Daniel Desatnik is a partner in the Business Solutions, Governance, Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group. He earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he graduated as a James Kent Scholar and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. His practice focuses on the representation of debtors, creditors’ committees, equity committees, and creditors in chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings.
Daniel is one of the core members of the Proskauer team representing the Financial Oversight and Management Board of Puerto Rico (FOMB) in its successful restructuring of Puerto Rico’s $74 billion debt load, lowering its liabilities by $33 billion and saving it over $50 billion in debt service payments. He played a key role in the $6 billion Title VI restructuring of the Governmental Development Bank’s debt. He currently plays a key role in the restructuring of the operations and over $9 billion of debt of Puerto Rico’s electric utility, PREPA.
Daniel was named to American Bankruptcy Institute’s 2023 Class of 40 Under 40, the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judge’s 2024 NextGen Class, and recognized by Best Lawyers in America in its "Ones to Watch" list in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. He has successfully argued precedent-setting cases before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in federal bankruptcy court. He has been featured on panels and podcasts on bankruptcy law topics, and his articles have been published in industry-leading outlets such as Debtwire and Octus (formerly Reorg Research).
Prior to law school, Daniel earned a B.A. and M.A. in political science at Emory University. Daniel uses his political science background to understand how the legal and policy environment impact corporate restructuring efforts.
Daniel is a top-ranked competitive tennis player. As a junior, Daniel won several high profile and national-level tennis tournaments. Daniel played varsity tennis for Emory University and represented the United States in the 2017 Maccabiah Games held in Israel, earning wins over professionally ranked competition.
Education
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Columbia Law School, J.D.
James Kent Scholar
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
Senior Digital Editor, Columbia Business Law Review -
Emory University, M.A.
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Emory University, B.A.
magna cum laude
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, New York, Southern District
- U.S. District Court, Puerto Rico
Awards & Recognition
American Bankruptcy Institute: Class of 40 Under 40 2023
National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges NextGen 2024
Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2021-2025
Matters
Daniel’s engagements include the representation of:
- Puerto Rico: The Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico (FOMB) in connection with Puerto Rico’s successful restructuring of $74 billion in debt through the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA).
- Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority: PREPA, the sole distributor of energy to Puerto Rico’s 3.24 million residents, in the transformation of its operations and restructuring of over $10 billion in debt under PROMESA.
- Zachry Holdings, Inc.: The Statutory Unsecured Claimholders’ Committee in the ongoing chapter 11 cases of a major turnkey construction, engineering, maintenance, turnaround, and fabrication services provider to the energy, chemicals, power, manufacturing and industrial sectors.
- Diamond Sports Group.: FanDuel, a major online sportsbook, in acquiring the naming rights to the nation’s largest regional sports networks in the chapter 11 cases of Diamond Sports Group.
- Caesars Entertainment Operating Company: The Statutory Unsecured Claimholders’ Committee in the successful confirmation of the chapter 11 cases of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, Inc. et al.
- Simply Essentials, LLC: A major creditor in the purchase and prosecution of the estate’s avoidance actions against its parent company and other insiders.
- Light Tower Rentals, Inc.: LTR, a diversified specialty equipment rental and services company focused on the oil and gas sector, in its successful prepackaged chapter 11 reorganization. The reorganization process was completed in just 38 days.
- Penn Virginia: The Statutory Unsecured Claimholders’ Committee in the successful confirmation of the chapter 11 cases of Penn Virginia Corporation, et al, an independent oil and gas company.
- Pacific Exploration: A major oil and gas company in its cross-border, out-of-court restructuring.
- SIGA: The Statutory Creditors’ Committee in the successful confirmation of the chapter 11 case of SIGA Technologies, Inc.