Financial Poise

About Michael Riela

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Michael Riela

Mike Riela is a partner in Tannenbaum Helpern’s Creditors’ Rights and Business Reorganization practice. With more than 15 years of experience, Mike advises companies on complex restructuring, distressed M&A, loan transactions and bankruptcy related litigation matters. Mike has in-depth experience in advising clients on corporate and real estate bankruptcies, workouts, Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, debtor-in-possession (DIP) and bankruptcy exit loan facilities, secondary market trading of distressed debt and trade claims, Section 363 sales and bankruptcy retention and fee agreements and disputes. His clients include banks, administrative agents, indenture trustees, hedge funds, private equity firms, professional services firms, trade creditors, contract counterparties, shareholders, debtors and investors.

Mike has represented buyers of assets in Section 363 and out-of-court sales from sellers such as Evergreen Solar, Inc., Sonic Telecommunications International, Ltd, Urban Communicators PCS Limited Partnership, US Aggregate, Inc., and Vectrix Corporation, as well as representing lenders, trustees and administrative agents in major Chapter 11 cases and workouts such as Delta Air Lines, Inc., Extended Stay Inc., Buffets Inc., Legends Gaming LLC, Nortel Networks, Premier International Holdings Inc., and many others.

Mike also works with clients on cybersecurity and data privacy issues, including the assessment and investigation of information security and data breach incidents. Before any data breaches occur, Mike prepares and helps clients implement written information security programs, systems access policies, and incident response plans. After clients suffer a breach, Mike assists with their response and advises on their legal duties, including clients’ duties under various security breach notification laws.

Prior to joining Tannenbaum Helpern, Mike was a shareholder at Vedder Price and was a counsel at Latham & Watkins. He has been recently selected to serve on the 2016 Bankruptcy editorial advisory board for the Law360 publication.

Mike can be reached at [email protected] or at 212.508.6773 or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-riela-9644658


Financial Poise Contributions

  • Data Breach Response: Before and After the Breach 2019 Webinar premiered on December 17, 2019 Webinar Series: Cyber Security & Data Privacy 2019
  • How to Build and Implement your Company's Information Security Program 2019 Webinar premiered on November 19, 2019 Webinar Series: Cyber Security & Data Privacy 2019
  • Introduction to EU General Data Protection Regulation: Planning, Implementation, and Compliance 2019 Webinar premiered on October 22, 2019 Webinar Series: Cyber Security & Data Privacy 2019
  • Contesting Confirmation Webinar premiered on May 21, 2019 Webinar Series: Bankruptcy Battle Royale 2019
  • Bad Debtor Owes Me Money! 2019 Webinar premiered on May 14, 2019 Webinar Series: Restructuring Insolvency & Troubled Companies 2019
  • Opportunity Amidst Crisis - Buying Distressed Assets, Claims, and Securities for Fun & Profit 2019 Webinar premiered on April 16, 2019 Webinar Series: Restructuring Insolvency & Troubled Companies 2019
  • Help, My Business is In Trouble! 2019 Webinar premiered on March 19, 2019 Webinar Series: Restructuring Insolvency & Troubled Companies 2019
  • Cash Collateral and DIP Loan Contests Webinar premiered on February 26, 2019 Webinar Series: Bankruptcy Battle Royale 2019