Sandy brings more than 40 years of experience guiding clients through complex restructurings, bankruptcies and financial transactions across a wide range of industries.
Overview
He advises debtors, lenders, purchasers, creditors and borrowers in and out of Chapter 11 proceedings, providing clear strategies to stabilize operations, preserve value and achieve business goals. Sandy has extensive experience in out-of-court workouts, reorganizations, bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, as well as lending, real estate and general corporate matters. Clients value his ability to identify practical solutions and chart a path forward in the most difficult circumstances and in an economically efficient manner.
His practice spans industries including entertainment, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), hospitality, food and beverage, franchising issues, real estate, retail, automotive, and telecommunications, with particular depth in restructuring and reorganizing QSRs, hotels and restaurants.
With a reputation for steady counsel and a results-oriented approach, Sandy is committed to helping clients resolve financial distress and capitalize on opportunities in today’s dynamic marketplace.
Experience
Over his extensive legal career, Sandy has represented clients in bankruptcy courts throughout the country, including the Central, Northern and Southern Districts of California, Delaware, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, New York, West Virgina, Arizona and more.
Sandy has particular emphasis in restructurings and reorganizations in the entertainment industry, including recent Chapter 11 cases for a major film and television production company in Delaware. He also has extensive experience in reorganizing QSRs, restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs. He recently confirmed reorganization plans for a QSR company, successfully reorganizing 75 QSR franchise locations in the 8th Circuit, which accounted for nearly the entire Missouri and Illinois markets for the QSR company. He also negotiated a successful out-of-court restructuring for a well-known and well-respected Los Angeles high-end restaurant. In the hospitality area, Sandy successfully completed an out-of-court restructuring for a prominent hotel and resort located near Lake Placid, New York. He has represented and reorganized a number of hotels throughout Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.
Sandy also successfully confirmed a plan of reorganization for a Los Angeles-based entertainment and event company after prevailing in a five-day trial regarding the assumption of a commercial lease over the hard-fought objection of the landlord. The leased premises is home to one of the most popular nightclub and event venues in the world. In addition to prevailing at trial, Sandy’s client obtained a legal fees award against the landlord of approximately $900,000. The case resulted in a number of reported decisions up to the Court of Appeals.
Sandy has represented religious organizations in Chapter 11 matters and recently reopened the cases to enforce third-party releases with favorable results.
Sandy frequently represents purchasers of assets in Chapter 11. He represented a well-known mortgage lender in its efforts to negotiate and confirm a consensual orderly liquidation plan, which was highly successful and resulted in very significant distribution to unsecured creditors. Sandy also confirmed a plan of reorganization for several car washes filed in both the Central and Eastern Districts of California.
Over the course of his career, Sandy has represented clients in a number of significant real estate-related reorganizations, including reorganization due to real estate insolvencies; the reorganization of a financial services company that owned shopping and retail centers located in San Fernando Valley and Las Vegas, Nevada; the reorganization of a strip mall in Encino, California; and the reorganization of a historic Beaux Arts building in downtown Los Angeles.
Sandy was lead Creditors’ Committee counsel in a Chapter 11 case of a private equity and asset management firm based in Los Angeles. The matter was related to a real estate investment with $650 million in unsecured debt. He recently represented a primary shareholder in the Chapter 11 cases of a technology investment platform pending in Texas.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
Over the years, Sandy has spoken on a number of bankruptcy related topics, including most recently on a Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association panel on the topic of Nomenclature and Definitions of the Bankruptcy Code, where the panel included a distinguished Bankruptcy Judge from the Central District of California.
Publications
"Trust Me or Trustee? The Requirements for Appointment of a Trustee or Examiner under 11 U.S.C. §1104," 17," California Bankruptcy Journal 34
"Acquisitions through Chapter 11, The Good 11, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly," Los Angeles Lawyer, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Recognitions
Recognitions
Southern California Super Lawyers, 2023-2025
Pasadena Magazine, Top Attorneys, 2019-2025
Lawyers of Distinction, 2019-2025
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
State Bar of California
Los Angeles County Bar Association
California Bankruptcy Forum
Pasadena Symphony Association & Pops
- Executive Vice President
- Board of Directors/Executive Board
- Governance Committee, Member
Drug Awareness Foundation
- Board of Directors
Sandy also has the following wine certifications
- Certified Sommelier (WSA/NASA)
- Certified Specialist of Italian Wine (AIS/NASA)
- Certified Specialist of American Wine (NASA)
- Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) (Society of Wine Educators)
- Certification Wine Education and Management (UCLA)
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Education
University of West Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 1982
California State University at Northridge, B.A., 1978
