John P. Campo

People

John Campo is a veteran bankruptcy practitioner with a focus on Chapter 11 and large, complex Chapter 7 proceedings, as well as out-of-court workouts. With extensive experience in both the litigation and the corporate and transactional sides of bankruptcy matters, as well as corporate governance and fiduciary duties, John represents debtors, trustees, creditors, equity holders, and asset purchasers.

John has served as either the operating Chapter 11 trustee or attorney for the trustee in cases in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, including representing the Chapter 11 trustee in In re: Maywood Capital Corp. et al., a multidebtor proceeding involving a $200 million real estate Ponzi scheme. He has served as the lead lawyer in numerous reported circuit court, district court, and bankruptcy court decisions.

John’s experience includes many high profile cases covered in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The American Lawyer. He has been quoted extensively, and has appeared on CNBC's "American Greed."

Notable Work

Merhav Ampal Group Ltd.:

Represented the non-debtor subsidiary of Ampal-American Israel Corp. in an action to collect on a note and guarantee in the Southern District of New York against the Israeli principal and related Israeli entity. Obtained summary judgment in Bankruptcy Court in excess of $29 million which was affirmed in both the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Ampal-American Israel Corp.:

Represented the Trustee of the U.S. holding corporation debtor in breach of fiduciary duty and related causes of action against the debtor's officers, directors, and controlling shareholder. Case involved multi-million dollar claims in which there were related proceedings in Israel. Tried the case before a jury in the Bankruptcy Court.

John Pereira as Trustee of Michael Brown:

Represents the Trustee in connection with the prosecution of a fraudulent conveyance action against the debtor and various non debtor affiliates including family members and related entities. The matter involves the unravelling of a fraudulent scheme designed to protect the debtor’s assets from his creditors. The matter included related District Court litigation by investors and shareholders against the debtor, his family members, and related entities, and other insiders, regarding a $100 million transaction from the sale of the debtor’s business to a major retailer.

John Pereira as Trustee of Frank DiLullo:

Represented John Pereira as Trustee of Frank DiLullo in the unravelling of the debtor’s Ponzi scheme involving investors in the Holey Donuts franchises. Prosecuted adversary proceedings against the debtor and Ponzi scheme participants in the Eastern District of New York to recover the proceeds of the fraudulent scheme for the benefit of investors. Successfully obtained judgements and/or settlements resulting in a return to investors. Also prosecuted and obtained the denial of the debtor’s discharge.

John Pereira as Trustee of Lawrence Omansky:

Represents the Trustee in a case that involved an analysis and investigation of the debtor’s law practice, as well as multiple real estate investments. Prosecuted fraudulent conveyance actions and successfully recovered substantial assets for the estate.

John Pereira as Trustee of Alphas Company of New York Inc.:

Represented the Trustee in connection with the sale of cooperative units at the Hunts Point Cooperative Market. Obtained authority to sell the cooperative units after conversion to Chapter 7, even though the underlying leases had been terminated pre-conversion. This resulted in the sale of the units for the highest dollar amount ever realized for units at the Hunts Point Cooperative Market, enabling a significant distribution to general unsecured creditors.

In re: Maywood Capital Corp. et al.:

Represented the Trustee in connection with a multi-debtor proceeding involving a $200 million real estate Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Joseph Greenblatt. The matter involved the sale of assets and the recovery of substantial fraudulent conveyances on behalf of the investors, resulting in a total distribution to defrauded investors of approximately 57 percent under the Trustee’s confirmed plans of reorganization of the debtor entities. The confirmed plans of reorganization and the allowance of investor claims and distributions to investors were based upon on a formula that measured net dollars in versus net dollars out. This formula was later adopted by Trustee Irving Pickard in the multi-billion-dollar Madoff case.

Trace International Holdings, Inc.:

Represented the Trustee in a successful breach of fiduciary duty action against officers, directors, and the controlling shareholder, resulting in judgments in excess of $250 million.

Waterford Wedgwood, USA, Inc.:

Represented the Trustee of multi-debtor proceeding involving more than $250 million in fraudulent conveyance and preference actions.

Barney's, Inc.:

Represented the luxury retailer as lead counsel in its Chapter 11 cases.

Strictly Rhythm Records:

Represented the operating Trustee of a record company involving significant intellectual property issues stemming from the executory contracts between the artists and the record company, and dealing with the rights and obligations of the record publishers.

Kingsboro Medical Group, P.C.:

Represented the 80-physician medical group in its successful Chapter 11 reorganization in the Eastern District of New York.

Artha Management:

Represented the operating Chapter 11 Trustee of the debtor and its 67 related real estate limited partnership cases. Representation resulted in the successful confirmation of multiple plans of reorganization for each debtor entity with creditors being paid in full with interest in excess of 45 of those cases.

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New York Law Journal, Co-author, "Structured Dismissals: Alive and Well After 'Jevic,'" April 2017
The Business Advisor, Co-author, "New Sale Guideline Rules for the Eastern District of New York", April 30, 2010
Valcon: The Conference on Bankruptcy Valuation, Speaker, "Pereira v. Cogan, A Case Study in "Vicinity of Insolvency" Jurisprudence and the Resulting Shift of Fiduciary Duties," March 5, 2004

American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Member
American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
Turnaround Management Association, Member
New York City Bar Association, Member
National Association of Federal Equity Receivers (NAFER), International Committee, Member

The Best Lawyers in America, 2021-2022, 2024, Listed in New York for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Law & Politics' New York Super Lawyers - Metro Edition 2006-2008, 2012-2016, Listed for excellence in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights
Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Rated

John P. Campo

Notable Work

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