International law firm BCLP has hired restructuring partner Justin Winerman in Chicago, adding to its Financial Restructuring & Insolvency Practice as the firm continues to build out bankruptcy and cross-border restructuring capabilities.
Winerman joins after 17 years at Skadden, where he advised on complex corporate restructurings across multiple industries, including health care, financial services, airlines, energy, and media. His experience spans both court-supervised and out-of-court matters, including Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 cases, distressed transactions, and corporate workouts.
BCLP leaders positioned the hire as part of a broader effort to meet client demand for company-side and cross-border restructuring advice, and to deepen the firm’s finance and restructuring bench in the Chicago market.
In addition to his restructuring practice, Winerman has maintained an active pro bono practice. He was recognized by the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights with its 2023 Outstanding Pro Bono Works Volunteer award for transactional pro bono work supporting first-time homebuyers, small business owners, and nonprofits.
Winerman has also been named to The Best Lawyers in America for bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization law, and he is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Turnaround Management Association.
BCLP said Winerman is the second Chicago-based lateral partner to join the firm this month, following the arrival of Katie Hausfeld in Litigation and Investigations. The firm also noted a broader lateral hiring push over the past 20 months, including 25 lateral partners added globally in 2025 across its three departments.
KEY QUOTES
“Justin’s arrival to the firm is instrumental in our ongoing effort to bring aboard talent to meet the needs of our broad global client base. His experience, particularly with respect to company-side work and cross-border transactions, across a wide spectrum of restructuring deals, including in-court bankruptcy cases, distressed transactions and corporate workouts with companies across the globe, makes him an invaluable addition to the team,”
Joel Lander, Regional Leader, Corporate & Finance Transactions
“Justin brings a combination of deep technical skills and the ability to build meaningful client relationships. His background in high-stakes restructuring work positions us to capture opportunities and we are thrilled to welcome him as a cornerstone of our continued growth,”
Karen Fries, Global Leader, Finance Transactions
“I’m thrilled to be joining BCLP and to contribute to the expansion of the firm’s cross-border restructuring practice,” he said. “I look forward to working with the team and collaborating across practices and regions to deliver practical, globally focused strategies for clients as distress-driven opportunities continue to rise.”
Justin Winerman, Partner
