Overview
Josh is an extraordinary lawyer. He is highly sophisticated, deeply knowledgeable and performs at the highest possible level on behalf of his clients.” “He is the guy I want in my corner when the going gets tough.”
- Chambers USA, 2022–2024 (Client Quotes)
Josh Greenblatt is a litigation partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. A litigator for over 20 years, Josh represents private equity and other investment firms, corporations, partnerships and individuals in complex commercial litigation, arbitration and regulatory proceedings. Josh has extensive experience counseling clients in high-stakes business disputes, liability management transactions, restructurings, M&A matters, corporate governance issues and investigations. His clients have included TPG; Blackstone; BC Partners; Altamont Capital; Pegasus Capital; WeWork; Cineworld; Neiman Marcus; J.Crew Group; Kindred Healthcare; Freescale Semiconductor; Greenoaks Capital; Social+Capital; The Jordan Company; MBIA; Oaktree Capital; Brightstar Capital Partners; Bain Capital; and KKR.
Josh has been repeatedly recognized for his litigation work by Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, The Legal 500 US, Super Lawyers and Lawdragon, with Chambers stating that Josh “represents a strong choice for private equity sponsors, corporates and individuals seeking expertise in complex business disputes, restructurings and securities litigation.”
Client quotes describing Josh in the 2022–2024 Chambers USA editions include the following:
- “He’s very smart, very strategic and has really made an impact. Formidable litigator.”
- “Josh is smart, responsive and strategic. He is good at brainstorming with general counsel, and he reads the room to protect those who need it.”
- He has “very deep expertise in and understanding of commercial and business issues.”
Experience
Representative Matters
Secured complete victory for a Silicon Valley venture capital firm Social + Capital in proceedings brought by two of its founders and a former partner alleging improper dilution of their carried interest. Following a week-long trial and post-trial briefing, a JAMS arbitration panel found in favor of Social + Capital in all respects and dismissed all claims asserted by the claimants.
Won total victory for Pegasus Capital and its portfolio company in arbitration related to a joint venture. After a five-day trial, the panel unanimously sided with Kirkland, finding that respondent had violated the governing contracts, and awarded Kirkland’s client a permanent injunction against wrongful competition and approximately $40 million in monetary damages for prior breaches. The panel also uniformly rejected respondent’s counterclaims and refused to dissolve the joint venture despite repeated efforts by respondents.
Secured complete victory for Oaktree Capital portfolio company, RailUSA LLC and its affiliate American Rail Partners LLC (ARP) in breach of contract litigation and related proceedings in Delaware Chancery court seeking to enjoin a $224 million sale of two short-line railroads to Macquarie Infrastructure Partners. Defeated injunction after highly accelerated discovery and full evidentiary proceeding, and defeated a subsequent attempt by plaintiff to enjoin distribution of sales proceeds.
Obtained complete dismissal of putative class action in Delaware Chancery court against Altamont Capital, its portfolio company Sequel, and former Sequel directors, arising from purported breaches of class members’ put rights and information rights.
A private equity firm and insurance portfolio company in obtaining a high value confidential arbitration award and injunction against former management employees and investors.
WeWork Inc., a global flexible space provider, and its 517 affiliates on their Chapter 11 filing and in related litigation proceedings. Approved confirmation plan.
J. Crew Group in actions brought by bondholders relating to the company’s successful drop-down IP restructuring transaction. Among other things, Josh successfully defeated a TRO, preliminary injunction and emergency appeal in 2017, allowing the transaction (including a consent solicitation to amend the governing Term Loan Agreement and a debt exchange) to close. In 2018, successfully reduced the case to a single valuation issue when the court granted dismissal with prejudice of all other claims; affirmed on appeal in 2019. The parties agreed to dismiss the case in 2020.
Boardriders, Inc., owner of apparel brands Quiksilver and Billabong, in litigation arising from a debt financing transaction that provided over $110 million in crucial liquidity to the Company in order to weather the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Settlement achieved.
Careismatic Brands, LLC, a designer, marketer and distributor of medical apparel, shoes and accessories, and 21 of its affiliates in their Chapter 11 filing and in related litigation proceedings. Reorganization plan confirmed.
Cineworld Group plc, the parent company of Regal Entertainment Group, which is the second-largest cinema chain in the world, and 104 of its debtor affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases and in related litigation proceedings. Kirkland secured a temporary restraining order and then preliminary injunction in an adversary proceeding addressing violations of automatic stay by National Cinemedia, a contractual counterparty that provides advertising services to Cineworld, which was sending letters to competitors trying to prevent them from negotiating an alternative deal with Cineworld. Settlement achieved with National Cinemedia. Reorganization plan approved.
