John A. Mueller | Lippes Mathias LLP

Bio

Mr. Mueller, a Partner with Lippes Mathias and Co-Leader of the firm’s Financial Restructuring and Insolvency Practice Team, concentrates his practice on all aspects of financial reorganization, restructuring and insolvency, including:

Asset Acquisition – representing buyers of assets in both Chapter 7 and 11.
Debtor Counsel – serving as debtor counsel to clients in bankruptcy courts throughout New York State.
Creditor & Interested Party Counsel – serving as counsel to creditors and other interested parties in bankruptcy courts throughout the U.S. on asset protection and recovery, and the pursuit of secured, administrative and unsecured claims.
Chapter 15 – U.S. counsel to foreign-based corporate debtors and creditors.
Committee Counsel – representing an entire pool of unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 matters.
Credit Risk Management – working with corporate controllers and accounting departments to address troubled accounts and customers.
UCC Interests & Asset Sales – establishing and perfecting security interests, conducting and participating in Article 9 sale of assets.
Loan Workouts, Private Restructuring & Debt Negotiation – serving as counsel to debtors, lenders and other creditors in the restructuring of operations and debts outside of bankruptcy.
General Creditor’s Rights & Collections – any industry in court and outside of court.

He also handles litigation matters in the state and federal/bankruptcy courts involving small and large businesses, professional service providers, and financial institutions. Additionally, Mr. Mueller assists clients as corporate transaction counsel providing input and expertise regarding deal structure, default terms and limitations, and risk management.

Articles & Publications

"The 'All-Holder-Best Price' Rule: Executive Compensation Agreements and their Place in Tender Offers," 1 DePaul Bus. & Comm. L.J. 2, Winter 2003

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

New York
Tennessee
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of New York
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York

Education

DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 2003
Vanderbilt University, B.A., 2000

Professional Associations

Turnaround Management Association
- Upstate New York Chapter, President, 2023
- Global Board of Trustees, 2024-2025
American Bankruptcy Institute

Honors & Awards

The Best Lawyers in America©, 2024-2025
40 Under 40 Award, Buffalo Business First, 2017
Upstate New York SuperLawyers®, 2022-2024
Leadership Buffalo, Class of 2014
DePaul Business and Commercial Law Journal, Editor-in-Chief

Community Involvement

Volunteer Lawyers Project Attorney of the Morning Program at Buffalo City Court, Volunteer
Commodore Recruitment Programs, Vanderbilt University, Volunteer Interviewer
The Fund for American Studies, Institute on Business and Government Affairs, Alumni Ambassador
Music is Art, Former Board Member

PAST ACTIVITIES

Turnaround Management Association, Upstate New York Chapter, Board Member and Chair of Membership Committee
Arts Services Initiative of WNY, Board Member and Chair of Governance Committee

Speaking Engagements

"Not Your Parents' Article 9 Restructuring," Speaker, Turnaround Management Association (TMA), February 25, 2025
"Bankruptcy - Why You Want to Talk to Us: Practical Tools for Non-bankruptcy Attorneys," Co-Presenter, Lippes Mathias CLE, June 2023
2022 Annual WNY Bankruptcy Conference 18th Annual Western New York Bankruptcy Conference, Panelist, Friday, June 8, 2022
2015 Annual WNY Bankruptcy Conference 12th Annual Western New York Bankruptcy Conference, Panelist, Friday, May 8, 2015
“Advanced Deposition Training: Preparing Your Client for Deposition Testimony”, Co-Presenter, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP CLE, October 22, 2015
“Motion Practice: Strategy and Results”, Co-Presenter, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP CLE, May 24, 2011
“Lifecycle of Litigation: Settlement Negotiation”, Presenter, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP CLE, January 8, 2010