Joseph G. Minias is a partner in the Restructuring Department and Chair of the Special Situations and Liability Management practice. Joseph focuses on the representation of hedge funds, commercial banks, and other sophisticated investors. He has broad experience in all types of restructurings, both in and out-of-court, as well as transactions involving the purchase and sale of securities and claims of entities involved in financial restructurings, chapter 11 cases, SIPA proceedings, and receiverships. He also represents ad hoc groups, official creditors’ committees, litigation trusts, and serves as special litigation counsel for companies in financial distress.
Joseph was one of 12 attorneys nationwide to be named as one of Turnarounds & Workouts’ "Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers" in 2009 and 2015.
Joseph is ranked as a leading Bankruptcy and Restructuring Law practitioner in New York by Chambers USA (2013-2025). He is also ranked by Best Lawyers in America (2015-2024) in the area of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and is included in Expert Guides as 1 of 15 Rising Stars in the United States in Insolvency and Restructuring.
Experience
Prior to joining Willkie, Joseph was a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. He also previously served as law clerk to the Hon. Allan L. Gropper of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (2002-2004).
Joseph's selected significant matters include:
- Marelli Automotive Lighting USA LLC, et al.: Counsel to Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, as sole lender under Marelli’s super-senior secured DIP facility
- In re FTX Trading, LTD., et al., counsel to the largest holders of customer claims
- Strike LLC: Counsel to Ad Hoc Group of Term Loan Lenders
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company: Counsel to Ad Hoc Group of Subrogation Claim Holders
- Southcross Energy Partners, L.P: Counsel to Ad Hoc Group of Term Loan Lenders
- Counsel to FirstEnergy Solutions Corp., and its Independent Directors
- Title III Case of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, et al.: Counsel to COFINA Agent
- Remington Outdoor Company, Inc.: Counsel to Ad Hoc Group of Third Lien Noteholders
- Illinois Power Generating Co.: Counsel to Ad Hoc Group of Noteholders
- Cenveo, Inc.: Counsel to majority investor in out-of-court exchange offer
- Pacific Exploration & Production: Counsel to Canadian monitor as foreign representative in Chapter 15 proceeding
- Defined Diagnostics: Counsel to Chapter 11 Debtor
- Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities: Counsel to purchasers and sellers of over $2 billion of direct customer claims and feeder fund interests
- Koosharem Corporation: Counsel to Ad Hoc Group of First Lien Lenders
- MF Global Holdings LTD: Counsel to a member of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
- Dynegy Holdings: Counsel to a member of the Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders
- Graceway Pharmaceuticals: Counsel to Secured Lender
- Ahern Rentals: Counsel to Majority Second Lien Lender
- TOUSA, Inc.: Counsel to largest secured lender
- Keystone Automotive Holdings, Inc.: Counsel to Ad Hoc Committee of Noteholders
- Fairpoint Communications: Counsel for the administrative agent for prepetition and postpetition secured lenders
- SemGroup, L.P., et al.: Counsel to Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and Litigation Trust
- Broder Bros., Inc.: Counsel to Committee of Noteholders
- ACA Capital: Counsel to Committee of Noteholders
- aaiPharma: Counsel to Secured Lenders
- Sentinel Group Management, Inc.: Counsel to Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
- Global Power Equipment Group: Counsel to Noteholder
- Refco Litigation Trusts: Counsel to Refco Litigation Trust and Refco Private Actions Trust
- Performance Transportation Systems, Inc., et al.: Counsel to Ad Hoc Committee of 2nd Lien Lenders
- Trident Resources Corp.: Counsel to Ad Hoc Committee of Preferred Stockholders
- Refco Inc, et al.: Counsel to Committee of Noteholders
Credentials
Education
Emory University School of Law, J.D., 2002 SUNY at Albany, B.A., 1997
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
United States District Court, Southern District of New York