Zachary Hyman, Berger Singerman PA

What TMA Chapter do you belong to?
TMA Florida. 

How did you get involved in TMA?
My Berger Singerman colleague, Isaac Marcushamer, was the chair of the TMA Florida Chapter's NextGen committee and hosted a happy hour. I attended the event to support him. At the event, Isaac walked up to me and said, "You're going to be doing this next year." To his surprise, I agreed without question and became the chair of the TMA Florida Chapter's NextGen committee. I have been active ever since. I am currently the secretary of the TMA Florida Chapter.

How does being a TMA NextGen member impact you professionally?
Restructuring is a multi-disciplinary field where lawyers, and their counterparts (investment bankers, financial advisors, turnaround consultants, etc.), work closely together, and all of our work is interrelated. As a young lawyer and before joining TMA, I did not have many opportunities to meet non-lawyer professionals with similar levels of experience that specialize in restructuring and corporate renewal. TMA NextGen provides an opportunity to meet my contemporaries, regardless of their practice, and learn from them. Getting to know other restructuring professionals has proven to be invaluable to my personal and professional development and has assisted in building a national network of young restructuring professionals who I can call upon and potentially develop business opportunities down the road.

What have been some of your more important or gratifying engagements?
I am blessed to be at an entrepreneurial law firm that allows me to enjoy a very diverse practice. Among other significant engagements, I have been a member on teams for the following matters: (i) representing a trustee in connection with a $200 million life settlements fraud; (ii) representing the owners of an asphalt refinery which was sold for $100 million in bankruptcy court; (iii) enabling the principal of a mixed-use EB-5 development refinance $150 million in debt; (iv) defending the former MVP of the MLB world series in his divorce; and (v) representing a receiver of a Madoff feeder fund. However, my most gratifying engagement was the representation of a small airplane mechanic company based out of Teterboro, New Jersey. The company was owed approximately $500,000 from a bankrupt entity, and if not repaid, it would go out of business. There were issues with the client's mechanics liens and as a result, the client was sued approximately twenty times. We developed a creative strategy to relieve our client's issues and, after about two years of diligent efforts, we were able to get them paid. The company is still in business today and is thriving.

What would you say to someone considering becoming a TMA member who would fall into the NextGen membership status?
Definitely join! You will not be disappointed! In the legal industry, most networking organizations are profession oriented in that they consist of only lawyers. TMA gives you an opportunity to meet a variety of professionals with varied backgrounds. More importantly, as TMA is an international organization, it can give you a global platform to build your rolodex and create worldwide opportunities. I personally get contacted at least once a month by someone new from TMA, asking to meet with me to learn about the Florida restructuring market. Hopefully, when there is a legal or business need in Florida, that person will reach out to me.

Ultimately, being active with NextGen offers an excellent opportunity to meet entrepreneurial, up-and-coming professionals and develop personal relationships with them.

Is there an upcoming NextGen event you are looking forward to?
The TMA Florida Chapter and TMA NextGen, with the support of Berger Singerman, GlassRatner, and Shutts and Bowen, are hosting an event before The 2016 TMA Annual conference on November 1, 2016. The annual conference will be held in Orlando during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Our group will meet on November 1st, in the afternoon, so we can take advantage of the festival together. Afterwards, we will enjoy a networking reception where people can enjoy cocktails and watch fireworks. I'm really excited for the opportunity to get to know my contemporaries in this intimate, fun, and informal setting.

What would someone who only knows you professionally be surprised to learn about you?
I am an amateur digeridoo player and have a twin sister who is also a lawyer.

Term Loan B...or Not to B? U.S. Debt in the Australian Market
 

	L to R: Zina Edwards, K&L Gates LLP; Rowena White, Herbert Smith Freehills; Scott Taplin, Commonwealth Bank of Australia; Laura Sheridan Mouton, Herbert Smith Freehills. Copyright 2016 Richard Michalak

On May 23, 2016, TMA Australia's NextGen Committee held a panel discussion hosted by Herbert Smith Freehills where over 120 people attended. Panelists examined opportunities U.S. debt instruments offer to the Australian market and how restructuring strategies change when a corporate group holds U.S. instruments. Speakers included Laura Sheridan Mouton, David Tozer, Rowena White, and Matthew Caddy. Read more about the event here.

Summer Kick-Off Party

The TMA Rocky Mountain Chapter hosted it's complimentary summer kick-off party on Thursday, June 30. Fifty professionals attended this event that was sponsored by Moye White. Attendees enjoyed a summer night and the chance to network on a patio in downtown Denver. 

Special thanks to Ashley Busch, r² Advisors, LLC; Tim Swanson, Moye White; and Josh Hantman, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schrek, for helping plan the event. 

Thursday, August 18
NextGen Top of the Class Awards (TMA Detroit)

Friday, August 19
NextGen Networking Luncheon (TMA Chicago/Midwest)

Wednesday, August 24
NextGen Blackstone Shooting Event (TMA Carolinas)

Thursday, August 25
Networking Event Co-hosted by TMA and ACG (TMA Minnesota)

View all chapter events here. 

Christopher Broussard, Co-Chair Suzy Tate PA	Jamie Cote, Co-Chair Madison Hawk Partners LLC
Sabyasachi (Saby) Bose Walker Nell Partners Inc.	Shante George Baker Tilly
Nick Payne Siena Lending Group	Ben Steele PrimeClerk
Dan Wootton Grant Thornton

This quarterly newsletter is created by members of TMA NextGen for TMA NextGen. Read an article recently that you'd like to share? Has your chapter completed a successful TMA NextGen event? Do you know someone whose contribution to the industry deserves a shout-out? Let us know! We want to highlight your special recognitions and accomplishments to the TMA NextGen community.

Email Maura Sage at [email protected] with your suggestions and you may see it in the upcoming NextNews!