Raymond L. Fink | Lippes Mathias LLP

Bio

Mr. Fink, a Partner with Lippes Mathias and Co-Leader of the firm’s Financial Restructuring and Insolvency Practice Team, focuses his practice on representing clients in financial reorganization, restructuring and insolvency matters as well as in litigation matters and financial services. He has represented a variety of clients in these types of matters, including private financial organizations, banking institutions, equity funds, secured creditors, lessors and lessees of equipment and real estate, franchisers and franchisees, health care facilities, agricultural lenders, various business enterprises, as well as business owners involved in internal disputes. With more than three decades of experience, he has represented corporate clients in various stages of development and has earned a reputation for designing creative and effective business strategies. He is also an experienced mediator/arbitrator and a Part 36 certified court receiver.

Mr. Fink is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs sponsored by the New York State Bar Association and the Bar Association of Erie County, and also at in-house seminars for clients.

Representative Matters

Non-debtor related parties in Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo chapter 11.
Local Boy Scout Chapters in Boy Scouts of America chapter 11 proceeding.
Senior Continuing Care Retirement Community in chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.
Air freight forwarder in chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.
Asset purchasers in large national chapter 11 case.
Automobile dealerships in General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings.
Retired officers in chapter 11 proceedings Mark IV Industries.
Mortgage holders in large, complex commercial foreclosures and restructuring of significant commercial mortgage loans.
Creditors Committee in Laidlaw chapter 11 proceedings.
Chapter 11 trustee in a complex proceeding involving the closure and potential expansion of a non-hazardous municipal waste landfill.
Numerous secured creditors and equipment lessors in a variety of workouts and bankruptcy matters, including several large national/international banking institutions.
Secured lenders in significant national bankruptcy proceedings, including the cases of The Bennett Funding Groups, et al., C.I.S. Corporation, et al., First Republic Bancorp et al., Peter J. Schmidt et al., and Columbia Gas Transmission Company, et al.
Prosecuting and defending complex litigation concerning fraudulent conveyances and preferential transfers.
Business owners in internal disputes, including litigation concerning valuation of ownership interests.

Articles & Publications

Author, "Distressed Deal Update: The Erosion of Brick and Mortar Retailers," March 9, 2017

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

New York

Education

University of Toledo, College of Law, J.D., 1977
University at Buffalo, B.A., 1975

Professional Associations

New York State Bar Association
Bankruptcy Law Section
Business Corporate Law Committee
American Bankruptcy Institute

Community Involvement

Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies, Inc., President, 2015-2017
Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, Inc., Board of Directors, Former Board of Directors President, 2003-2005
Court Certified Mediator
Certified Receiver

Past Activities

Attorney Grievance Committee for the Eighth Judicial District, Former Member
Bar Association of Erie County, Former President, 1994-1995
Former Board Member, Bar Association of Erie County, 1987-1990
Bar Association of Erie County, Committee on Commercial and Bankruptcy Law, Former Chair, 1985-1987

Honors & Awards

The Best Lawyers in America©, 2009-2025
- Lawyer of the Year, Litigation-Bankruptcy, 2012, 2016, 2021
- Lawyer of the Year, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2015
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Buffalo Business First’s Legal Elite of Western New York, 2015
Business First of Buffalo/Buffalo Law Journal, Who's Who in Law, 2004, 2006-2007, 2010-2012
Upstate New York Super Lawyers®, 2013-2024