUEL LAUNCHES LITIGATION-FOCUSED SPECIAL SITUATIONS GROUP

Susheel Kirpalani—expert in complex restructurings, insolvencies, and high-stakes litigation—to lead newly-formed group focused on emerging risks

Benjamin I. Finestone and James C. Tecce to succeed Kirpalani as co-leaders of firm's Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, the global litigation powerhouse, today announced the formation of its Special Situations Group, a dynamic and interdisciplinary practice group created to meet the needs of companies, equity sponsors, and creditors seeking a better understanding of real-world litigation scenarios, as well as practical solutions and guidance in making informed decisions. Susheel Kirpalani, founder and former head of the firm's Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group, will lead the newly established team. James C. Tecce and Benjamin I. Finestone will assume leadership of the firm's Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group.

The Special Situations Group will counsel clients when crisis and uncertainty from specific events, macro-economic conditions, or other non-operational challenges create novel risks or opportunities for companies and investors. The new group will draw from Quinn Emanuel's preeminent restructuring, securities, M&A, general commercial, and appellate litigation practices to support transactional firms and their clients in providing advice, often before business and financial challenges develop into disputes.

Kirpalani brings unmatched experience and insight to this new role. His reputation for creativity and advocacy in creditors' rights is highlighted by his roles in landmark cases such as Enron Corp. and Refco Group Ltd. His notable representations include serving as the Court-appointed examiner and mediator in Dynegy, representing statutory creditors' committees in RadioShack, SemCrude, and Sentinel, and acting as conflicts counsel to estate fiduciaries in Voyager Digital, J. Crew, and Lehman Brothers, among others. Kirpalani has extensive experience in international insolvencies, including leading engagements for Fisker Automotive's auction and litigation, for OGX, OSX, and OAS in the U.S. aspects of their Brazil judicial recovery proceedings, and for the Joint Liquidators of the Kingate Global and Euro Funds in the SIPC proceeding against Bernard L. Madoff's defunct firm.

"I am excited to lead this initiative and support our clients in assessing and navigating novel risks—an area I have dedicated my career to," said Kirpalani. "When we started the bankruptcy practice, few felt that a litigation-only firm could be relevant in what had traditionally been a practice area reserved for transactional firms.  But I felt then that there was a market-place need for us, and I feel the same way with special situations. For example, Quinn Emanuel has extensive experience litigating all facets of liability management exercises and providing behind-the-scenes strategic counsel as the market continues to adapt to new norms. Our talented team brings lessons from the front lines to deliver for our clients."

"Susheel is one of a handful of elite restructuring lawyers. His deep understanding of restructuring and crisis management challenges makes him uniquely suited to lead the Special Situations Group," said Michael B. Carlinsky, Global Co-Managing Partner and Head of Complex Litigation at Quinn Emanuel. "From representing parties in numerous first-ever situations, like Enron, Lehman, and Puerto Rico, to defending corporate decisions made on the eve of the Great Recession, in the wake of the global pandemic, and in the face of regulatory pressure on the crypto industry, his wealth of experience will drive the success of this new practice group."

Anna Deknatel, Benjamin I. Finestone, Daniel Holzman, Anil Makhijani, Victor Noskov, Andrew J. Rossman, Matthew Scheck, and James C. Tecce will join Kirpalani as part of Quinn Emanuel's Special Situations Group.

Quinn Emanuel is a 1000+ lawyer business litigation firm—the largest in the world devoted solely to business litigation and arbitration with 36 global office locations. Surveys of major companies around the world have named it the "most feared" law firm in the world three times. Firm lawyers have tried over 2,500 cases, winning 86% of them. When representing defendants, Quinn Emanuel's trial experience gets better settlements or defense verdicts. When representing plaintiffs, Quinn Emanuel lawyers have won nearly $80 billion in judgments and settlements. Quinn Emanuel has also obtained seven nine-figure jury verdicts, four 10-figure jury verdicts, 51 nine-figure settlements, and 20 10-figure settlements.

Quinn Emanuel has been named the No. 1 "most feared" law firm by The BTI Consulting Group three times in its annual "Most Feared Law Firms in Litigation" guide, in which in-house counsel named 46 firms they "want to steer clear of" when it comes to litigation. The American Lawyer named Quinn Emanuel the top IP litigation firm in the U.S. and the firm as one of the top six commercial litigation firms in the country. The UK legal periodical, The Lawyer named us "International Firm of the Year." Law360 has most recently selected us as having Securities and Cyber Security & Privacy "Practice Groups of the Year." Managing IP twice recognized us as having the "Best ITC Litigation Practice" and honored us with the "Patent Contentious West" award. Legal Business has named us "US Law Firm of the Year" three times, and our German offices have twice been named both "IP Litigation Firm of the Year" and "Patent Litigation Firm of the Year" by JUVE, Germany's most prestigious legal publication. Global Investigations Review, a leading legal periodical covering global white-collar investigations, named us the "Most Impressive Investigations Practice of the Year." Global Arbitration Review named us one of the top 10 best arbitration practices in the world. Global Competition Review named our antitrust and competition practice among the "25 Global Elite," and has included us in their list of the world's top 10 competition litigation practices. 

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SOURCE Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP