By Matt Jarzemsky and Mike Spector
Harvey R. Miller, who was widely credited for developing the
modern practice of bankruptcy law while giving legal counsel to
Texaco Inc., Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., General Motors Co. and
other firms at the center of the U.S.'s largest-ever corporate
failures, died Monday. He was 82.
Mr. Miller, who founded the bankruptcy practice at law firm
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, passed away after battling
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's
disease, according to a Weil spokeswoman. He is survived by his
wife of 60 years, Ruth.
Born in Brooklyn during the Great Depression, Mr. Miller rose to
represent companies in the highest-profile Chapter 11 bankruptcy
filings of the past 30 years, including Continental Airlines Inc.,
retailer R.H. Macy & Co. and comic-book publisher Marvel
Entertainment Group Inc.
He was "the paragon of bankruptcy lawyers," said Ira Millstein,
a senior Weil partner and close friend who ran the firm for years
with partners including Mr. Miller. He called Mr. Miller a
"scholar" who could cite complex legal precedents on demand and
enjoyed a stellar reputation among bankruptcy judges that attracted
clients.
Write to Matt Jarzemsky at matthew.jarzemsky@wsj.com and Mike
Spector at mike.spector@wsj.com
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