LH&M - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at LH & M
ADAM P. WOFSE is a partner at LH&M. Adam represents debtors, creditors, creditors' committees, Chapter 7 trustees and Chapter 11 operating trustees. Prior to joining LH&M, Adam was a partner at Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP, in the Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Practice Group, where he practiced in the same areas.
Adam has represented Chapter 11 debtors in a variety of reorganization cases, including in the fields of: construction and mechanical industries; health care and durable medical equipment providers; nursery school and childcare providers; houses of worship; real estate companies; restaurants, food service providers, and food consumer package goods manufacturers and distributors; golf courses; and self-storage facilities.
Adam represented the Visiting Nurse Association of Long Island (VNA) in its Chapter 11 case, which resulted in a confirmed reorganization plan and a sale of substantially all of the assets of the VNA to a large health care conglomerate, providing payment in full to all creditors, plus interest to unsecured creditors.
Education
J.D., Albany Law School of Union University - 1994
B.A., Binghamton University (with Honors) - 1991
CRISTINA LIPAN joined the firm in 2020 as an associate attorney. A local New York State graduate, Ms. Lipan is admitted to practice in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York Bankruptcy Courts, in addition to New York State courts. She has over five years' experience advising in complex bankruptcy matters.
Ms. Lipan brings an addition of fresh skills to the firm, as well as a creative approach to complex legal issues. She has earned recognition throughout her scholarly endeavors including admission to the Dean's Scholar Program and as an editor for the Hofstra Labor and Employment Law Journal. She is fluent in Romanian and conversational in Spanish.
Education
J.D., Hofstra University School of Law, 2010
B.A., Hunter College, 2007
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Partner and Co - Founder of LH
GARY F. HERBST is a partner and co-founder of LH&M. After graduating from law school, he joined the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Program. From 1982 to 1987, he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force. Gary practiced primarily in the area of criminal law and prosecuted and defended over 150 cases. After leaving the United States Air Force, he joined Sterling and Miller, a small Denver bankruptcy litigation firm. He then returned to New York in 1990 and joined the firm of Otterbourg Steindler Houston & Rosen, a prestigious New York City bankruptcy firm. When he left Otterbourg in 1990, he joined Jaspan Schlesinger Silverman & Hoffman, LLP located in Garden City, New York. He later became a partner in the bankruptcy and workout department. In 1998, he started LH&M with the other founding partners.
Education
J.D., Denver College of Law, 1982
B.A., cum laude, University of Buffalo, 1978
HOLLY R. HOLECEK is a partner at LH&M. Holly's practice encompasses representation of parties in a variety of roles in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 business and personal cases and appeals with a focus on representing bankruptcy fiduciaries. Among her notable cases, Holly has represented the Chapter 11 Trustee for Peninsula Hospital Center, the Chapter 7 Trustee for Crafts Retail Holding (Rag Shops), the Chapter 7 Trustee for Marc Drier, and the Liquidation Trustee for North General Hospital. Holly is a member of the Chapter 11 Lawyers' Advisory Committee (Eastern District of New York) and a past Chair (2014-2016) and past Vice Chair (2012-2014) of the Bankruptcy Law Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association.
Holly was selected to Super Lawyers (2020) and as a New York Metro "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers (2014-2019). In 2016, Holly was an honoree of the Outstanding Women in Law by the Center for Children, Families and the Law at Hofstra University's Maurice A. Dean School of Law. Holly received her J.D. from St. John's University School of Law where she was the recipient of a full academic St. Thomas More Scholarship and was recognized for her exceptional moot court competition achievements. Holly received her B.A. magna cum laude from Wellesley College.
Education
J.D., St. John's University School of Law, 2007
B.A., Wellesley College, magna cum laude, 2002
JACQULYN S. LOFTIN joined the firm in 2008 and became a Partner at LH&M in January, 2015. With almost 10 years of experience, Jacqulyn regularly acts as lead counsel to trustees, corporate debtors, plan administrators and secured and unsecured creditors in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. She has extensive experience representing trustees in complex operating Chapter 11 and 7 proceedings in a variety of industries, including, international maritime, asset-based lending, commercial real estate and transportation within the New York Metro area. Recently, Jacqulyn was selected as a Super Lawyer Rising Star in the area of Bankruptcy: Business for the New York Metro area. Jacqulyn earned her law degree and LL.M. degree in Bankruptcy from St. John's University School of Law where she was the recipient of the Dean's Merit Scholarship.
