Director, Legal Claims Administration

Director, Legal Claims Administration

The Director, Legal Claims Administration, manages the Recovery Services area of the Legal Claims Administration Group and reports to the Senior Managing Director of Legal Claims Administration. The Recovery Services team performs claim and defense analysis for causes of action arising under Sections 547, 550 and 502 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, prepares and serves of Demand Letters and Complaints asserting causes of actions pursued under Sections 547, 550, and 502 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and (together with partner counsel) negotiates and provides litigation support to resolve these causes of action. The Director also plays a central role in the administration of client work by the Recovery Services group, which focuses on data analysis, case tracking, and resolution of matters relating to Demand Letters or Complaints.

The Director will oversee all casework while managing a caseload personally and ensuring group responsibilities are completed effectively. The Director will be the first point of contact with clients and assist and support partner counsel in connection with settlement negotiations and mediation relating to each matter. This will include obtaining relevant data from the client and/or opponent, managing data, analyzing data / defense analyses and positions asserted by opposing parties and/or counsel, and preparing independent data analyses in response.  

Group level responsibilities include daily tasks such as (a) responding to ministerial communications such as requests for extensions from adversaries and requests for information, (b) case tracker maintenance, and (c) creation/implementation of template responses, as well as periodic projects such as preparation and distribution of Demand Letters and Complaints, along with the filing of Complaints and service of Summonses and Complaints.

The Director will be responsible for the preparation of draft documents for review by the client and/or counsel, such as Demand Letters, Complaints, settlement agreements, settlement parameters, and ensuring that work assigned to administrative staff – e.g., portfolio analysis, tracker maintenance, address research, corporate name research, etc. – is completed correctly and on time.

The Director should have a J.D. or MBA coupled with at least 5 years’ experience working on corporate restructuring matters and a deep familiarity with the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and bankruptcy process. Candidates with bankruptcy litigation experience and experience managing preference matters or other avoidance actions is a plus. The Director is expected to possess at least an intermediate level of proficiency in Excel so as to be able to utilize and manage the preference defense analysis model directly. Experience with DocuSign, Pacer/ECF and research tools such as Westlaw and Lexis are also a plus.

Below is a list of specific tasks the Director, Legal Claims Administration is responsible for:

1. Demand Letter / Complaint prep:
   1. Work with clients and Stretto team members to obtain materials needed to prepare defense analysis, Demand Letters and Complaints
   2. Supervise preparation of defense analysis and prepare summary analysis for client and counsel that notes rationale for excluding certain transferees from receiving Demand Letters or Complaints
   3. Conduct or manage research on corporate names / addresses of principal places of business, and registered agents in states of incorporation
   4. Prepare templates for Demand Letters and Complaints, or, at the request of counsel, provide templates for counsel to consider
   5. Prepare or supervise preparation of mail merge files for Demand Letters and Complaints
   6. Manage preparation of Demand Letters and Complaints
   7. Manage production and mailing/filing of Demand Letters and Complaints
   8. Manage service of Summonses and Complaints
   9. Perform other tasks as needed to facilitate Demand Letter / Complaint prep and distribution
2. Resolve Cases:
   1. Arrange for settlement parameters with Client
   2. Coordinate with Client’s counsel and payees and/or their counsel on settlement negotiations
   3. Evaluate data-based client preference defenses asserted by transferee
   4. Conduct and/or facilitate secondary defense analysis
   5. Coordinate with partner counsel on responses to correspondence received from transferees in connection with demand letters and complaints
   6. Prepare or manage preparation and execution of settlement agreements with opponent
   7. Track status of cases, completion of settlement agreements and receipt of settlement funds

