Mr. Joel I. Sher

Joel I. Sher is chairman of Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler in Baltimore and heads its bankruptcy and financial restructuring practice. He concentrates in corporate reorganization, creditors' rights and bank- ruptcy litigation, represents debtors, creditors and creditors' committees in chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, and counsels clients in complex out-of-court workouts. Mr. Sher has extensive experience in bankruptcy and restructurings in a wide range of industries, including financial services, real estate development, construction management, health care, energy, specialty retailing, governmental contracting, manufac- turing and telecommunications. He has served as counsel to a number of chapter 7 trustees, including in the cases of Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, Inc., Just For Feet, Inc. and Regency Homes. An experienced court-appointed trustee, Mr. Sher currently serves as the chapter 11 trustee for TMST, Inc. (formerly known as Thornburg Mortgage, Inc.), previously one of the nation's largest residential mortgage lenders and investors. He is also an accomplished commercial litigator and has represented clients in federal and state courts throughout the U.S. Mr. Sher's experience includes representation of numerous busi- nesses that have successfully reorganized under chapter 11, including financial service companies, real estate developers and general contractors, health care providers, publicly traded companies, restaurants and specialty retailers. He recently represented a regional developer and homebuilder in its successful chapter 11 reorganization, and he has served as counsel to several national mortgage originators. Mr. Sher received his B.A. from the University of Maryland in 1974 and his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 1978.