Partner
Email: iwinters@klestadt.com
Tel: 212.972.3000
Fax: 212.972.2245
Cell: 917.607.7861
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Mr. Winters has been practicing in bankruptcy, insolvency and various commercial matters for over fifteen years. During that time, Mr. Winters has represented a diverse spectrum of debtors, creditor committees, secured lenders, government agencies, individual creditors and committee members, and acquirers of business in a variety of complex chapter 11 cases and out-of-bankruptcy restructurings. In addition, Mr. Winters has advised clients in various general commercial law matters with a particular emphasis in the diamond and jewelry and apparel industries. Mr. Winters’ creativity and diverse experience uniquely enables him to develop and implement legal and business strategies which are tailored to meet the individual goals and needs of each client.
Mr. Winters served as lead counsel to OTC International, Ltd., Hitachi Seiki Corporation, Mogu America, Inc., Metamorphosis Absolute Fitness, Inc., Kevo, Inc., Alison Gem Corp., and Sutton Gymnastics, Inc. in their respective chapter 11 cases or out-of-court restructurings. In addition, Mr. Winters served as counsel or co-counsel for the respective creditor committees of Whitehall Jewellers, Inc., Dunkin’s Diamonds, Inc., The Pollack Corporation, Reeds Jewelers, Inc., Star Diamond Group, Inc., and American Equities Group, Inc. in connection with their respective restructurings. Mr. Winters served as counsel to Westgate Financial Corp. in connection with its secured claims in the chapter 11 cases of JAM Creations and Marko Apparel and Merchant Financial Corp. in the chapter 11 case of Millenium Electric and Art Leather.
Mr. Winters has represented government agencies, landlords, creditors and committee members, including The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Sypris Technologies, Inc., Agilysys, Inc., Gitanjali Gems, Ltd., SDC Designs, LLC, Leo Schachter Diamonds, LLC, Michael Werdiger, Inc., Firestone, Inc., and WH Reaves LLC in bankruptcy and commercial law matters and has been involved in various aspects of prominent cases such as Calpine, Dana, Fortunoff, Crescent Jewellers, Whitehall Jewelers, Service Merchandise, Global Crossing, Caldor, Vicksburg Chemical and Kleinerts.
In connection with his commercial law practice, Mr. Winters has negotiated and drafted a variety of business acquisition agreements, including representing Gitanjali Gems, Ltd. in its acquisitions of Samuels Jewelers, Inc. and Rogers Jewelers, Ltd. He has also negotiated and drafted numerous financing agreements, factoring agreements, consignment agreements, license and supply agreements and prosecuted and defended a variety of commercial litigation and arbitration matters.
Mr. Winters graduated from Syracuse University Law School cum laude in 1993, and from Muhlenberg College in 1990. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York and the United States District Court and Bankruptcy Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and has lectured on Bankruptcy Law topics for the New York Institute of Credit and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.