Joshua Raphael
Overview
Experience
Representative Matters
SIRVA — Representation of SIRVA Worldwide, Inc. and its affiliates in their out-of-court restructuring, which was supported by 100% of SIRVA’s lenders. SIRVA is a global leader in corporate relocation and moving services with 77 locations servicing over 190 countries. Pursuant to the restructuring transaction, SIRVA eliminated over $300 million of funded debt obligations and received $40 million in new capital.
Vyaire Medical, Inc. — Representation of Vyaire Medical, Inc. and certain of its affiliates in their prearranged Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Vyaire is a leading medical devices and services company with approximately $534 million in funded debt. Vyaire commenced the prearranged cases to conduct a sale process with a $45 million debtor-in-possession financing facility and the support of the vast majority of its secured lenders.
Careismatic Brands, LLC — Representation of Careismatic Brands, LLC and 21 of its affiliates (together, “Careismatic”) in their prearranged Chapter 11 restructuring in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Careismatic leads the $3 billion domestic medical scrubs market with a portfolio of 17 brands and dominant positions in the wholesale and online segments. The restructuring transactions, effectuated through an RSA with Careismatic’s key stakeholders, led to a net reduction of over $765 million in funded debt and provided a cash infusion through in-court financing for long-term, sustainable growth. On May 31, 2024, the company’s Chapter 11 plan of reorganization was confirmed with the unanimous support of its voting creditors. On June 13, 2024 the plan became effective.
WeWork, Inc. — Representation of WeWork, Inc. and its debtor affiliates — the leading global flexible space provider — in their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. With approximately $17 billion in funded debt and lease obligations at the time of filing and posing complex, novel issues of international, regulatory and foreign law, WeWork, with over 500 entities, is one of the largest jointly administered Chapter 11 cases in history. Through its Chapter 11 cases, WeWork was able to equitize all $4.3 billion of its funded indebtedness, right size its lease portfolio and reduce future obligations by $11 billion as the result of a pioneering strategy for rent negotiations, facilitate a global settlement with numerous stakeholders and navigate complex cross-border issues.
Rite Aid Corporation — Representation of Rite Aid Corporation (“Rite Aid”) and 119 of its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Rite Aid entered its Chapter 11 cases with $3.45 billion in debtor-in possession financing. Following months of negotiations including court-ordered mediation with all of Rite Aid’s key stakeholders, as well as several bet-the-company disputes and obtaining an additional $75 million in debtor-in-possession financing later in the cases, Rite Aid was able to delever its balance sheet by approximately $2 billion through a recapitalization transaction with its senior secured noteholders and resolve more than $2.5 billion in pending and threatened litigation. Rite Aid emerged from Chapter 11 on August 30, 2024 with $2.975 billion in committed exit financing, a new go-forward supply contract with McKesson (Rite Aid’s largest vendor and the provider of 98% of Rite Aid’s just-in-time prescriptions), settlement agreements or controlled substance injunctive terms with the Department of Justice and 15 states in which Rite Aid conducts business, and a leaner, more efficient real estate footprint.
West Marine, Inc. — Representation of West Marine, Inc. and its affiliates, the nation’s leading omnichannel provider in the marine aftermarket, in multiple transactions, including a comprehensive out-of-court restructuring of its existing capital structure supported by 100 percent of the Company’s existing lenders and its equity sponsor. The comprehensive transaction delevered the Company’s funded indebtedness by more than $500 million, provided the Company access to $125 million of new money term loan financing, and left trade claims unimpaired.
Learfield Communications, LLC — Representation of Learfield Communications, LLC and its affiliates, a leading media and technology company in the college sports market, in a nearly $1 billion out-of-court restructuring with unanimous support from Learfield’s existing lenders and equity sponsors. The transactions substantially delevered Learfield’s balance sheet and provided access to significant new money equity investments, strengthening Learfield’s financial and liquidity positions.
Celsius Network LLC — Representation of Celsius Network LLC and its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Celsius is one of the largest and most sophisticated cryptocurrency-based finance platforms in the world and provides financial services to institutional, corporate, and retail clients across more than 100 countries.
URS Parent Corporation — Representation of URS Parent Corporation, a leading vehicle transportation and logistics services provider, and certain of its affiliates in an out-of-court debt exchange and rights offering that eliminated $365 million of outstanding funded debt and raised new capital through an equity rights offering. The company obtained the support of 100% of the company’s lenders and its equity sponsor though a dual-track solicitation process, under which the company simultaneously solicited consents for an out-of-court debt exchange and votes in favor of a prepackaged restructuring.
Cineworld Group plc — Representation of Cineworld Group plc and 104 of its debtor affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange, Cineworld, the parent company of Regal Entertainment Group, is the second-largest cinema chain in the world, operating over 9,100 screens at nearly 750 cinemas in 10 countries worldwide. Cineworld commenced its Chapter 11 cases with approximately $5.1 billion in funded debt and commitments from an ad hoc group of prepetition lenders to provide nearly $2 billion in debtor-in-possession financing.
Clerk & Government Experience
Legal InternOffice of the New York State Attorney General, Investor Protection Bureau2020
Prior Experience
Law Clerk, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 2021–2022
Summer Associate, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 2021
Senior Consultant, IBM
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Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2023New York
Education
- New York University School of LawJ.D.cum laude2022
Robert McKay Scholar
Senior Notes Editor, NYU Journal of Law and Business
- Cornell UniversityB.S., Industrial & Labor Relations2017