Polsinelli is pleased to announce that David J. Karp has joined the firm as a shareholder in New York and will serve as co-head of the firm’s Special Situations & Alternative Investment Practice, further advancing the firm’s strategic focus on private credit, distressed investing and complex restructuring matters. He will also lead the firm’s Distressed Debt & Claims Trading team, which provides advice in connection with U.S., European and emerging market debt, claims and complex secondary portfolio trading. Karp becomes the seventh shareholder to join Polsinelli’s New York office in the last 12 months, marking a significant period of strategic expansion for the office.

“David is a recognized leader in special situations and private credit restructuring, which is increasingly important to our client base given current market dynamics,” said Chase Simmons, Chairman and CEO of Polsinelli. “Adding someone with David's reputation in the space rounds out our bankruptcy and restructuring practice and really solidifies the strategic direction of the group. We are also thrilled to have him become part of our New York office, which has been our fastest growing market for several years now.” 

With more than two decades of experience, Karp advises clients on a wide range of financial restructuring, distressed mergers and acquisitions and other private capital solutions. He also represents private credit lenders and traders in connection with a variety of restructuring and loan-to-own transactions. Prior to joining Polsinelli, Karp led the distressed debt and claims trading practice at an Am Law 30 firm, where he focused on complex cross-border debt matters and high-profile restructuring transactions. He earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and his B.S. from Cornell University.

“David is a high-caliber addition to our national practice focused on private equity, private credit and the increasing need for special situations and restructuring expertise,” said Kraig Kohring, Chair of Polsinelli’s Finance, Investment Strategies and Real Estate Department. “As distress in the dynamic private credit market grows, caused by increasing defaults among borrowers and lenders confronting looming ‘maturity walls’ and rising ‘shadow defaults,’ David’s experience will position our clients to proactively manage risk while capitalizing on emerging opportunities across the private credit landscape.”

“I am thrilled to join Polsinelli’s incredible group of private credit, restructuring and investment fund attorneys,” said Karp. “I look forward to working with my colleagues across the firm to develop creative capital solution options for our corporate and private fund clients facing their most complex challenges.”

Polsinelli’s nationally recognized Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice represents Chapter 11 debtors, distressed borrowers and buyers and sellers of distressed assets. The Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice also represents official committees, trustees, individual creditors such as equity security holders, vendors, landlords and bankruptcy litigants throughout the United States. Attorneys in the Bankruptcy & Restructuring group also focus on non-bankruptcy alternatives, including assignments for the benefit of creditors, out-of-court workouts, receiverships and state court liquidations. In collaboration with Polsinelli’s top-ranked Health Care Practice, the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice provides a special focus on distressed health care.