Joel Sher's Email & Phone

Joel I. Sher is chairman of the Firm and heads its bankruptcy and financial restructuring practice. He concentrates in corporate reorganization, creditors? rights and bankruptcy litigation. He represents debtors, creditors, and creditors? committees in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and counsels clients in complex out-of-court workouts. As experienced Court-appointed Trustee, he currently serves as the Chapter 11 Trustee in the reorganization of TMST, Inc., a mortgage lender formerly known as Thornburg Mortgage, Inc. He is also an accomplished commercial litigator and has represented clients in federal and state courts throughout the United States. Mr. Sher has extensive experience in bankruptcy and restructurings in a wide range of industries, including financial services, real estate development, construction management, health care, specialty retailing, governmental contracting, manufacturing and telecommunications. Mr. Sher has been involved in numerous complex bankruptcy cases throughout his career. These matters include his representation of the Combined Properties, a Washington D.C. based real estate portfolio, in its successful Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases which resulted from disputes among the Haft family. Mr. Sher has also served as counsel to a number of Chapter 7 Trustees, including in the cases of Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, Inc., a 1400-store national retail chain, Just For Feet, Inc., a 300-store national retail chain and Regency Homes, a regional real estate developer. Mr. Sher's experience includes representation of numerous businesses that have successfully reorganized under chapter 11, including financial service companies, real estate developers and general contractors, health care providers, publicly traded companies, restaurants and specialty retailers. Mr. Sher recently represented a regional developer and home builder in its successful Chapter 11 reorganization. He also served as counsel to Fieldstone Mortgage Company, a nationwide mortgage originator that emerged as an operating entity from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, as well as Luminent Mortgage Capital, Inc. in its successful Chapter 11 case. Recent engagements have also included his representation of a substantial creditor in the restructuring of National Amusements, Inc. Mr. Sher has acted as plan administrator and liquidating agent with respect to the management and disposition of an array of privately owned real estate and business interests in the United States, Australia, Spain, and the Netherlands. He has also been appointed as operating trustee/liquidating agent for a variety of businesses, including a national bottling company, numerous retail establishments, and real estate enterprises. Recently, Mr. Sher, in his capacity as a Court-appointed Chapter 11 Trustee, successfully reorganized a governmental services business with over 1100 employees nationwide and annual revenues in excess of $55 million. Mr. Sher has served as counsel to the creditors? committees in various cases including: Frank's Nursery and Crafts, Inc., a retail nursery and garden store chain; Sunterra Corporation, one of the world's largest timeshare companies; Railworks Corporation, a national supplier to and servicer of the railroad industry; PhyAmerica Physician Group, Inc., a national physician practice management company and Creditrust Corporation, a collector and manager of defaulted consumer receivables.