Acting on its own, although invariably as part of a multidisciplinary, cross-office offering, including with lawyers from the firm’s New York headquarters, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP‘s sweet-spot lies in its ability to navigate complex cross-border restructuring and insolvency mandates for a varied array of stakeholders. As well as representing corporates and officeholders on balance sheet restructurings and insolvency processes (including matters with contentious issues), the ’very pragmatic’ Ashley Katz is also very skilled at advising funds on their distressed investment activity. Geoff O’Dea co-heads the team alongside Katz following his move from Goodwin Procter in January 2025. He adds additional special situations expertise (including on distressed investing and financing) as well as deep knowledge across many restructuring tools including Schemes of Arrangement. Mandip Englund joined Travers Smith LLP in April 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'The team is hands-on and commercial, always looking to drive through to solutions in complex situations.'
'Deep technical expertise with a practical overlay.'
‘The individuals that I've worked with from the restructuring team are proactive, diligent and great communicators, which makes them fantastic to work alongside.'
'Ashley Katz is very active across mid-market insolvency deals and advising funds. He is a good communicator and very pragmatic.'
'Ashley Katz is capable, experienced, and very responsive. He is a very experienced practitioner, and well-regarded in the market.'
'Working with the restructuring team, I've found them to be hands-on and commercial, always looking to drive through to solutions in complex situations.'
Key clients
- HWS 4 Limited (Pizza Hut)
- Telegraph Media Group
- Ernst & Young as the joint administrators of CX Reinsurance Company Limited (in administration)
- LumiraDx Group Limited and LumiraDx International Limited and Andrew James Johnson, Lisa Jane Rickelton, and Lindsay Kate Hallam of FTI Consulting LLP (as joint administrators of LumiraDx Group Limited (in administration) and LumiraDx International Limited (in administration))
- Open GI
- Kroll Agency Services
Work highlights
Advised the HWS Group, including the franchisee of well-known restaurant chain, Pizza Hut, together with the proposed administrators from Interpath Advisory on the restructuring and pre-packaged administration sale of the Pizza Hut business in the UK and Ireland to an affiliate of Directional Capital.
Acting for the independent directors, holding companies and operating companies in the Telegraph group in relation to enforcement action taken by the Bank of Scotland, the refinancing of Bank of Scotland facilities by RedBird IMI, the subsequent sale of The Spectator magazine and preparations for sale of the Telegraph.
Counsel to Simon Edel and Richard Barker of Ernst & Young, as joint administrators of CX Reinsurance Company Limited, in connection with CXRe being placed under English administration in August 2020 and recognition of that appointment in the US bankruptcy courts through Chapter 15.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Ashley Katz; Geoff O’Dea
Other key lawyers
Tony Horspool; Amy Faraday; Eshan Khot; Ewan Alexander Gardner