Ropes & Gray has expanded its restructuring bench with the addition of Rachel Strickland as Global Chair of Restructuring, alongside three partners, Daniel Forman, Andrew Mordkoff, and Andrew Minear. The four-partner group will be based in New York and is expected to broaden the firm’s capabilities across restructuring, debt finance, bankruptcy litigation, distressed M&A, and liability management transactions.
Strickland brings decades of experience advising private equity firms, hedge funds, and other stakeholders on complex restructurings and special-situations matters across industries, including media, transportation, financial services, and technology. Her client roster has included Walgreens Boots Alliance, DISH Network, KKR, and JPMorgan Asset Management, among others, and she previously led global restructuring practices at two international law firms. At Ropes & Gray, she will serve as both the Global Chair of Restructuring and the practice group leader of business restructuring.
The firm said the hires add scale and versatility to an already prominent restructuring platform designed to support clients facing situations that blend financing, litigation, and strategic considerations. Ropes also noted that partner Matt Roose will continue as deputy practice group leader, with the expanded team positioned to advise across major restructurings, distressed acquisitions, sponsor- and investor-driven special situations, and related transactions.
The incoming partners bring complementary experience in large, precedent-setting matters. Forman has worked on significant bankruptcy cases, including Hertz Corporation, Pacific Gas & Electric, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and has advised on DIP and exit financings as well as out-of-court restructuring solutions. Mordkoff’s practice includes high-stakes Chapter 11 work, distressed acquisitions, bankruptcy litigation, and cross-border matters across sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, retail, technology, and manufacturing. Minear advises debtors, creditors, sponsors, and financing sources on workouts, prepackaged and traditional bankruptcies, asset sales, litigation, and cross-border matters.
Ropes & Gray noted that these hires are part of a broader effort to strengthen its full-service New York offering, highlighting the growth of its New York office as it marks its 25th anniversary in the market.
KEY QUOTES:
“Rachel is a proven leader with deep experience and a true clients-first approach. Uniting Rachel, Dan, Andrew and Andrew with our team creates a powerhouse in restructuring.”
“Their addition demonstrates our commitment to building a best-in-class and highly integrated set of practices to serve our clients holistically and seamlessly in their most important moments. Most importantly, our enhanced team will give our clients a distinct advantage in achieving their key business goals.”
Julie Jones, Chair, Ropes & Gray
“This combination of teams exemplifies strength meeting strength,” “Rachel is highly respected in the field. She and her team complement what we have built at Ropes, and together we are creating a deeper, more versatile restructuring platform. Our clients increasingly face situations that cut across finance, litigation, and strategy, and this combination allows us to meet that moment.”
Neill Jakobe, Vice Chair, Ropes & Gray
“Ropes & Gray has a best-in-class restructuring practice and a culture that values collaboration, client focus, and excellence. Joining the firm and working with this talented group of lawyers offers an incredible opportunity. Together, we can take this premier, integrated restructuring platform to the next level, where we are uniquely equipped to handle the most complex situations our clients face in a changing landscape.”
Rachel Strickland, Global Chair Of Restructuring, Ropes & Gray
“The addition of these new partners demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the offerings of our full-service New York office. Our ability to attract such a preeminent team in the marketplace demonstrates the vibrance and continued growth trajectory of our 500-lawyer New York office as we celebrate our 25th anniversary in New York.”
John Sorkin, New York Office Managing Partner, Ropes & Gray
