Ira L. Herman joined Blank Rome as a partner in the Finance, Restructuring and Bankruptcy group. Herman joins from Thompson & Knight, where his practice focused on distressed public debt issues, insolvency matters involving upstream and midstream oil and gas companies and distressed M&A in addition to traditional bankruptcy and insolvency matters.

Admitted to practice in New York and Texas, Herman is based in the firm’s New York office, which recently added more than 10 attorneys from Dickstein Shapiro, as well as insurance coverage partner Lisa M. Campisi and commercial litigator Samuel D. Levy.

“The recent additions of a number of attorneys in our New York office have expanded our capabilities in a variety of areas that are of great importance to our clients, and we are thrilled to welcome Ira as we continue to grow,” said Alan J. Hoffman, chairman and managing partner. “Ira is an accomplished and well-respected attorney with significant experience representing constituencies in all types of domestic and cross-border bankruptcy and insolvency matters, making him an excellent addition to our well-established Finance, Restructuring and Bankruptcy team.”

Herman regularly advises lenders and other clients on the management of bankruptcy risk in their transactions; indenture trustees regarding defaulted public debt issues; and lenders regarding restructuring and bankruptcy, including distressed M&A transactions and inter-creditor issues. He also provides services on the debtors’ side, counseling financially distressed entities and their management on restructuring challenges pertaining to corporate governance issues, and litigating corporate governance matters, such as breach of duty in good faith and dealing. As a court appointed mediator, Herman has been able to facilitate the resolution of controversies involving U.S. and non-U.S. parties concerning bankruptcy and commercial law issues.