Sinclair Broadcast Group and affiliated entities in a nineteen-count adversary proceeding filed by Diamond Sports Group and affiliated debtors alleging constructive and intentional fraudulent conveyance, breach of fiduciary duty and alter ego claims. Settlement achieved. Pending approval.
Thrasio Holdings, Inc., a Silver Lake and Advent International portfolio company, and 240 of its affiliates in the commencement of prearranged Chapter 11 cases and in related litigation proceedings. Thrasio is the largest aggregator of Amazon brands in the world and a top five seller on Amazon’s platform.
Envision Healthcare, a KKR portfolio company, and 216 of its affiliates in the commencement of pre-arranged Chapter 11 cases and in related litigation proceedings. Reorganization plan approved in 2023.
Center for Autism and Related Disorders, LLC (CARD), a Blackstone portfolio company, and four of its affiliates in its Chapter 11 cases and in related litigation proceedings. CARD is one of the nation’s largest treatment providers for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. After less than two months in bankruptcy, the debtors held their fully consensual confirmation and sale hearing and the court confirmed the debtors’ plan of reorganization.
Altamont Capital and its portfolio company Hybrid Industries, Inc.in an action alleging fraud and a cross-complaint for breach of fiduciary duty and trade secret violations in connection with an unconsummated merger. In 2021, relying on a novel argument based on a decision of the California Supreme Court, Josh successfully defeated a demurrer on cross-claims alleging that the client’s counterparty breached non-solicitation covenants in a confidentiality agreement related to the merger diligence. Following the dismissal, obtained a successful settlement.
TPG Parish Holdings, LP, owner of an interest in UTC Laboratories in a breach of contract action brought by former UTC employees that alleged they were entitled to various payments from UTC. The parties reached a settlement in 2019.
IPC Systems, Inc. in a comprehensive out-of-court restructuring. The transaction reduced IPC’s leverage by over $400 million, extended its debt maturity schedule by 5 years, and provided $125 million of new capital.
TPG and its portfolio company Kadiant in an action alleging that Kadiant’s CEO breached an agreement by soliciting employees of his former employer, a Kadient competitor. After successfully persuading the court to deny the plaintiff’s motion for expedition, the case settled for a walk-away.
QIC Group Holdings, LLC, a former affiliate of The Jordan Company in an action for breach of contract arising out of the sale of Quick International Courier to Kuehne + Nagel. Favorable settlement achieved in 2020.
Acosta, Inc., a multinational sales and marketing company in its prepackaged restructuring of $3 billion of indebtedness and in related litigation proceedings. Acosta won confirmation in 2019, just 15 days after its bankruptcy filing. At the time, it was the fastest Delaware bankruptcy for a case of its size.
Neiman Marcus Group and 23 of its affiliates in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy and in related litigation proceedings, including an adversary case alleging breach of fiduciary duty and bid meddling by one of its unsecured creditors. In 2020, NMG emerged from Chapter 11, successfully completing its restructuring of over $5.5 billion of funded indebtedness in under five months and becoming the first known retailer to have restructured over $5 billion of debt. A settlement was achieved in the adversary case in 2021.
Neiman Marcus in lawsuits in New York and Texas state courts seeking to unwind the distribution of an international online business to equity sponsors as a fraudulent transfer. The Texas court granted Neiman Marcus’ motion to dismiss Marble Ridge’s claims with prejudice on standing grounds and denied Marble Ridge’s motion to dismiss Neiman Marcus’ counterclaims for defamation and business disparagement as violating the First Amendment under the Texas Citizens Participation Act. Affirmed on appeal. The New York court dismissed Marble Ridge’s subsequent suit for failure to comply with the indenture’s no-action requirements before filing suit.
PBF I Holdings Ltd., an affiliate of Pegasus Partners V, L.P. in breach of contract litigation arising out of the 2018 sale of Pure Biofuels, the third largest fuels importer in Peru, to Valero Peru and its parent corporation, Valero Energy Corporation. Favorable settlement achieved in 2021.
Kindred Healthcare and its private-equity owners in injunctive proceedings and shareholder litigation seeking appraisal in the Delaware Chancery Court following its take‑private by a consortium of private equity and strategic purchasers. After significant discovery and motion practice, the court allowed shareholders additional time to seek appraisal, but otherwise denied all aspects of the shareholders’ preliminary injunction motion, and the deal closed without delay. A related appraisal action was resolved through a confidential settlement.
TPG Parish Holdings, LP, as a nominal defendant in a derivative action alleging that the defendants established and operated competitor companies with the aim of improperly diverting business opportunities and revenue from UTC. TPG Parish owned an interest in UTC, but no causes of action were asserted against it. Settlement finalized.
