Katherine (Katie) Catanese is a partner in our Restructuring & Insolvency Practice Group, where she advises distressed companies, lenders, creditors, investors and fiduciaries in complex domestic and cross-border restructuring matters, insolvency proceedings and related litigation. Katie is known for developing practical, business-focused solutions that preserve value through both bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy strategies tailored to each client's unique circumstances. In this regard, she focuses her practice on cross-border representation of liquidators, funds, creditors, independent directors, investors and other stakeholders in insolvency-related litigation involving insolvency, fraud and asset recovery.
She also focuses on non-bankruptcy alternatives, including Article 9 foreclosures, assignments for the benefit of creditors, wind-downs, receiverships and out-of-court sales.
Katie has substantial experience in Chapter 15 proceedings and the intersection with cross-border insolvency matters, representing foreign liquidators, lenders, creditors and other stakeholders in jurisdictions throughout the US and abroad. Her work often involves litigating jurisdictional disputes, cross-border claims, fraudulent transfer claims, and alter ego theories at the intersection of US and offshore entities.
She has also represented domestic and international insurance companies and related entities in distressed situations, including asset sales involving collateral protection insurance and complex proof-of-claim disputes.
Katie regularly helps clients maximize asset value through in-court and out-of-court sale processes, and advises creditors on distressed debt matters, including representations in cryptocurrency-related bankruptcy cases and cryptocurrency preference actions.
Additionally, Katie is deeply committed to pro bono work. She has contributed to nationwide innocence projects and advocates for low-income women in family law matters, reflecting her dedication to access to justice. She also represents a Jewish k-12 school and a local church as their outside general counsel.
Representing foreign liquidators, creditors and defendants in complex Chapter 15 proceedings and related US litigation.
Representing lenders and investment funds in disputes against defaulting borrowers in bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy proceedings.
Guiding multiple restaurant chains through out-of-court restructurings and wind-downs, maximizing stakeholder value while avoiding the costs and disruption associated with bankruptcy.
Advising companies across a range of industries in Article 9 foreclosures, assignments for the benefit of creditors and receivership proceedings throughout the US, including counseling on which options are the best fit in a particular insolvency situation.
Representing purchasers in acquisitions of distressed assets across multiple industries, including catalog retail, food equipment, agricultural equipment, commercial boiler manufacturing and financial services.
Advising distressed companies and stakeholders in complex shareholder and "business divorce" disputes.
Representing numerous creditors in crypto currency bankruptcy cases, including representation in preference matters and proof of claim disputes.
Representing insurance companies in distressed asset sales involving collateral protection insurance coverage.
Former Board Member, Association of Insolvency & Restructuring Advisors (AIRA)
Vice President of the International Committee, American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI)
Board Member, ABI (2024-present)
Member of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC)
Recognized by Lawdragon as one of the 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers (2020, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026)
Selected for inclusion in New York Metro Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy: Business (2021, 2022 and 2025)
Recognized as "40 Under 40" by the American Bankruptcy Institute (2018)
Selected for inclusion in Law Leaders 2024 (Top 10% of attorneys nationwide)
Pro Bono Award for service to Be'er Hagolah, a K-12 Jewish school in Brooklyn
Speaker, Asset Recovery America by Informa, Nashville, “Officeholders vs. Everyone: The Expanding Battleground,” September, 2026.
Co-Author, “Cannabis Companies Finally Gain Bankruptcy Access,” MJBizDaily, July 3, 2026.
Speaker, ABI European Insolvency Symposium, Berlin, “Third Party Releases and Chapter 15 Implications,” October 2025.
Speaker, NCBJ Conference, AIRA Lunch Program, “Other Roles in the Bankruptcy Process – Trustees, Examiners, Why Not Special Masters?”, September 2025.
Chair, ABI Latin America Symposium, Mexico City, September 2024 and Cartagena, Colombia, May 2025.
Chair, ABI Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, Puerto Rico, January 2024 and Cayman, January 2025.
Speaker, ABI Winter Leadership Conference, “Financially Distressed De-SPAC Companies,” December 1, 2023.
Speaker, ABI Winter Leadership Conference, “Financially Distressed De-SPAC Companies,” December 1, 2023.
Speaker, “Rebuilding After Covid,” 95th Annual Conference of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ), October 8, 2021.
Speaker, “Taming a Black Swan: Feasibility in Uncertain Times,” Webinar, American Bar Association (ABI), 2021 Rocky Mountain Bankruptcy Conference, January 29, 2021.
Speaker, “Governance & Litigation Finance: What Board Members Should Know,” Webinar, American Bar Association, Business Law Section, September 15, 2020.