James S. Carr

Jim Carr is Chair of Kelley Drye, a member of the Executive Committee, and previous Chair of the Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice (2005-2015). Jim’s practice focuses on creditor representations in corporate bankruptcy cases, with an emphasis on companies in the financial services, retail, gaming, petroleum, energy, chemical, and technology industries. He represents official committees of unsecured creditors, indenture trustees, owners and developers of shopping centers and individual creditors.

Jim regularly works with high-level executives to develop strategies to achieve their legal goals. Because he thoroughly understands the bankruptcy process from start to finish, he is able to communicate probable next steps and navigate around the challenges and obstacles his clients face. Jim’s clients truly appreciate his experience and well-earned reputation in the bankruptcy bar, his ability to guide them through challenges in a way that makes practical business sense, and the peace of mind he provides that is a direct result of such comprehensive advice. Jim has a successful track record of delivering realistic, creative solutions to novel issues that often arise in complex debt restructurings.

Over the past three decades, Jim has been involved in all aspects of the bankruptcy process and has played leading roles in a number of high-profile billion-dollar cases. As such, he has developed one of the most robust practices in the country representing creditor constituents. He has established a thriving practice representing unsecured creditors’ committees, both in and out-of-court restructurings. Additionally, he has substantial experience representing indenture trustees in some of the largest and financially complex bankruptcy cases to date. Jim is also recognized for having built the finest retail bankruptcy practice in the industry, with a team of lawyers who have been involved in well over 400 retail cases.

One of Law360’s “10 Most Admired Bankruptcy Attorneys” (2010), Jim is listed and/or ranked as a premier bankruptcy lawyer in Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America©, The Deal Pipeline, The M&A Advisor and Super Lawyers. According to Chambers USA, clients appreciate Jim’s breadth of experience and “deep understanding of the bankruptcy Bar,” noting that he is “very well respected―when his name shows up, it’s something that immediately gets attention and respect.”

Also notable, Jim is a member of the Mediation Panels of the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern District of New York and the District of New Jersey.

Jim is also the founder and managing director of META Advisors LLC, an organization that specializes in executing plans of reorganization, plans of liquidation, and administering trusts in chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy cases and out-of-court workouts. Jim consistently strives for an efficient post-confirmation process for his clients. To accomplish this goal, Jim becomes involved prior to confirmation by suggesting appropriate provisions that should be included in plans of reorganization or liquidation and confirmation orders. He engages in the same process for out-of-court workouts and structured dismissals by focusing on the terms of the settlement agreements and provisions in orders dismissing chapter 11 cases. Jim has been involved in all aspects of post-confirmation liquidations for companies across numerous industries.