How Investors Evaluate Distressed Deals

James Gansman is a managing director at Rock Creek Advisors LLC in New York and has been involved in more than 150 transactions (valued in excess of $17 billion) representing lenders, debtors and purchasers across various industries, including retail, consumer products, SAAS and medical devices. He is a foremost expert in assignments for the benefit of creditors.

Previously, Mr. Gansman was a managing director at Sherwood Partners, where he opened and led its New York practice. He also a partner for 12 years at a Big 4 accounting firm in its Transaction Advisory Practice.

Mr. Gansman received his A.B. in accounting from Tulane University Freeman School of Business.

With more than 20 years of experience in the bankruptcy and fiduciary industries, Jennifer brings a unique skill set and expertise to her role at Stretto, where she leads the organization’s business-development efforts for its Trustee Suite and Best Case by Stretto business units. Through her experience as a corporate-restructuring attorney and her tenure in various leadership roles around the bankruptcy industry over the last two decades, Jennifer understands the importance of serving as a trusted partner to clients, and she appreciates the necessity of delivering tailored solutions to meet fiduciaries’ case-management and operational needs. She is an active participant in the bankruptcy community and currently serves on the Executive Board of the Turnaround Management Association. Jennifer is a board member for the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors, and a board member and former Chair of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation. In 2020, she received the Individual Contribution Award from the Turnaround Management Association and she has also been recognized by M&A Advisor as a Top 40 Under 40 in the industry.

Jennifer Meyerowitz earned her J.D. from Emory University and her B.A. from University of Michigan. She is an active participant in several industry organizations serving on their boards, speaking on panels and publishing industry articles. Jennifer is a former chair of the International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation and former chair and co-founder of its Georgia network. She currently serves on the boards of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, on the global board of the Turnaround Management Association and is the co-chair of its Network of Women. Further, Jennifer is involved in various other professional organizations, including having served as a former chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Atlanta Bar Association and currently serving on various boards and committees in the industry as well as other non-profit organizations in her community. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and three kids.

Michael A. Teplitsky is a managing director with Wynnchurch Capital in Rosemont, Ill., and has more than 15 years of experience in private-equity investing and corporate finance, as well as in investment origination and portfolio management. He focuses on the diversified-industries sector, including business services, manufacturing, transportation, distribution and natural resources. Mr. Teplitsky was involved in the execution of several Wynnchurch investments, including NSC Minerals, Northstar Aerospace, Rosboro, Texas Hydraulics and U.S. Pipe.

Previously, he was with Lime Rock Partners, a $6 billion global private-equity fund, where he was involved in the execution of numerous basic material-sector investments across North America and Europe. Mr. Teplitsky began his career at UBS in its Investment Banking Department in New York, where he was involved in a number of mergers, acquisitions and financings across various industries.

Mr. Teplitsky received his B.A. from Northwestern University and his M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management.

Ron concentrates in finance and reorganization law, primarily in the area of bankruptcy and out-of-court workouts. Ron actively represents corporate debtors, borrowers, secured lenders, landlords, creditors’ committees, court appointed receivers and automotive customers in bankruptcy proceedings, restructurings and out-of-court workouts. He represents purchasers of entire businesses or business segments both in and out of chapter 11 and regularly counsels equity funds in matters involving distressed real estate. Ron also serves as outside general counsel for corporate clients.

Ron served on the firm’s Executive Committee from 2009 through 2016. In addition, he has also served as Chair of the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice and Vice-Chair of the firm’s Corporate/Business Department.

Leon Szlezinger is co-head of Jefferies LLC’s Restructuring Department in New York and has more than 25 years of professional experience advising troubled companies and their stakeholders. He has advised company management and boards, secured lenders, bondholders and equityholders in bankruptcy matters and out-of-court restructurings in the U.S. and overseas. Mr. Szlezinger has also provided assistance to underperforming businesses and potential acquirers of distressed assets/entities, and has advised clients on general business issues. His industry specialization includes health care, industrial, real estate, energy and aviation, and he has advised significant stakeholders in such restructurings as Energy Future Holdings, Momentive, KV Pharmaceutical, American Airlines, Eastman Kodak, Quebecor, Delphi, Enron, Parmalat and Federal Mogul, having testified on numerous occasions.

Prior to joining Jefferies, Mr. Szlezinger was a senior managing director at Mesirow Financial Consulting and a corporate recovery partner at KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. A former co-chair of ABI’s Investment Banking Committee, he has frequently been recognized as a top restructuring advisor by The Deal, has been included in the K&A Restructuring Register, been listed in the Bankruptcy Insider as a top creditor advisor, and was featured in Turnaround & Workouts’s “People to Watch.” He also received the 2014 Mega Turnaround of the Year award from the Turnaround Management Association.