Education
LL.M. in Bankruptcy, St. John's University School of Law, 2008
J.D., St. John's University School of Law, 2007
B.A. cum laude, The Catholic University of America, 2001
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Partner and Co - Founder of LH
JOSEPH S. MANISCALCO is a partner and co-founder of LH&M. With almost 30 years of experience, Joseph has acted as lead counsel to businesses, creditors, landlords, debtors, trustees and others in bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy cases. Joseph regularly litigates commercial issues, including actions involving shareholder disputes, real estate, claims for breach of contract and other business litigation matters. He is a seasoned trial lawyer and has a keen understanding of litigation practice and procedure. Joseph has been engaged as a bankruptcy expert many times, including on behalf of the Office of the Inspector General. He is a mediator, has served as a plan administrator and is approved to act as a receiver and/or counsel in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Joseph earned his law degree from Hofstra University School of Law in 1995, where he served as a legal advocate for the Unemployment Action Center representing indigent clients in actions seeking unemployment benefits. During law school, Joseph interned for the United States Department of Justice, Office of the United States Trustee, Eastern District of New York. Joseph was also awarded First Place in the 1995 New York State Bar Association Environmental Law Essay Contest.
Education
J.D., Hofstra University School of Law, 1995
B.A., Fordham University, 1992
Chaminade High School, 1988
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Litigation Partner at LH & M
Lon Seidman is a litigation partner at LH&M. Lon has almost 30 years of experience representing businesses, individuals and trustees in all types of business litigation and bankruptcy-related matters, including trials and appeals in New York state and federal courts. Lon regularly handles complex contract disputes and is often called upon by major law firms around the country to serve as local counsel.
Lon has been selected as a New York Metro-Area "Super Lawyer" (2013-2022) in Business Litigation.
Education
J.D., Hofstra University School of Law, 1994
B.S., Binghamton University, 1991
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at LH & M
MELANIE A. FITZGERALD is a partner at LH&M. During law school, Melanie was a Senior Bar Member of St. John's Moot Court. She spent her second summer of law school as an intern for the Honorable Robert John Hall at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York. Upon graduation from law school, Melanie returned to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York and served as a Career Law Clerk for more than fifteen (15) years for members of the Judiciary of the Bankruptcy Court. She had the privilege of working for the Hon. Robert John Hall, the Hon. Edward J. Ryan, the Hon. Francis G. Conrad, the Hon. Conrad B. Duberstein, and the Hon. Stan Bernstein. Melanie has been a guest lecturer for the Nassau County and New York State Bar Associations.
Education
J.D., St. John's University School of Law, 1990
B.A., cum laude, St. John's University, 1985
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate at LH & M
NINA PROCTOR is an associate at LH&M. She graduated from Hofstra Law School in 2017 and was admitted to practice in 2018. During law school, Ms. Proctor participated in the Political Asylum Clinic under the guidance of Professor Lauris Wren where she represented political asylum applicants. Ms. Proctor successfully argued her client's case before a USCIS Administrative Judge and her client was granted political asylum in the United States. Ms. Proctor also interned for the Honorable Joseph F. Bianco at the United States Federal Court House for the Eastern District of New York in Central Islip.
Ms. Proctor began her practice in state court litigation, specifically in insurance defense actions. Ms. Proctor joined the firm in 2021 as an associate attorney. She is admitted to practice in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, in addition to New York State courts.
Education
J.D., Hofstra Law School, 2017
B.A., Marist College, 2011
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel to LH & M
RACHEL M. HOLLYWOOD is of counsel to LH&M and the partner and founder of Rachel M. Hollywood, P.C. During her senior year of college, she interned in the Major Offense Bureau of the Nassau County District Attorney's office. During law school, she worked as a legal assistant at Chesney & Murphy LLP assisting with Insurance defense actions and the Law Offices of John P. DiMascio & Associates LLP assisting in Matrimonial actions. After law school, she joined Jared W. Beschel, PC and Goldstein & Ben-Ezra, LLP as an associate in their real estate department. In 2005, she founded the firm Rachel M. Hollywood, P.C. and has represented over 40 different lending institutions, buyers and sellers of residential and commercial real estate
Education
J.D., Hofstra University School of Law, 2000
University of Nice, Law School, Nice France Summer Study Abroad Program, 1998
B.A., State University of New York College at Oneonta, 1997, President class of 1997
SALVATORE LaMONICA is a partner and co-founder of LH&M. After graduating from law school, he was employed at the Manhattan District Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service. From 1989 to 1991, Salvatore served as a law clerk to the Honorable Dorothy Eisenberg, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of New York. From there, he became a partner at Jaspan Schlesinger Silverman & Hoffman, located in Garden City, New York, as a member of their bankruptcy and workout department. In 1998, he started LH&M with the other founding partners. Salvatore is a frequent lecturer on bankruptcy and bankruptcy-related issues.
On March 4, 2009, Salvatore was appointed to the panel of Chapter 7 trustees of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
Education
J.D., Hofstra University School of Law, 1988
B.S., Manhattan College, 1985
Xaverian High School, Brooklyn, New York, 1981