PetSmart and a number of its subsidiaries in advice with respect to the transfer of its equity interests in Chewy.
Pegasus Capital Advisors in breach of contract litigation brought by a former Pegasus operating advisor alleging failure to pay a multimillion-dollar bonus in connection with his contributions to a Pegasus transaction. Concurrently, Pegasus filed an action against the former operating adviser for payment owed to Pegasus pursuant to a loan and accompanying promissory note. In 2021, ruling from the bench, the Court dismissed the action against Pegasus in its entirety and also granted Pegasus summary judgment on the promissory note.
Carvana Co., the leading e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars in various capital markets transactions, including an exchange offer for up to $1 billion of Carvana’s five tranches of unsecured notes and related transactions.
American Tire Distributors (ATD), the largest replacement tire distributor in North America and certain of its affiliates in Chapter 11 cases and in related litigation proceedings. ATD’s Chapter 11 plan was confirmed in 2018.
Sungard AS Capital, Inc. and its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York—the fastest Chapter 11 case in history. Sungard AS obtained confirmation in less than 19 hours on May 2, 2019. In addition, Sungard AS emerged from Chapter 11 faster than any company in history—staying in Chapter 11 for less than 48 hours. Sungard AS, a provider of availability and recovery services, had approximately $1.26 billion in funded debt at the commencement of its Chapter 11 cases and deleveraged by over $900 million upon emergence.
TPG Capital, one of the world’s largest private equity firms and senior TPG partners in bankruptcy proceedings and multiple state and federal court actions concerning the restructuring of Caesars Entertainment, a TPG portfolio company. Claims at issue included alleged fraudulent transfers, breaches of governing indentures and breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with controversial and complex transactions undertaken prior to the bankruptcy filing of Caesars’ operating subsidiary.
M&G Chemicals Brasil and its private equity affiliates in restructuring proceedings, including adversary proceeding seeking imposition of a constructive trust over cash proceeds from sales of chemical resins consigned to debtor at time of Chapter 11 filing.
Global A&T Electronics (“GATE”) a Singapore-based semiconductor company in connection with claims by first lien noteholders seeking to unwind GATE’s $502 million debt exchange based on alleged breaches of the governing indenture and intercreditor agreements.
MBIA, one of the world’s largest monoline insurers in state and federal litigation seeking to overturn MBIA’s corporate restructuring which, with the approval of New York’s Department of Financial Services, established a separate company for MBIA’s municipal bond insurance business. Secured a New York Supreme Court ruling in favor of MBIA after a four-week evidentiary proceeding upholding MBIA’s restructuring. The banks agreed to drop their challenge and MBIA then received $1.7 billion in cash and a $500 million line of credit for its municipal bond insurance business.
Brightstar Global Group in an appraisal action in the Delaware Court of Chancery relating to Brightstar’s merger with BCG Holdco Sub, LLC. Resolved through favorable confidential settlement.
A major private equity firm in litigation against a former employee and purported Dodd Frank whistleblower and in a related regulatory inquiry.
The Renco Group, a mining and metal recovery holding company in thousands of individual suits brought by Peruvian plaintiffs, including by developing and asserting defenses based on the doctrine of international comity and Peru’s assertions of sovereignty.
Multiple senior bank executives and traders in SEC, SIGTARP and DOJ investigations and related FINRA proceedings, concerning bond pricing and trading practices.
Freescale Semiconductor in an expedited state court litigation with senior term lenders challenging Freescale’s issuance of $1 billion of incremental term loans as barred by an occurrence of a Material Adverse Effect.
Apollo Management and its portfolio company, Hexion Specialty Chemicals in expedited proceedings in New York state court arising from claims of Material Adverse Effect in Hexion’s proposed merger with Huntsman Chemical.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), as conservator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, in actions in federal and state courts against numerous financial institutions arising out of defendants’ misrepresentations concerning residential mortgage-backed securities sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Several international real estate development and tourism companies in litigation with bank lenders seeking to accelerate note obligations in excess of $300 million.
Multiple hedge funds and investment firms in affirmative and defensive litigation concerning Revenue Sharing Agreements with seed funders and profit sharing with strategic investment partners.
Interstate Bakeries Corporation in actions against lenders balking on commitments to provide financing necessary for the company’s exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Purolite, a U.S.-based specialty chemical manufacturer in litigation over trade secret misappropriation by a large international competitor based in India.
Prior Experience
Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
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Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
Courts
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Education
- Boston University School of LawJ.D.cum laude2001
Dean's Scholar
G. Joseph Tauro Scholar
Boston University Law Review
- Cornell UniversityB.A.magna cum laude1997