Nick Kaluk III

NICK is counsel in Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s Restructuring Group and regularly advises debtors, investors and other creditors in chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings. He also represents investment banks and financial advisors retained by major constituencies in chapter 11 proceedings and has experience with insurance insolvencies, securitizations and structured financings. In 2022, he was part of a Debevoise team awarded The M&A Advisor’s Restructuring Community Impact Award and Restructuring Deal of the Year Award (Over $5B) for its representation of Philippine Airlines in its chapter 11 pre-arranged plan of reorganization. Additionally, in 2021 he was part of a Debevoise team awarded The M&A Advisor’s Distressed Deal of the Year ($500mm - $1B) for its representation of High Ridge Brands in its § 363 asset sale and chapter 11 plan of liquidation. He is recommended by The Legal 500 US for 2022 and was invited to participate in the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges’ 2022 Next Generation program. He previously clerked for Hon. Allan L. Gropper in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Nick’s path to becoming a restructuring lawyer started when he was a structured finance paralegal from 2005-09, when he discovered that while he enjoys complex financing structures, financial downturns have consequences beyond balance sheets and touch individuals’ lives in very real ways. He has since found the restructuring community itself to be a source of continued support, inspiration and intellectual challenges.

Outside of his practice, Nick is active in Her Justice, a nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal services to women living in poverty in New York City. He also is a regular guest lecturer at Columbia Business School, Columbia Law School and Brooklyn Law School on restructuring, distressed investing and valuation topics, and he leads CLE trainings for restructuring and finance associates at his firm. In addition, he is a member of Debevoise’s LGBTQ+ affinity group, is active in dialogue on diversity issues within the firm and is a contributing author to Debevoise & Plimpton’s Private Equity Report and the Collier Business Workout Guide. He also is a former New York City coordinator for Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) and a member of WorkOUT, a national LGBTQ+ restructuring professional group.