Irve J. Goldman

Irve J. Goldman has practiced in the areas of bankruptcy law and commercial litigation for more than 30 years, and serves as chair of Pullman & Comley's Bankruptcy, Creditors' Rights and Financial Restructuring practice. In 1993, Irve was the first attorney in Connecticut to become a certified specialist in business bankruptcy and has represented a diversity of interests in bankruptcy proceedings, including companies reorganizing under Chapter 11, secured creditors, equipment lessors, franchisees, landlords and other creditor groups and asset purchasers in 363 sales.

He has represented companies in reorganization proceedings ranging in size from large retail businesses to smaller-sized concerns such as a marina in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, a regional hardware chain, vintage car company and a cross section of other businesses and individuals. He also has served as a Chapter 11 Trustee, as well as represented Chapter 11 and 7 trustees in various bankruptcy cases.  In a case that has received national attention, he represented the State of Connecticut and a group of other states in the Chapter 11 case of In re Purdue Pharma, L.P. et al.

A frequent author on topical bankruptcy issues, Irve has published articles in the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Journal dealing with standing issues in bankruptcy, prejudgment asset-freeze injunctions and executory contracts; in the Connecticut Bar Journal on the status of lien stripping under bankruptcy law; and in the Quinnipiac Law Review’s annual summary of decisions from the Second Circuit.

At the First Annual Connecticut Bankruptcy Conference in 2019, Irve served as a moderator and panelist with the Hon. Robert E. Gerber (ret.) and William K. Harrington, United States Trustee for Region 2, on the subject of Third-Party Releases in Chapter 11 Plans, and for the Fourth Annual Connecticut Bankruptcy Conference in 2021, prepared the materials for credit bidding in § 363 sales and selling assets in Chapter 11 when the estate is administratively insolvent.

In addition to his bankruptcy experience, Irve has handled a wide variety of commercial disputes in both state and federal court, including actions involving civil RICO, breach of fiduciary duty, other business torts and debtor-creditor issues.

Office

Professional Affiliations

Connecticut Bar Association - Executive Committee, Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section

Fairfield County Bar Association, Co-Chair of the Bankruptcy Section

American Bankruptcy Institute, Business Bankruptcy and Asset Sale Committees

American Board of Certification, Business Bankruptcy

Honors & Recognitions

Named Stamford "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganizational Law in 2022 and 2024; Litigation -Bankruptcy for 2023

Named a Moffly Media Top Lawyer in Fairfield County, 2021, 2023 and 2024 - Bankruptcy and Workout

Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list since 2006 in the areas of bankruptcy and business litigation

Has received the highest peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell (AV) for consecutive years since 2000

Listed in Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganizational Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy since 2021 and Commercial Litigation since 2023

Certified as Business Bankruptcy Specialist by the American Board of Certification, July 1993

• Represented the State of Connecticut in opposing plan confirmation in the Chapter 11 case of In re Purdue Pharma, L.P. and on appeal to the SDNY and Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and represented the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and the District of Columbia in negotiating a plan and direct settlement with the Debtors and the Sackler family.
• Co-counsel to creditors’ committee in the Chapter 11 case of In re Latex Foam International, LLC, and currently lead counsel to the committee on appeal of a § 506(b) order allowing postpetition default interest to oversecured creditor
• Represented Chapter 7 trustee in breach of fiduciary duty and fraudulent transfer litigation in the case of O’Neil v. New England Road, Inc., et al, resulting in judgments for in excess of $1.4 million (reported at 593 B.R. 100 (Bankr. D. Conn. 2018)
• Representing Chapter 7 trustee in breach of fiduciary duty in litigation in Chapter 7 case of In re Gateway Development, Inc.
• Represented debtor corporations in Chapter 11 cases including, (i) Ultimate Nutrition, Inc. and Prostar, Inc., (ii) Alliance Limousine, (iii) WOW Fitness Clubs, (iv) Dragone Classic Motor Cars, (v), Silver Clothing, Inc., (vi) SC Corporation and Wigs by Paula, (vii) Service America Corporation, and (viii) Antonovich Furs
• Represented secured lenders in Chapter 11 cases of Armaos Property Holdings and Olympic Hotel Corp., Kasden Fuel Company, Craftsman Press, Derecktor Shipyards and George Guidera
• Represented landlords in Chapter 11 cases of Bulls Head Diner, Inc., Mill River Foundation, Sage Crest II LLC, Waterworks Holding Corporation and Laurel Nursing Home
• Represented the Town of Ridgefield in the Chapter 11 case of its school bus transportation company
• Represented creditors' committees in the Chapter 11 cases of SND Electronics, The Jewish Home for the Aged and Atrium Health Care
• Represented both creditors and debtors in bankruptcy litigation concerning claims objections, non-dischargeability proceedings, injunction proceedings, preferences, fraudulent transfers, involuntary petitions, executory contracts and leases and confirmation proceedings
• Successfully concluded asset sales in a number of bankruptcy proceedings

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