
Michael Riela
Partner
Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP
Michael J. Riela is a partner at the law firm of Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP in New York City. He advises clients in complex corporate restructuring, bankruptcy, data privacy and cybersecurity matters.
Creditors’ Rights & Business Reorganization and Insolvency Litigation:
Michael has in-depth experience in advising clients in corporate and real estate Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, M&A transactions involving distressed sellers, debtor-in-possession (DIP) and bankruptcy exit loan facilities, secondary market trading of distressed debt and trade claims, and insolvency-related litigation. He has particular experience defending complex preference and fraudulent transfer cases, and with handling professional retention and fee dispute matters in bankruptcy cases. His clients primarily include distressed companies, officers and directors, indenture trustees, hedge funds, private equity firms, landlords, professional services firms (including major accounting firms), trade creditors, contract counterparties and shareholders. He is also a panel mediator in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the District of Delaware.
Cybersecurity and Data Privacy:
Michael assists clients identify, evaluate and manage risks associated with their data privacy and security practices. He advises clients on various U.S. federal and state privacy and data security laws and rules, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the New York State Department of Financial Services cybersecurity regulation, HIPAA, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and state data breach notification laws. He also advises clients with respect to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and with respect to cross-border data transfers. He helps clients evaluate their data security risks, and prepares and helps clients implement security documentation, including written information security programs, systems access policies and incident response plans. After a data breach occurs, Michael assists clients in addressing legal, operational and reputational risks arising from the breach. He is a Certified Information Privacy Professional / United States Private Sector (CIPP/US), a Certified Information Privacy Professional / Europe (CIPP/E) and a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), which are designations awarded by The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).