Michael Papandrea

MIKE is counsel with Lowenstein Sandler LLP in Roseland, N.J., where he provides counsel to debtors, creditors’ committees, liquidating trustees, trade creditors, institutional investors and other interested parties with respect to corporate bankruptcy and creditors’ rights matters, including bankruptcy-related litigation. Prior to joining the firm, he held multiple clerkships in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, for Hon. Jerrold N. Poslusny, Jr. (D. N.J.), Hon. Ashely M. Chan (E.D. Pa.) and Chief Judge Gloria M. Burns (D. N.J.). In his firm, he is most known within his department and the industry for being a passionate and zealous creditors’ rights advocate. He also has helped trade creditors have a voice in policy with respect to the Bankruptcy Code, having guided those in the trade that were interviewed by and provided their views on subchapter V to ABI’s Subchapter V Task Force.

Mike enjoys educating trade creditors throughout the country on issues related to bankruptcy and insolvency. He often presents at industry events on bankruptcy, insolvency and creditors’ rights-related topics for such groups as the National Association of Credit Management (NACM), National Group Management Corp., Credit Research Foundation (CRF) and the Federation of Credit and Financial Professionals. He also writes articles about bankruptcy and the credit and risk-management space on a regular basis through those same outlets — particularly in NACM’s newsletters and in Business Credit and eNews. In addition to representing trade creditors, a significant part of his practice involves the representation of institutional investors and other class action plaintiffs in chapter 11 cases where their claims may be impacted. He has been named one of the “Ones to Watch” in The Best Lawyers in America since 2021 for Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and he is listed as a “New Jersey Rising Star” in Super Lawyers for 2023 and 2024 for his work in Creditor/Debtor Rights. He also was an ABI Medal of Excellence recipient.

Mike co-manages his department’s pro bono efforts, volunteers as a summer associate mentor virtually every summer, provides orientation programs to new associates and summer associates, and serves as “team lead” on the firm’s Law School Ambassador Committee, through which he is responsible for managing the firm’s relationship with Rutgers Law School. He also is heavily involved in the New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyers Foundation (NJBLF), having served on its NextGen Committee and co-chaired its annual golf and tennis outing for two years. The only lawyer in his social circle growing up, he takes pride in being someone whom young lawyers can turn to for practical advice, mentorship and friendship. He has provided educational programs for Rutgers students relating to bankruptcy, and he makes himself available as an informal resource to whom Rutgers Law School can refer students who are interested in meeting with an experienced attorney who can provide insight and guidance on their careers. Outside of the office, he balances out his lawyering by being an avid Yankee fan, a (very) amateur CrossFitter, and a devoted husband and father of four.