Bradford J. Sandler

Brad Sandler is a distinguished figure in bankruptcy law and complex reorganizations, celebrated for his extensive expertise and innovative approach to finding value-maximizing solutions to financially distressed situations. As a prominent member of PSZJ's management and long-term planning committees, and co-chair of its renowned committee practice group, Brad has built a reputation as a leading authority in efficiently handling financially distressed situations in and out of court across the United States.

With over 25 years of experience, Brad is a trusted advisor to a wide range of clients, including debtors, equity holders, creditors' committees, acquirers, and fiduciaries such as directors, receivers, and trustees. His career is marked by a commitment to delivering exceptional results in some of the most challenging bankruptcy and restructuring situations. 

Brad’s outstanding achievements have earned him widespread recognition within the legal community. Business Insider named him one of the top sixteen bankruptcy lawyers in the United States, and he consistently receives top rankings from leading legal rating organizations, including Chambers USA, Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers,” International Financial Law Review’s “IFLR1000” for Bankruptcy & Restructuring, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell, which has bestowed upon him its “AV Preeminent Peer Rating”—the highest accolade for ethical standards and legal ability.

Chambers USA, which ranks Brad in its highest “band,” highlights his deep expertise in complex chapter 11 proceedings, noting the following:

“He's exceptionally good at what he does and is unbelievably hard-working”

“He's a superb bankruptcy lawyer.”

“Brad is a pleasure to work with, he's practical, down-to-earth and a problem-solver."

He’s a “creative, calm, effective lawyer” who is also “quick, smart, and aggressive.”

He’s able to “blend traditional legal skills with commercial negotiating and business acumen.”

Brad’s innovative and aggressive representations have been instrumental in maximizing recoveries for creditors and equity holders across diverse industries, including retail, food and hospitality, entertainment, energy, real estate, financial services, technology, and manufacturing. His recent high-profile committee representations include SunPower, Conn’s, Red Lobster, Bed Bath & Beyond, Party City, Cyxtera, David’s Bridal, Cineworld, Washington Prime Group, FedNat Holdings, Sungard, Ascena, J Crew, Ditech Holdings, Corsicana Bedding, Rockdale Marcellus, and the Woodbridge Group. Notably, he served as lead counsel in the LifeCare Hospital cases, achieving a substantial recovery for unsecured creditors and setting a new precedent in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals with a groundbreaking “class skipping” decision. Many of his cases have won awards from prestigious organizations, such as the Turnaround Management Association, M&A Advisors, and the Global M&A Network.

While Brad acknowledges that bankruptcy is an important tool for addressing financial difficulties, he advocates for it as a last resort. Many of his company-side representations have involved nonpublic distressed situations, during which he successfully worked to restructure the challenged capital structure, avoiding a formal insolvency proceeding.

In addition to serving his clients, Brad is actively involved in national organizations and frequently speaks on insolvency-related topics at conferences hosted by the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, University of Pennsylvania (Wharton Restructuring and Distressed Investing Conference), the American Bankruptcy Institute, the International Bar Association, the Turnaround Management Association, the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, the American Bar Association, the Credit Research Foundation, and the National Association of Credit Managers, among others. He is also a prolific author, contributing insightful articles on insolvency issues, serves on the editorial board of Bankruptcy Law360, and has been interviewed by numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, NPR, the Legal Intelligencer, Law360, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Boston Globe, Business Insider, the Athletic (a New York Times company), the New York Post, and Women’s Wear Daily (WWD).

Brad’s practice actively reflects a results-oriented blend of legal expertise, commercial acumen, creative problem-solving, and a steadfast commitment to achieving value-maximizing outcomes for his clients, solidifying his status as a leader in insolvency and complex reorganizations.

Representations

Red Lobster, Bed Bath & Beyond, Party City, Cyxtera, David’s Bridal, Cineworld, Washington Prime Group, FedNat Holdings, Sungard, Ascena Retail Group (Ann Taylor), J.Crew, Ditech Holding Corporation, Corsicana Bedding, Rockdale Marcellus, and the Woodbridge Group of Companies

Professional Affiliations

• Bankr. S.D.TX Complex Case Committee (Appointed Member)
• Bankr. E.D.VA Ch. 11 Mega Case Local Rules Advisory Committee (Appointed Member)
• Bankr. D.N.J. Local Rules Committee (Appointed Member)
• Past-Chair, Business Reorganization Committee, ABI
• Board, Settlement Music School
• Board, Mendelsohn Club of Philadelphia
• Board, Women’s Christian Alliance
• Board, Philadelphia Art Alliance
• President, Musical Fund Hall Condo Association (Philadelphia)
• President, Toscana North Condo Association (Florida)
• Council Member, Lincoln Center Business Council
• Life member, American Bankruptcy Institute
• Member, Turnaround Management Association
• Member, Association for Corporate Growth
• Member, International Federation of Insolvency Practitioners (INSOL)
• Member, Delaware Bankruptcy American Inn of Court
• Member, Law360 Bankruptcy Editorial Board (2020)

Programs and Lectures

News

Publications

• Coauthor, "Suggested Amendments to US Bankruptcy Code," Law360 (February 3, 2009)
• Coauthor,"'Decoupling' Issues in Bankruptcy," Business Bankruptcy Newsletter (ABA Business Law Section January 2009)
• Author, "Corporate Guidance in M&A Transactions From Chancery Court," 8 Delaware Law Weekly No. 36 (Sept. 14, 2005)
• Coauthor, "Statutory Employer Immunity Under Pennsylvania Law," Pennsylvania Bar Quarterly (Winter 1998)
• Coauthor, Statutory Employer Immunity in Tort Cases Involving Work-Related Injuries, Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association Pub. No. 148-1997 (1997)
• Coauthor, "Recent Significant Case Decisions Involving Design Professionals," in program materials for 36th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys (Schinnerer & Co. 1997)
• Regular law columnist for the monthly national magazine, The Construction Specifier
• Author, "Alcan Revisited: Does the Denial of a De Minimis Defense Help Achieve a 'Polluter's Pay' Policy?" 8 Temple Environmental Law & Technology Journal 141 (1994)

Events