Deborah A. Reperowitz

Senior Counsel

dreperowitz@stradley.com

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Overview

Deborah Reperowitz combines 20 years of law firm practice with years of C-level experience at publicly traded companies to counsel and represent clients in bankruptcy, commercial litigation and related transactional matters. She also draws on her broad background to serve as a neutral arbitrator and mediator in commercial matters. Debbie brings a uniquely comprehensive perspective to assist companies in developing and executing on practical legal and business strategies, frequently in complex, high-stakes matters.

A nationally recognized bankruptcy and commercial litigation lawyer and an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) professional, Debbie provides clients with pragmatic, business-minded advice and representation.

She represents debtors, creditors and acquirors of assets, including stalking horse bidders, in bankruptcy cases. Her practice is focused upon complex cases, where she engages in litigation involving fraudulent transfer issues, debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing, fraud, lien avoidance/priority claims, plan confirmation and examiner/trustee appointments. Debbie also has a robust ADR practice, serving as a mediator and arbitrator in business disputes. She has served as a neutral in more than 100 commercial disputes involving such issues as business torts, breach of contract, defamation, directors and officers (D&O) insurance, and disputes arising in bankruptcy cases.

Previously, Debbie was senior vice president and chief litigation counsel at CIT Group, a publicly traded international financial services company, where she established and chaired the litigation and government investigations legal team, managing virtually all of the company’s litigation, bankruptcy cases and government actions. Debbie reported directly to the board of directors and worked closely with senior management to identify, prevent and mitigate litigation risk. She is a former general counsel of publicly traded financial adviser Fairholme Capital Management, where she worked closely with the fund adviser to three open-ended non-diversified mutual funds. She previously was a partner at a global law firm.


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Representative Matters

  • Represent chief financial officer in one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency trading platform bankruptcies.
  • Represented a senior living facility and skilled nursing facility in their Chapter 11 cases, including litigation to avoid collective bargaining agreement and sale of operations.
  • Served as the mediator in more than 80 disputes arising in large fraud and financial services bankruptcies.
  • Represented a lender in helicopter pilot school bankruptcy where the lender was accused by students in a putative class action and by multiple states’ attorneys general of engaging in lender liability-type actions.
  • Represented a national bank as a participant in a facility and stand-alone lender in a marine transportation company’s bankruptcy case.
  • Defended various lenders in putative class actions, qui tam actions and government inquiries and investigations involving alleged violations of various state and federal laws, including False Claims Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act and wiretapping laws.
  • Represented Japan’s ministry of finance in obtaining post-petition manufacture and delivery of a satellite from a bankrupt manufacturer.
  • In the largest energy company bankruptcy, blocked the debtors’ financing application, obtained appointment of examiner, and extricated subsidiary from the debtors’ global cash management system for certain purposes, resulting in the discovery of financial crimes and a larger distribution to the creditors of the extricated subsidiary.
  • Represented an aerospace company in its acquisition of a Chapter 11 debtor for $27 million.
  • Represented an international bank as indenture trustee in numerous cases, including representing the bank on creditors’ committees.
  • Represented regional banks in numerous matters, including lender liability and “fueling the fraud” cases.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its acquisition of financially troubled companies and its restructure of companies through bankruptcy.
  • Represented landlords in bankruptcy cases, including retail cases.
  • Represented a manufacturing company in successful out-of-court restructurings.
  • Represented an insurance company in defeating bankruptcy trustee’s attempt to compel the insurer to renew policies.
  • Represented two international restaurant franchisors in the bankruptcies of numerous franchisees.
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Credentials

Bar Admissions
  • New York
  • New Jersey
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Education
  • J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law
  • B.S., New York University
Memberships

  • Co-Chair, Banking and Financial Services Alliance, International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR)
  • AAA-ICDR Financial Advisory Committee
  • Turnaround Management Association
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Dispute Resolution Section, New York State Bar Association
  • Association of Commercial and Transactional ADR Professionals (ACT-ADR)
  • Mediation Registers, U.S. bankruptcy courts for the Eastern and Southern districts of New York
  • Panel of Commercial Mediators and Panel of Commercial Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association
  • Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, CPR

News

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Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, “The Uses and Abuses of Chatbots: Live Demo and Review of Ethics Rules,” New York State Bar Association Technology Committee (May 7, 2024)
  • Panelist, “Arbitrators and Mediators: How Much Freedom Do You Give or Take from Your Participants & A Mediator’s Freedom to Lie,” CPR Annual Meeting (March 8, 2024)
  • Panelist, “Drafting and Enforcing Assignments of Rent: Collateral vs. Absolute Assignments, Receiverships, Bankruptcy Issues,” Strafford CLE (February 20, 2024)
  • Presenter, “Technology Impacts Us All,” New York State Bar Association (October 25, 2023)
  • Presenter, “The Habits of Highly Effective Dispute Resolvers,” New York State Bar Association (September 20, 2023)
  • Panelist, “Current Issues and Trends in Arbitration in the Financial Services Industry,” CPR Arbitration Committee (May 18, 2023)
  • Presenter, “Introduction to AI: ‘Tech’ Session,” New York State Bar Association (May 2, 2023)
  • Moderator, “Cybersecurity – The Threats, The Issues, The Solutions,” New York State Bar Association (February 6, 2023)
  • Presenter, “Mediation: Nothing to Lose and So Much to Gain,” Celesq AttorneysEd Center (December 17, 2021)
  • Panelist, “The New Normal: Maintaining Your Network While Navigating the Future of Work,” Turnaround Management Association (TMA) NextGen (August 2021)
  • Panelist, “Managing the Onslaught of COVID-Triggered Financial Services Disputes – Is Arbitration the Solution?” New York State Bar Association Arbitration Committee (November 2020)
  • Panelist, “Areas of Growth in the Law,” Seton Hall Law School (October 21, 2020)
  • Panelist, “Use of Mediation in Madoff Cases,” CPR Banking & Financial Services Committee (October 2020)
  • Moderator, “We’re All in This Together – Let’s Mediate,” TMA (June 2020)
  • Moderator, “Innovative Financing and DIP Substitutes,” TMA Distressed Investing Conference (February 2020)
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Recognitions

  • Chambers USA (Nationwide: Mediators) (2022-24)
  • New York Super Lawyers (2018-19, 2021, 2023, 2024)
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In The Community

Debbie previously served as a member of the board of directors for Day One, a nonprofit providing education and guidance to New York City youth on dating abuse and domestic violence. She also was on the board of Integrity House, one of the largest nonprofit providers of substance use disorder treatment in New Jersey.
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