Derek J. Kaufman

Profile
Publications

Derek J. Kaufman is a bankruptcy associate in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson.

Mr. Kaufman’s practice encompasses both bankruptcy proceedings and out-of-court restructurings, including representation of both debtors and creditors. He has worked on cases involving a broad range of businesses, such as the gaming industry, financial services, real-estate development, manufacturing and entertainment. His notable recent representations include work on behalf of certain creditors and other interested parties in the Syms Corp., Taylor Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp., Yellowstone Mountain Club, Movie Gallery, Tower Records, New Century Financial Corp., Amp’d Mobile, Lake Las Vegas, Fleetwood Enterprises, Muzak, Station Casinos, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Adelphia Communications and Luna Innovations bankruptcy cases.

During the spring of 2012, Mr. Kaufman taught a seminar course entitled Corporate Bankruptcy Reorganizations at Loyola Law School. In 2010, he co-chaired the education program for Young Insolvency Professional at the California Bankruptcy Forum. Mr. Kaufman is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Financial Lawyers Conference. In 2012, Super Lawyers recognized him as a Southern California Rising Star. 

Mr. Kaufman received a Bachelor of Arts with a joint concentration in environmental science and public policy and economics from Harvard University in 2002. In 2005, he obtained his J.D. from Yale Law School. Before joining the firm in 2006, he clerked for the Honorable Carolyn D. King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. 

Key Representations

  • The Official Committee of Syms Equity Securities Holders, in the Chapter 11 reorganization of Syms Corp., a discount retailer in the Northeast, and its subsidiaries, including Filene’s Basement, long-known for its “Running of the Brides” wedding dress sale.  

Derek J. Kaufman is a bankruptcy associate in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson.

Mr. Kaufman’s practice encompasses both bankruptcy proceedings and out-of-court restructurings, including representation of both debtors and creditors. He has worked on cases involving a broad range of businesses, such as the gaming industry, financial services, real-estate development, manufacturing and entertainment. His notable recent representations include work on behalf of certain creditors and other interested parties in the Syms Corp., Taylor Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp., Yellowstone Mountain Club, Movie Gallery, Tower Records, New Century Financial Corp., Amp’d Mobile, Lake Las Vegas, Fleetwood Enterprises, Muzak, Station Casinos, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Adelphia Communications and Luna Innovations bankruptcy cases.

During the spring of 2012, Mr. Kaufman taught a seminar course entitled Corporate Bankruptcy Reorganizations at Loyola Law School. In 2010, he co-chaired the education program for Young Insolvency Professional at the California Bankruptcy Forum. Mr. Kaufman is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the Financial Lawyers Conference. In 2012, Super Lawyers recognized him as a Southern California Rising Star. 

Mr. Kaufman received a Bachelor of Arts with a joint concentration in environmental science and public policy and economics from Harvard University in 2002. In 2005, he obtained his J.D. from Yale Law School. Before joining the firm in 2006, he clerked for the Honorable Carolyn D. King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. 

Key Representations

  • The Official Committee of Syms Equity Securities Holders, in the Chapter 11 reorganization of Syms Corp., a discount retailer in the Northeast, and its subsidiaries, including Filene’s Basement, long-known for its “Running of the Brides” wedding dress sale.  

Publications

Mr. Kaufman has published a number of articles in newsletters, journals and online publications. His publications include:
  • Bidder Beware: Collusive Bidding in Bankruptcy Sales, BANKRUPTCY LAW360, June 20, 2011, at Expert Analysis Section
  • The Ninth Circuit Limits the Bankruptcy Court's Power to Interpret and Enforce Its Prior Sale Order, AMERICAN BANKRUPTCY INSTITUTE ASSET SALE NEWSLETTER, Vol. 8, No. 1 (February 2011)
  • Fair Remedies for Avoidance Actions, AMERICAN BANKRUPTCY INSTITUTE JOURNAL, Vol. XXVIII, No. 10 (December/January 2010)
  • How Skilled Use of Abandonment Preserves the Reorganizing Entity’s Enterprise Value, AMERICAN BANKRUPTCY INSTITUTE JOURNAL, Vol. XXVIII, No. 4 (May 2009)