SCOTT KIPNIS
| Member, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bars
Admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third and Fifth Circuits and U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, District of New Jersey, and Eastern District of Pennsylvania |
J.D., with distinction, Hofstra University, 1992
B.S., University of Maryland, 1989 Martindale Hubbell AV Rated |
Practice Areas: leasing and commercial real estate; general commercial litigation; bankruptcy
Mr. Kipnis joined the firm in 1992. Mr. Kipnis heads the Firm’s Retail Leasing and Corporate Restructuring practice areas. He devotes a substantial portion of his time representing national and regional chains in leasing and retail property development, from the inception of lease negotiation to retail store launch and beyond. Mr. Kipnis’ clients include major Fortune 500 retailers, smaller national and regional retailers, commercial NYC real estate developers, insurance defense third party administrators and emergent businesses seeking general business and litigation advice. His extensive experience ensures smooth resolution of complex leasing disputes, zoning and land use, building permit acquisition, contractual and licensing disputes, construction issues, insurance coverage, employment disputes, insurance litigation and banking disputes under the Uniform Commercial Code. His varied practice also includes complex bankruptcy matters.
Mr. Kipnis’ initial legal background was in commercial litigation with an emphasis on real estate litigation for commercial banks, landlords and retailers. In connection with his real estate litigation, Mr. Kipnis developed an innovative bankruptcy practice representing creditors, and was among the first practitioners to develop a specialty in buying and selling assets from companies in bankruptcy including retail leases. This bankruptcy experience allowed Mr. Kipnis to become a seasoned debtor-in-possession counsel in which he participated in several complex and high profile bankruptcy matters.
As part of Mr. Kipnis’ extensive bankruptcy practice, Mr. Kipnis successfully led the firm’s efforts to assist a high profile theme restaurant’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy as lead counsel. As part of his representation Mr. Kipnis prevented the case from being dismissed after repeat filings in the notable reported decision, In re 1633 Broadway Mars Restaurant Corp., 388 B.R. 490 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2008). Prior to this, Mr. Kipnis was appointed Chapter 11 debtor-in possession special counsel (after leading the team that filed the case) for McCrory, a 100 year old variety retail chain. Mr. Kipnis directed the McCrory’s bankruptcy, including its bankruptcy court and other litigation and disposed of over 100 leases and multiple parcels of owned real property.
While at Hofstra Law School, Mr. Kipnis was a member of the Hofstra Law Review and graduated with distinction.
Mr. Kipnis is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the New York State Bar Association and is the Firm’s computer/technology expert. Mr. Kipnis is also a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. From 1992 through 2001, Mr. Kipnis was President of a 25-unit homeowner’s association located in Long Island, New York and is currently President of a condominium association in the Catskills.
Mr. Kipnis holds a prestigious AV rating from Martindale Hubbell.