Richards, Layton & Finger Elects New Directors and Counsel

July 1, 2015

Firm News| Corporate Transactions| Corporate & Chancery Litigation| Commercial Transactions| Limited Liability Company & Partnership Advisory| Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring

WILMINGTON, Delaware (July 1, 2015) – Richards, Layton & Finger is pleased to announce that it has elected Mark Kurtz and Joshua Novak as directors of the firm and Jennifer Veet Barrett, Kenneth Jackman, and Cory Kandestin as counsel.

“We are very proud to promote these outstanding lawyers,” said Robert Krapf, president of Richards, Layton & Finger, “and we’re confident that they will advance our firm’s reputation for exceptional client service and top-notch legal counsel.”

Mr. Kurtz focuses his practice on commercial transactions involving mergers and acquisitions, financings, and cross-border transactions. He has substantial experience with the sale and acquisition of businesses (including bankruptcy 363 sales and MLP drop-down transactions), the formation and use of Delaware business entities, and advising on UCC transactions. Mr. Kurtz received a B.A. from Colgate University, an M.B.A. from Washington University Olin School of Business, and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, where he was an associate editor of the Washington University Global Studies Law Review.

Mr. Novak provides advice on a wide range of transactions involving Delaware partnerships and limited liability companies, including mergers and acquisitions, hedge fund and private equity fund transactions, and structured finance transactions. He also advises on fiduciary duties, contract interpretation, IPOs of master limited partnerships, and other governance and transactional issues. Mr. Novak earned a B.A., with distinction, from Iowa State University, and a J.D., with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he served on the editorial board of the Journal of Corporation Law.

Ms. Barrett focuses her practice on transactional matters involving Delaware corporations, including entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. She also has experience in corporate litigation in the Delaware Supreme Court and Court of Chancery. Ms. Barrett received a B.S., summa cum laude, from King’s College, and a J.D., cum laude, from Temple University School of Law, where she was a member of the International and Comparative Law Journal.

Mr. Jackman focuses his practice on transactional and advisory matters involving publicly traded limited partnerships and limited liability companies. He provides advice to boards of directors and board committees on a wide variety of matters, including governance, mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and sales of assets. Mr. Jackman earned a B.S., cum laude, from Washington and Lee University, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Temple University School of Law.

Mr. Kandestin focuses primarily on bankruptcy litigation, handling large fraudulent transfer actions, contested plan confirmations, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and solvency/insolvency litigation. He graduated first in his class in law school, where he served as an associate editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. Mr. Kandestin received a B.A., with distinction, from McGill University, and a J.D., Founder’s Medal for First Honors, Order of the Coif, from Vanderbilt University Law School.

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