1. Overall Portfolio:
   Coordinate with direct supervisor and counsel in:
   1. Completing and managing case communications
   2. Facilitating completion of secondary defense analysis for individual preference matters
   3. Managing prep and execution of settlement documents and, when applicable, coordinate with counsel on motions seeking approval of settlement agreements, as well as mediations, and any pleading filed in the avoidance actions
2. Case Tracker Maintenance:
   1. Work with other staff to maintain all portfolio status trackers
   2. Set weekly or bi-weekly meetings to discuss issues with client, counsel, and other staff
   3. Ensure updated trackers are circulated at bi-weekly or on the schedule determined / agreed to with client
3. Other Tasks:
   1. Work with Business Development Team to support research for future potential portfolios of preference cases
   2. Address all tasks assigned by their direct supervisor promptly
   3. Address all tasks requested by client promptly and where necessary, consult with direct supervisors
   4. Communicate status on task completion at intervals set by direct supervisor
   5. Provide occasional support to other areas of the Legal Claims Administration group
4. Professional Development:
   1. Stay up to date on law related to causes of actions pursued under Sections 547, 550, and 502 of the US Bankruptcy Code
   2. Seek opportunities to prepare “Client Alerts” and other publications related to cases arising under Sections 547, 550, and 502 of the US Bankruptcy Code.

Required qualifications

• At least five years of substantive corporate bankruptcy or restructuring experience, including meaningful experience with large Chapter 11 matters.
• Direct, hands-on experience analyzing, managing, prosecuting, defending, negotiating, or resolving bankruptcy preference claims and other avoidance actions, particularly those arising under Sections 547, 550, and 502 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
• Demonstrated ability to independently evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of preference claims, analyze transaction data and supporting documentation, and assess defenses such as ordinary course of business and subsequent new value.
• Experience managing preference matters through multiple stages, including demand-letter preparation, defense analysis, adversary complaints, settlement negotiations, mediation, and litigation support.
• Experience working directly with clients, outside counsel, opposing counsel, and transferees to develop case strategy, establish settlement parameters, and resolve matters.
• J.D. for candidates pursuing the legal-experience route, or extensive Chapter 11 preference-portfolio experience within restructuring or financial advisory services. An active law license is not required.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to filter, search, organize, reconcile, sum, and interpret transaction and defense-analysis data.
• Ability and willingness to work in a hands-on capacity, personally managing cases, reviewing analyses, preparing documents, and addressing time-sensitive matters.
• Strong organizational and portfolio-management skills, including experience maintaining case trackers, monitoring deadlines, coordinating deliverables, and managing a high-volume caseload.

Preferred qualifications

• Bankruptcy litigation experience representing debtors, trustees, creditors, transferees, or other parties in preference and avoidance-action matters.
• Experience independently managing a significant portfolio of preference claims from initial analysis and demand through settlement or litigation.
• Deep familiarity with ordinary-course-of-business, subsequent-new-value, and other preference defenses.
• Experience participating directly in settlement negotiations or mediations involving preference claims.
• Experience preparing or reviewing demand letters, complaints, settlement agreements, settlement parameters, summonses, and related pleadings.
• Experience supervising legal or administrative staff and reviewing work involving portfolio analysis, case tracking, corporate-name research, address research, mail merges, filing, and service.
• Experience in a bankruptcy and restructuring law firm, preference-litigation specialty practice, restructuring advisory firm, or similar claims-recovery organization.
• MBA or other relevant business or financial qualification for candidates coming from the restructuring-advisory route.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and experience working with preference-defense or transaction-analysis models.
• Experience using PACER/ECF, Westlaw, Lexis, and DocuSign.
• Experience preparing client alerts, articles, or other publications concerning Sections 547, 550, and 502 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Why Join Stretto?

At Stretto, you’ll be part of a collaborative team that’s dedicated to innovation, excellence, and growth. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the direction of a rapidly expanding business unit while making a direct impact on the legal community.

The Company’s salary ranges are determined by role, level, location and alignment with market data. Individual pay is determined through interviews and an assessment of various factors, including job-related skills, relevant education and experience, abilities of the applicant, and equity with other team members. The salary range listed here is subject to change at any time, at the Company’s discretion, and does not alter in any way the at-will nature of the employment relationship.

Stretto offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, along with opportunities for growth. We are an equal opportunity employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristics protected by law.