Arnstein & Lehr welcomes two bankruptcy attorneys to its Chicago office

February 1, 2008 | Chicago

Arnstein & Lehr is pleased to announce that Michael L. Gesas and David A. Golin joined the firm today as partners in its Bankruptcy, Creditors' Rights & Restructuring Practice Group.

Michael and David join the firm from Gesas, Pilati, Gesas and Golin, Ltd., a Chicago bankruptcy boutique, bringing with them more then 50 years of combined expertise. Michael is a third generation bankruptcy attorney. His father, Leonard Gesas, handled many significant bankruptcy matters throughout his career. These included the restructuring of the Milwaukee Railroad and the reorganization of the real estate empire of Walter Judd Kassuba, once considered the nation's largest landlord. He also represented the National Hockey League Kansas City Scouts. His grandfather, Michael Gesas, Sr., served as a clerk in the law office of Blum & Blum in 1898, where he worked on one of the earliest cases in bankruptcy ever filed in Chicago and as an attorney assisted in drafting the 1938 Bankruptcy Act.

Michael brings 24 years of experience representing lenders, creditors, and commercial debtors in corporate and business reorganizations. His practice includes liquidation proceedings, compositions, assignments for the benefit of creditors, asset acquisitions, and sales through the bankruptcy court and other forums, workouts, contract negotiations and related commercial representation and litigation. He has been a guest speaker regarding insolvency issues at The John Marshall Law School, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, he has been recognized by Law Bulletin Publishing Company as one of Illinois' top corporate bankruptcy attorneys for several years. Michael is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and received his law degree from The John Marshall Law School.

With more than 27 years of experience, David's practice includes the representation of financially distressed businesses, from family owned to multinational, in loan restructurings, workouts, Chapter 11 reorganizations, Chapter 7 liquidations, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. He also represents secured lenders, landlords, equipment lessors, bondholders, mechanic lien holders, and other creditors in connection with their claims against debtors. Law Bulletin Publishing Company has continually recognized him as one of the top Illinois corporate attorneys in the fields of bankruptcy and workout law. David graduated from the University of Michigan and received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.