J.S. Held LLC

The restaurant franchise industry is experiencing growing financial pressures, with burger and pizza franchises facing a wave of restructuring challenges. In a recent episode of the DebtWired! Podcast, J.S. Held Senior Managing Director Dan Dooley joins Danielle Saba of DebtWire to discuss the financial health of restaurant brands, early warning signs of distress, and triggers for restructuring in the franchise space. With decades of experience in crisis management, operational improvement, and debt restructuring, Dan is a nationally recognized turnaround and restructuring expert based out of Chicago. Dan and the team at MorrisAnderson, a part of J.S. Held, are trusted advisors to middle-market businesses, boards of directors, counsel, and capital providers with extensive expertise in matters involving restaurants and franchise businesses. To listen to the podcast, visit: https://lnkd.in/eaXweisC To connect with Dan, reach out to him on LinkedIn or at dan.dooley@jsheld.com. #FindYourExpert #FranchiseRestructuring #RestaurantTurnaround 

In recognition of #IndigenousPeoplesDay on August 9, we honor the diverse cultures, histories, and rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world. At J.S. Held, our global advisory work often intersects with regions where Indigenous stewardship is not only essential to environmental preservation—but also to regulatory compliance, responsible business practices, and risk mitigation. Andrea Korney, Vice President of Sustainability, shares her perspective on the importance of Indigenous partnerships for environmental and community initiatives. Below, she highlights the value of integrating Indigenous voices into sustainability and supply chain strategies, respecting land and water guardianship, and supporting community-centered solutions. #FindYourExpert #Sustainability #IndigenousRelations

After a major North American flooring manufacturer filed for bankruptcy, our Strategic Advisory team was engaged to serve as financial advisor to the unsecured creditors’ committee and ultimately as Trustee of the Liquidating Trust. We managed the estate’s remaining assets and maximized recovery for ~500 unsecured creditors. As part of the engagement, 200 preference claims were pursued and collected from more than 125 parties and action was taken against 23 D&O and 18 affiliated entities for breach of fiduciary duty and receipt of fraudulent and preferential transfers, among other asset recovery efforts. After six years, as a result of our efforts, unsecured creditors recovered more than 40% of their claims, exceeding initial expectations. To learn more about the engagement, contact Michael Jacoby or visit: https://lnkd.in/eGX_YeVE #FindYourExpert #AssetRecovery #StrategicAdvisory

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a brownfield as “a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” According to the EPA, it is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the United States.   In this article, John Brennan and John Hernandez discuss the evolution of brownfield redevelopment in the U.S., covering topics such as historical practical/legal challenges, criteria for environmental justice, common risks, the role of environmental professionals, and the application of technology and forensics.   To learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/gsCdrmBv #FindYourExpert #Brownfields #EnvironmentalLiability

AI is transforming how legal teams investigate and resolve complex financial disputes. At the 2025 The Masters Conference Legal in NYC, Mike Gaudet and Ken Feinstein from our Digital Investigations & Discovery team joined a dynamic panel to share what works, what doesn’t, and how to navigate today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape. Below, Mike and Ken highlight some key takeaways from this discussion. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, contact Mike at mike.gaudet@jsheld.com or Ken at ken.feinstein@jsheld.com. For more information about our Digital Investigations expertise, visit: https://lnkd.in/e8PdjVaU   #FindYourExpert #eDiscovery #LegalAI

In celebration of National #InternDay, we’re proud to recognize the outstanding contributions of our 2025 summer interns! This year’s interns include students from universities and colleges around the world, each demonstrating hard work, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence across various departments. We’re grateful for their impact and are excited to see all they’ll accomplish in the future. Please join us in celebrating their achievements and wishing them continued success in their professional careers! To learn more about internships at J.S. Held, visit: https://lnkd.in/exK8pFrc #Internship #FutureTalent

Coupon payments made on a state’s international debt securities are one often-overlooked asset in the enforcement of investor-state arbitration awards. They are a surprisingly attractive tool for creditors, offering the opportunity for sizeable attachments with a transparent payment schedule and the leverage to influence a state’s ability to attract future investments should it default on its payments. In this article, Mike H. discusses the mechanics of taking enforcement action against a state’s coupon payments in the course of an asset tracer’s investigation. He also provides insight into enforcement strategies available to creditors targeting this asset class, plus more creative approaches investors and lawyers can consider in the course of post-award proceedings. To learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/evFW7pZ3 #FindYourExpert #ArbitrationLaw #InternationalFinance #AssetTracing

In a new video, Sami Shaker, Senior Director of Accident Reconstruction at J.S. Held, provides a detailed overview of how our experts utilize automotive event data recorders (EDRs), or black boxes, to support accident reconstruction investigations. By analyzing key vehicle metrics such as speed, braking, throttle position, and seatbelt usage, our team delivers scientifically-grounded insights that help clarify the circumstances that led to a collision. To watch the full video and learn more about how black boxes are used in accident investigations and reconstruction, visit: https://lnkd.in/eVe75Ucf #FindYourExpert #AccidentReconstruction #EventDataRecorder #BlackBoxData

The LMA Property Insurance Claims Group (PICG) recently welcomed the property claims community to the Old Library for an informative session unpacking the complexities of property loss valuation. Led by Jon Held (Executive Chairman, J.S. Held LLC) and Amy Churan (Partner, Robins Kaplan LLP), the event attracted underwriters, adjusters, attorneys and senior leaders for a practical discussion on: ➡️ How economic loss is assessed and why policyholders make certain post-loss decisions ➡️ Replacement cost, including how to define like kind and quality ➡️ What it means to be made whole under the principle of indemnity ➡️ How Actual Cash Value (ACV) is determined and its variation across US jurisdictions ➡️ What influences repair cost estimates ➡️ How to approach depreciation, from methods and calculations to the treatment of labour ➡️ Key questions to ask your expert, explored through hypothetical examples Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the discussion. For more upcoming LMA events, visit: https://lnkd.in/eAEZCEXD #LMAEvents #PropertyInsurance #LossValuation #Claims #Underwriting #InsuranceLaw

Investigating fidelity claims – from inception to quantification of damages to recovery of stolen funds – requires qualified professionals in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, forensic accounting, insurance, valuation, and data analytics. Fidelity claims are becoming more complex as industries face new technologies and emerging risks. Covering insureds from the willful theft of property, money, and securities by an employee or an outside third-party demands a sharper focus. In this second edition, Peter Fogarty, Natalie Lewis, and Stephen O'Malley provide a closer look at the growth of check and vendor fraud and the expertise necessary to address the changing landscape of fidelity claims. To learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/enKcXsSG