David J. Karp advises clients on a wide range of financial restructuring, special situations, and distressed mergers and acquisitions. He also advises on, debt trading compliance matters, oil and gas royalty investments and the asset and entity isolation aspects of structured finance and digital asset transactions.

David leads the firm’s Distressed Debt & Claims Trading Group, which provides guidance in connection with US, European, and emerging market debt, claims, and complex secondary portfolio trading matters. He is also a member of the firm’s Opinion Committee.

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Distressed Investing Representations

• Represented an investment fund in connection with the development of a loan-to-own chapter 11 bankruptcy plan to take a control position in the fulcrum secured debt of one of the United States’ largest owners of radio stations
• Represented an investment bank in connection with the sale of its distressed collateralized debt obligation portfolio
• Represented an investment fund in its acquisition of a multinational distressed and non-performing asset portfolio, including loans, claims, bonds, and private equity positions
• Represented an owner and operator of hotel properties with respect to their chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and the restructuring of approximately $1 billion of debt
• Represented an investment fund in providing debtor-in-possession financing to a tier 1 automotive supplier
• Represented a large national retail propane distributor with respect to its chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and the restructuring of more than $550 million of debt
• Represented a retail center owner in connection with its sale of real property under Section 363 of the US Bankruptcy Code
• Represented a private equity fund in connection with its proposed acquisition of a substantial portion of assets of a tier 1 automotive supplier
• Represented various parties in securitization and commercial mortgage-backed securities transactions, providing advice in connection with bankruptcy-remote structures, true sale, and non-consolidation issues
• Represented various parties in structuring and addressing the bankruptcy aspects of derivative contracts, including swap agreements, repurchase agreements, and securities contracts

Energy Representations

• Represented creditors of Walter Energy Inc., Samson Resources, Sabine Oil & Gas Corp., and Energy and Exploration Partners Inc.
• Represented the chairman of an official equity committee in the reorganization of Seahawk Drilling Inc., a company that provided drilling services to the oil and natural gas industries
• Represented investors in Stallion Oilfield, a leading oilfield services company that provides comprehensive wellsite support and production and logistics services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies, during Stallion’s chapter 11 reorganization
• Represented an investment fund with respect to the foreclosure upon natural gas working interests in the Fayetteville Shale
• Represented creditors in Trident Resources Corporation, a natural gas production company principally focused on the exploration and exploitation of unconventional natural gas resources, during Trident’s chapter 11 restructuring
• Represented investment fund in connection with Marcellus Shale, oil and gas leases with Cabot Oil & Gas, and Hess Corporation

• Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2026
• New York Super Lawyers, 2014-2019, 2021-2023
• Dow Jones Daily Bankruptcy Review, Mover of the Week, 2012

Education
Fordham University School of Law, JD, 1999
Cornell University, BS, 1996
University of Denver, Daniels School of Business, Energy Finance Certificate

Admissions
New York

Courts/Agencies
US District Court for the Southern District of New York