Overview
Joshua Taylor focuses his practice on bankruptcy and debtor/creditor rights. He represents clients in bankruptcy matters nationwide and is experienced in representing all aspects of bankruptcy planning, debtor and creditor rights, and distressed asset acquisitions. He has represented creditors in corporate restructurings and bankruptcies in a wide variety of industries including commercial mortgage, construction, energy, natural resources, labor and employment, and retail. Joshua also regularly assists clients in out-of-court workouts and financial transactions.
Joshua is active in Steptoe’s pro bono program, often representing tenants’ claims against landlords and poor housing conditions.
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- Supreme Court of the United States
- US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- US Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Virginia
- US District Court, District of Columbia
- US District Court, District of Maryland
- US District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- US District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
- US District Court, Western District of North Carolina
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- Hon. William L. Stocks, US Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of North Carolina, 2002-2003
- Hon. E. Stephen Derby, US Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland, 2001-2002
- Hon. Chief Judge Johanna L. Fitzpatrick, Virginia Court of Appeals, 2000-2001
- J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law, 2000, cum laude, Order of the Coif, Member, Wake Forest Law Review
- B.A., Johns Hopkins University, 1997, International Studies and Psychology
Representative Matters
- Represents the UMWA the UMWA 1992 Benefit Plan, UMWA 1992 Benefit Plan, and 1974 Pension Plan, the principal creditor, with claims in excess of $5.6 billion, in the bankruptcy cases of In re Murray Energy Holdings Co., and In re Murray Metallurgical Coal Holdings, LLC, and subsequent litigation. The work involved complex issues related to the transition of health benefits and pension related issues. The cases were in the Southern District of Ohio.
- Represents the Allied Pilots Association, the American Airlines mainline pilots' union and member of the AMR Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the reorganization of American Airlines and merger with US Airways. APA was a key player in this large airline bankruptcy and in American’s merger, in bankruptcy, with US Airways to create the world’s largest airline. Analysts have praised this as the most successful airline bankruptcy in history. Continues to represent the APA in disputes regarding distributions to creditors, including the APA, and the APA’s claims.
- Represents various municipal bond investor groups providing advice in connection with the Puerto Rico government instrumentality adjustment of debt under the PROMESA statute.
- Represented Greenberg Traurig, LLP, a leading bankruptcy law firm, as defense counsel in the malpractice lawsuit brought against it by the Administrator of the estate of the former Heller Ehrmann law firm. The case, one of the most prominent such suits in the nation, was favorably resolved for the client in the Northern District of California.
- Represented the principal creditor in Ogle v Fidelity & Deposit Co., where he obtained a precedent-setting ruling that allowed creditors' claims for attorneys’ fees from the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. This key decision for creditors reversed prior precedent in the Southern District of New York.
- Represented the Official Unsecured Creditors’ Committee in In re Pacific Energy Resources Ltd., a case that involved the distressed sale of several major oil fields in Alaska and California, on terms favorable to the unsecured creditors. The case was in the District of Delaware.
- Represented United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company in In re Eagle, an entity that had not operated for numerous years, in challenging the debtor’s bankruptcy filing and chosen professionals on numerous grounds that ultimately saw the bankruptcy case dismissed.
- Represented Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in the Global Power Equipment bankruptcy, which succeeded in liberating dozens of multimillion-dollar power plant construction projects throughout the globe from the bankruptcy estate while preserving its full claims against the estate.
- Represented Independent Fiduciary Services, fiduciary of all defined benefit plans in the United Airlines bankruptcy proceedings. This work involved complex issues relating to the bankruptcy priority of over $1 billion in unpaid pension plan contributions and litigated issues relating to the §1113 process
Speaking Engagements
- NYSBA Annual Meeting, "Nonprofit Opportunities in Difficult Times: Understanding Mergers, Acquisitions, Combinations, Bankruptcies, and Other Solutions to Distress", January 29, 2021
- Speaker, SIGMA Marketer Legal Counsel Section presentation, "Bankruptcy Law – Considerations When You are the Creditor", November 6, 2019
News & Publications
Client Alerts
Proposed Legislation Targets "Texas Two-Step" Bankruptcy Tactic
August 2, 2024
By: Jeffrey M. Reisner, Joshua R. Taylor, Matt Carmody, Matt Carmody
Events
Webinars
What’s Happening in the World of Bankruptcy
Five Key Things You Should Understand About the Process and What to Expect in 2022
February 3, 2022
Speakers: Jeffrey M. Reisner, Joshua R. Taylor