Cahill Picks Up Former Barclays Director in Bankruptcy Build Out

Cahill Gordon & Reindel is building out its bankruptcy practice with the addition of longtime Barclays lawyer Amit Trehan.

Trehan joins the Manhattan-founded law firm as a partner in its bankruptcy and restructuring practice, Cahill said Tuesday.

The storied Wall Street firm, known for its work in capital markets and banking, has been battered by a slowdown in leveraged finance and several partner departures over the last year. Its new leadership is looking to chart a fresh path by building out key practice areas, like bankruptcy, and new ones like a trading and markets practice.

“We are very excited to welcome Amit to the team, and view his arrival as further evidence of our commitment to a growth strategy that enhances our capabilities in areas closely aligned with Cahill’s top-tier practices, including leveraged finance and capital markets,” said Herb Washer, chair of Cahill’s executive committee in a statement. Washer officially took over as the firm’s sole leader in January, succeeding longtime chair William Hartnett.

Cahill’s gross revenue dipped by nearly 3% last year, following a steep decline in 2022, according to data from The American Lawyer. The firm saw its profits per equity partner climb to just under $4.4. million during the same time, as its total partner roll was trimmed.

Trehan joins from Barclays, where he most recently served as a principal in special asset management. He oversaw a portfolio of distressed credits across numerous industries and financial products.

“Headwinds for the economy are tailwinds for the restructuring practice,” Trehan said in an interview. “You can’t time the market, but you have to have as many tailwinds at your back as possible and I think this is an opportune time to expand a practice at Cahill,” he said.

In his more than 12 years at the investment bank, Trehan also served as global head of resolution and recovery planning and was the lead restructuring lawyer for Barclays in the US.

He worked alongside Joel Moss, co-chair of Cahill’s bankruptcy and restructuring practice. Moss previously served as in-house counsel at Barclays, where he handled bankruptcy and restructuring matters for the bank in the US. Moss joined Cahill in March 2023 from Shearman & Sterling.

Trehan’s practice at Cahill will focus on representing a broad range of clients including financial institutions, hedge funds, direct lenders, corporate clients, ad hoc groups, and derivative counterparties, among others.

Cahill is widely known for its dominance in leveraged finance and capital markets, Trehan said. “The best restructuring practices have extraordinary, strong leveraged finance practices so it’s a natural fit,” he said.