LOS ANGELES (June 30, 2010) – Following quickly on the heels of the addition of well-known California bankruptcy attorney Hamid R. Rafatjoo in May, Venable today announced that it added insolvency and restructuring attorney Jennifer L. Nassiri to its Los Angeles office. The move further strengthens Venable’s growing Los Angeles corporate practice and helps it to leverage its nationally recognized bankruptcy practice.
Nassiri, who comes to Venable from DLA Piper, has known Rafatjoo since 2004 during their work on a large bankruptcy matter, and came to the firm to work with him again. She represents borrowers and lenders on restructuring, insolvency and distressed debt obligations – both in and out of court. She advises landlords and tenants in bankruptcy and potential bankruptcy situations, and has prosecuted more than 250 fraudulent transfer and preferential transfer actions. She has represented creditors and creditors’ committees, alike. She will serve as Of Counsel to the firm.
“I have always been impressed with the skill and wisdom Jennifer has brought to her clients in these difficult and trying situations,” Rafatjoo said recently. “Especially now with the resurgence of bankruptcy, she will add great depth and bandwidth to our practice here and to the firm nationally.”
Among her recent work, Nassiri represented a significant trade creditor in the bankruptcy of a major automaker, she represented a large landlord in the bankruptcy of a brand name retailer, and she advised a national franchisor in the bankruptcy of one of its franchisees. She has been active in her community, volunteering for the Kids in Court program, which introduces disadvantaged children to courthouse tours, art contests and mock trials.
“Venable is a great place for me to continue to develop my practice,” Nassiri noted. “I’ve always wanted to expand into the type of bankruptcy work that Hamid does, so I am very excited to work with him and his creditor committee clients.”
Nassiri earned her law degree from Loyola Marymount University in 2000 and spent more than six years with DLA Piper. She has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyer's Southern California Rising Stars Edition from 2007 to 2010, which is published in Los Angeles and Law & Politics magazines.
“Being able to bring aboard both Hamid and Jennifer this year represents a major and exciting step in the expansion of our bankruptcy practice in Los Angeles and nationwide," said Gregory Cross, chair of Venable’s Bankruptcy Group and a 2010 "Dealmaker of the Year” by American Lawyer.
Venable's Bankruptcy Practice Group has received major plaudits from national industry publications, including its recent recognition by Law 360 as one of the nation's top five bankruptcy practices.
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Note: An American Lawyer top 100 law firm, Venable LLP has attorneys practicing in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property and government affairs. Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world from its headquarters in Washington, DC and offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia.