Ralph E. Preite

Ralph E. Preite is a partner at KI Legal in the Bankruptcy and Litigation Department. Ralph concentrates on bankruptcy reorganization and related bankruptcy litigation including stay-relief, lease assumption, cash collateral usage, 363 sales, plan confirmation and other bankruptcy matters. Throughout his career, Ralph also handles non-bankruptcy matters including state court litigation, contract negotiations, securities transactions for public and private companies, and general commercial transactions. 

Ralph has served as a NY government relations professional representing non-profit and for-profit organizations. He has represented trustees, banks, leasing companies, credit unions, hedge funds, brokers, dealers, non-profits, outdoor advertising firms, real estate developers, pharmaceutical companies, and other businesses. 

Additionally, Ralph has served as a Judicial Law Clerk to a Federal Judge, a Trustee on the Board of a NY nonprofit educational foundation chairing several of its committees, a NYS Supreme Court Referee, a NYC Court Arbitrator, a volunteer lawyer for 9/11 victims’ families, and a CLE lecturer on Legal Ethics & Technology. He has appeared as a television bankruptcy commentator on NBC and Law Line TV and has volunteered as a coach and judge in national and local student moot court competitions conducted by law schools and grade schools 

He is admitted to the New York State bar, and U.S. District Courts & Bankruptcy Courts in New York and New Jersey, and the U.S. Court of International Trade. He is a graduate of New York Law School and New York University. 

In his spare time, Ralph volunteers as a Little League softball and baseball coach and annually runs the local Cub Scout Pack’s Pinewood Derby and woodworking events. 

Areas of Practice

• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Bankruptcy Reorganization
• Commercial Litigation
• Contract Negotiations
• Securities
• Commercial Transactions
• Asset Finance & Secured Lending
• Data Breach, Response, & Cybersecurity Plan

Education

• New York Law School
• New York University

Bar Admissions

• New York
• New Jersey

Court Admissions

• New York State Court
• U.S. District Circuit Court (District of New Jersey)
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court
• U.S. Court of International Trade

Memberships & Affiliations

• Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn, Member
• Columbian Lawyers Association First Judicial Department, Board of Directors Member

Publications & Media Appearances

• Law360, “MatlinPatterson Reaches Deal For Ch. 11 Liquidation Plan,” May 2023

• Law360, “MatlinPatterson Liquidation Held Up By Settlement Snag,” May 2023

• Law360, “MatlinPatterson And Creditors Clash On Fund Liquidation,” April 2023