Zachary Russell is of counsel in Quinn Emanuel’s New York office. His practice focuses on bankruptcy and restructuring litigation. Zachary has advised a wide range of clients, including hedge funds, institutional investors, ad hoc committees, and other financial creditors in numerous chapter 11 cases. Additionally, Zachary has extensive experience advising estate professionals such as examiners, litigation trustees, and independent directors, and conducting internal investigations on behalf of chapter 11 estates. Zachary also has substantial experience in complex commercial litigation in both federal and state courts, in particular, representing distressed borrowers in defending liability management transactions.
Prior to joining Quinn Emanuel, Zachary obtained his law degree from Fordham Law School, where he was a recipient of the prestigious Fordham Law School Prize. During law school, Zachary served as a legal intern and research assistant to the Honorable Diccia Pineda-Kirwan of the New York Supreme Court.
Zachary is an avid supporter of the arts and serves as a member of the board of directors of the non-profit University Resident Theatre Association (“URTA”).
- TPG Angelo Gordon
- Apollo Global Management
- Gamut Capital Management
- Bardin Hill Investment Partners
- Davidson Kempner Capital Management
- FitzWalter Capital Limited
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
- Benefit Street Partners
- Contrarian Capital
- GoldenTree Asset Management
- Wesco Aircraft, Inc.
- TriMark USA, LLC
- Alvarez & Marsal
- Represent ad hoc group of excluded lenders challenging liability management exercises in Serta and Revlon.
- Obtained trial victory on behalf of Revlon lenders, establishing discharge for value defense after being paid $500 million, par plus accrued, on account of Revlon term loans.
- Represented companies defending liability management exercises in Wesco Aircraft and TriMark.
- Represent litigation trustee and constituent creditors in Zohar.
- Represent founder and former CEO of Steward Health Care in connection with the company’s chapter 11 case.
- Represented the reference shareholders of Americanas SA in global disputes relating to Americanas SA’s bankruptcy.
- Represented independent fiduciaries in the chapter 11 cases Cenveo, Voyager Digital, Belk, J.Crew, Frontera, Sheridan.
- Represented the special litigation counsel to the chapter 11 debtor in Avianca.
- Represented ad hoc groups of COFINA Senior and Lawful Constitutional Debt Coalition Bondholders during Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring
- Represent or represented individual creditors or equity holders or ad hoc groups of creditors in numerous chapter 11 cases, including Tricolor, Mondee, Avon, Big Lots, Ector County, JPA, Philadelphia Energy, Pacific Drilling, Adelphia, Nortel.
- Fordham University School of Law
(J.D., magna cum laude, 2016)- Fordham Law Review
- Fordham Law School Prize
- Dean’s List
- Stephen F. Austin State University
(M.B.A., summa cum laude, 2011)- President’s List
- Stephen F. Austin State University
(B.B.A., magna cum laude, Finance, 2009)- Dean’s List
- The State Bar of New York
- “Judge Wiles Sets Significant Hurdles for Chapter 15 Creditors Seeking Rule 2004 Discovery Via “Good Cause” Requirement”, American Bankruptcy Institute, Sept 2024.
- “Beware the Backdoor Release: Big Lots’ Attempt to Dispose of Estate Claims Via § 363 Reminds Creditors to Scrutinize Asset-Purchase Agreements”, American Bankruptcy Institute, March 6, 2025.
- American Bankruptcy Association – Bankruptcy Litigation Committee
- Federal Bar Council – Bankruptcy Litigation Committee
- Member of the Board – University Resident Theatre Association