Matthew Kertz is a partner with Genova Burns LLC and chair of its the commercial leasing specialty group. — Courtesy: Genova Burns
By Joshua Burd
Genova Burns LLC has launched a new task force to focus on distressed real estate assets, as clients navigate growing concerns around lending, banking and bankruptcy.
To that end, the Newark-based firm said it was drawing on attorneys from multiple disciplines who have already guided property owners through disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering effects. Those practice areas include:
- Debt restructuring
- Commercial landlord and tenant workouts and dispute resolution
- Banking and commercial lending
- Lease restructuring
- Mezzanine loan transactions
- Debt restructuring
- Equity financing transactions
- Cross-jurisdictional transactions
- Bankruptcy management and litigation
“A task force like this involves our commercial leasing group, our lending group with the banks and bankruptcy,” said Matthew Kertz, a Genova Burns partner and chair of the commercial leasing specialty group. “That’s the troika here. Combining all three of these things is important to create a one-stop shop for people having problems, whether it’s a loan issue, bankruptcy, leasing, etc.”
The firm is well-versed in large bankruptcy cases, having been appointed local counsel in the litigation around Johnson & Johnson talc products, according to a news release. Its bankruptcy law team currently represents more than 20 landlords impacted by the recent WeWork Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, with Genova attorneys Don Clarke, Dan Stolz and Sydney Schubert counseling the individuals as the shared space giant faces a litany of proceedings.
“In today’s market, it is important for businesses to have options,” said Angelo J. Genova, the firm’s chairman. “Our familiarity with these combined specialties will give clients options other than filing bankruptcy petitions, which no one wants.”
