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Sometimes fine businesses find themselves in unfavorable financial situations, to the point where continuing on is not possible. This happens for many reasons - management issues, the competitive environment, bad investments, over-extension of credit, unforeseen extraordinary circumstances - the list goes on.   When it does, companies can be faced with a business choice to make, one being filing for bankruptcy protection under the Bankruptcy Code. Pursuing this financial restructuring option is a legitimate business tool in today's world and has become a widely-used strategy in the commercial environment.

Earp Cohn lawyers know the issues these companies face. We counsel our clients both before and after bankruptcy, working with each one individually to find workable solutions. Sometimes when you think there is no other option other than bankruptcy, there is. We develop solutions that include both bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy alternatives.   

Whether working with an entire company, a division, or business unit of a company, our lawyers are adept at helping companies restructure and reach their business goals. Our attorneys have national expertise having worked in such cities as San Francisco, Boston, Delaware and New York, in addition to serving our primary South Jersey and Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan markets.

Our bankruptcy lawyers have substantial expertise in commerical bankruptcy law as both practicing lawyers and as business professionals prior to going into private legal practice. They are involved in many complex commercial bankruptcy matters on both the debtor and creditor sides, including pre-bankruptcy counseling, workout issues, bankruptcy filings and litigation. Some examples of types of matters we handle include:

• Preventative Advice & Counseling, including advising start-up and other companies on avenues to pursue to obtain capital to grow or to work out of financial difficulty;
• Workout Counseling, helping companies negotiate more workable contracts with suppliers and such - outside of bankruptcy - to help with cost-cutting and managing cash flow;
• Commercial Chapter 7 Liquidiations, including serving as bankruptcy trustee;
• Chapter 11 Reorganizations;
• Creditor Representation, helping creditors pursue claims against debtors and defending preference actions;
• Debtor Representation, helping parent companies, business units or divisions of companies that are in financial distress, which can involve negotiating new contracts to help them out of debt;
• Commercial Landlord Representation, in sticky tenant situations when there is a need to legally remove the tenant from the premises or pursue administrative claims; and
• Bankruptcy Appellate matters.

For more information or to set up a consultation, contact Donald A. Nogowski, Roy D Ruggiero, or Richard M. Schlaifer at 856-354-7700 or e-mail:

Donald A. Nogowski - dnogowski@earpcohn.com
Roy D Ruggiero - rruggiero@earpcohn.com
Richard M. Schlaifer - rschlaifer@earpcohn.com