Professionals
A team structured to move complex matters forward.

Senior legal judgment, supported by an integrated professional team.

Ira Reid Picture
Contact

Ira Reid

Of Counsel

Bankruptcy · Commercial Litigation

Ira Reid is a highly experienced insolvency and civil litigation attorney with over 35 years of practice. He has advised clients across a broad spectrum of complex financial and commercial matters. His practice spans Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) cases as well as Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 proceedings. He has also handled distressed M&A, structured finance, credit derivatives, and bankruptcy-related litigation matters. Ira regularly counsels clients on the structuring of securitization transactions, cross-border insolvencies, commercial reorganizations, and financial restructurings.

He has represented a diverse range of stakeholders in both domestic and international proceedings. These include creditors, debtors, trustees, and foreign representatives. Ira is also an experienced mediator, having completed the ABI/St. John’s University Bankruptcy Mediation Training Program. He brings a practical, strategic approach to dispute resolution, rooted in deep knowledge of bankruptcy law and commercial dynamics.

Academic History

Education

  • Mediation Training Program, American Bankruptcy Institute, St. John’s University (2014)
  • JD, Brooklyn Law School (1987)
  • MPA, New York University (1979)
  • BA, City College of New York (1973)

Admissions

  • New York (1988)

Areas of Focus

Commercial Transactions

Ira brings extensive experience in complex commercial transactions, with a focus on structured finance, financial restructurings, and cross-border insolvencies. He has advised lenders, originators as well as borrowers on the structuring of securitization and structured finance transactions. This includes both analysis of true sale and non-consolidation issues. His transactional work spans a broad range of asset classes, such as trade receivables, intellectual property, timeshare loans, student loans, commercial paper, whole company securitizations, and collateralized debt obligations. Ira’s practice also encompasses financial restructurings, workouts, Chapter 11 reorganizations, as well as distressed business asset acquisitions and investments. He regularly advises on litigation, dispute resolution arising from commercial and financial transactions. Ira has significant experience with Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) proceedings, futures, derivatives, and structured finance transactions. In addition, Ira has handled cross-border insolvency matters, including Chapter 15 cases, and has participated in mediations involving complex commercial disputes. His deep understanding of financial matters and regulatory frameworks allows him to deliver strategic, business-focused legal solutions in high-stakes commercial matters.

Civil Litigation

Ira represents a broad range of clients in bankruptcy-related commercial litigation. This includes creditors, debtors, trustees, and other stakeholders involved in Chapter 7, Chapter 11 proceedings, as well as out-of-court restructurings. He is frequently engaged for advisory roles, litigation assignments involving complex financial restructurings and insolvency-related disputes. His experience includes representing parties throughout the lifecycle of Chapter 11 reorganizations, Chapter 7 liquidations, as well as advising on strategic workouts and settlement negotiations. In addition to civil litigation, Ira has significant experience resolving disputes through mediation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. His litigation practice is grounded in a deep understanding of both bankruptcy law and commercial dynamics. This allows him to draft practical, client-centered strategies that address complex challenges and support long-term business objectives.

Bankruptcy Law

Ira has deep experience in bankruptcy and insolvency law, representing clients in complex Chapter 11 cases as well as cross-border transactions. He regularly prosecutes and defends avoidance actions, in addition to other contested matters in bankruptcy cases. Ira advises clients on creditors’ rights, the bankruptcy implications of corporate transactions, commercial financing, and securitization transactions. Ira counsels financially distressed companies across a wide range of industries—including retail, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, real estate, and telecommunications—on restructuring strategies. His practice includes advising on pre-bankruptcy planning, out-of-court restructurings, Chapter 15 proceedings, and commercial transactions. While at Baker McKenzie, Ira represented debtors in possession, bankruptcy trustees, creditors’ committees, claims traders, equity security holders, landlords, tenants, secured and unsecured creditors. He also has significant experience advising on the bankruptcy ramifications of structuring business transactions. He has issued legal opinions and served as lead counsel in high-stakes financial contract disputes. Ira has also represented equipment lessors, insurance companies, bondholders, indenture trustees, IP licensors, licensees, financial and strategic acquirers. In cross-border matters, Ira has represented foreign representatives in Chapter 15 and former Section 304 proceedings, including acting on behalf of insolvent insurance companies. He has also served as an expert witness in the Cayman Islands in matters involving U.S. bankruptcy proceedings. His practice is distinguished by his ability to navigate the intersection of bankruptcy law and commercial strategy. Ira delivers sophisticated, results-driven counsel to clients navigating financial distress.

Community Involvement

  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Mediation Committee
  • Brooklyn Law School, Barry Zaretsky Bankruptcy Roundtable Steering Committee
  • International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals
  • New York State Bar Association

Blogs and Publications

“Business and International Law Amendments to the United States Bankruptcy Code” – Reid Ira, and Samet Joseph, In Current Developments in Bankruptcy & Reorganization, PLI Course Handbook, January 1, 2007.

“Shareholder Damage Claims: Diverse Treatment in Australian and U.S. Insolvency Cases.” – Reid Ira, and Samet Joseph, American Bankruptcy Institute Journal, November 1, 2007.

“Avoidance Actions, Scope of Authority to Commence a Chapter 15 Case & Comity” – Reid Ira, and Samet Joseph, Presentation at the American Bankruptcy Institute New York Conference, May 1, 2011.