Schuyler Carroll brings extensive experience guiding clients through complex restructuring matters and Jessica Sklute deepens the Firm’s national consumer financial services capabilities
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated professional services firm, announced the arrival of New York-based Partners Schuyler G. Carroll and Jessica Sklute. Leading clients through complex bankruptcy proceedings and acting as a trusted adviser across various transactional and litigation-related matters, Carroll helps develop strategic solutions for clients’ most pressing restructuring needs. A consumer financial services lawyer focused primarily on payments systems and solutions, Sklute brings a national perspective and decades of experience that significantly enhance Manatt’s consumer financial regulatory capabilities for its bank and fintech clients.
“Schuyler and Jessica both bring an impressive background at the intersection of law and consulting that aligns with Manatt’s integrated platform and allows them to seamlessly support clients on cutting-edge matters throughout our core practice areas,” said Manatt CEO and Managing Partner Donna L. Wilson. “Schuyler’s high-profile background throughout the bankruptcy space adds even more depth to our powerhouse litigation team, led by Partner Naeun Rim, while Jessica’s sophisticated payments-related experience complements our nationwide consumer financial services team, led by Partner Scott Pearson.”
Carroll provides innovative solutions and litigation support to clients on bankruptcy, restructuring and transactional matters, focusing primarily on Chapter 11, 15 and 7 proceedings, in addition to distressed acquisitions and creditors’ rights enforcement. He represents a wide range of clients—such as debtors, creditor committees, trade creditors, claims traders, indenture trustees, bondholders and secured and unsecured creditors—across the industries in which Manatt focuses, including health care and real estate. He also regularly counsels on potential bankruptcy issues relating to other strategic transactions like investments, loans and mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, Carroll has extensive experience in state and federal courts litigating for creditors’ rights as well as navigating a wide range of related enforcement actions and fraud claims.
Sklute advises clients on consumer financial services regulatory issues with a particular focus on traditional and emerging payments products and solutions, money transmission laws, strategic alliances and general compliance. She works with market-leading banks, fintechs, retailers, senior lenders and other institutional investors on new product development, regulatory diligence, compliance, joint marketing, sponsorship and outsourcing arrangements and a wide range of operational and strategic transactions. She has considerable experience dealing with federal and state regulators on compliance matters and applications to federal and state banking agencies pertaining to acquisitions, divestitures, organizations and business expansions, including national banks, state banks and industrial loan companies.
“I have long admired Manatt’s entrepreneurial spirit, and the way in which the Firm blends legal and consulting services mirrors my own client philosophy,” said Carroll. “I’m excited to collaborate with the Firm’s team of lawyers and consultants to continue supporting clients in their most significant bankruptcy, restructuring and litigation matters.”
Sklute added, “I look forward to joining Manatt’s nationally recognized financial services team and work with the Firm’s clients on a wide range of innovative payments initiatives. Manatt is dedicated to providing the highest quality services, so I am thrilled to partner with this extraordinary team to continue guiding clients through various transactional and regulatory compliance issues.”
Carroll and Sklute join the Firm’s expanding roster of legal and consulting professionals across the Firm’s core practices, including Health Care (Heide Bajnrauh, Axel Bernabe, Robert (Rob) Fraiman, Seth Frazier, Eric Gold, Paul Irving, Dr. Tracy Johnson, Anna Lansky, Lauren Polak, Thomas (Tom) Robertson, Lisa Sbrana and Mark Wietecha); Digital and Technology (Tim Andrews and Lisa W. Rosaya); Entertainment (Binta Niambi Brown, Bill D'Angelo); and Litigation (Kareem A. Salem, Justin Wolosz, Randy S. Grossman and Dylan Carson)
Carroll earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and his B.A. from Binghamton University. Sklute earned her J.D. from The University of Pennsylvania Law School and her B.A. from Bucknell University.