Joel M. Walker

Joel M. Walker is the Managing Partner of the Pittsburgh office of Nye Stirling Hale, Miller and Sweet LLP and heads the firm’s Bankrtupcy and Financial Restructuring Group. Joel has represented both domestic and foreign clients in cases throughout the United States. His national bankruptcy and insolvency practice encompasses a wide range of issues and a variety of clients. He counsels debtors, creditors (both secured and unsecured including banks, committees, indenture trustees, bondholders, vendors and sexual abuse survivors), purchasers and lessors in matters related to plans of reorganization, asset purchases, prosecution of claims and avoidance actions.

Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Joel has been named Pittsburgh Lawyer of the Year in 2016 and 2018 for Bankruptcy and Reorganization Law, in 2019 for Banking and Finance Law and in 2020 for Bankruptcy Litigation as well as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer.

Joel also serves as a mediator in disputes throughout the United States. He has participated in many mediations involving commercial disputes, both in bankruptcy cases and otherwise, as a mediator as well as counsel for interested parties. Joel has completed extensive mediation training including the ABI/St. John’s University Hugh L. Carey Dispute Resolution Center’s inaugural program.

In his representation of various businesses, Joel provides both legal advice and business counseling. He works with clients in mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances. He has significant experience in related areas including raising capital, corporate governance and general business advice.

Most recently, Joel was a partner at a major international law firm. Prior to that, he was a principal in a business involved in international trade. That company was agent for or partnered with various businesses with regard to trade deals, particularly in South America and Japan.

Joel is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Miami University.