In this unique episode, restructuring legend Moe Bordwin sits down with his son Harold for a conversation that spans four decades of industry evolution.

Moe founded Keen-Summit Capital Partners in 1982 during the height of the leveraged buyout era, when junk bond financing fueled spectacular corporate collapses and created opportunities for skilled restructuring professionals. He shares vivid stories from the rough-and-tumble world of 1980s retail restructuring, including his work on the Bonwit Teller bankruptcy — the iconic Fifth Avenue department store whose demolition for Trump Tower became a symbol of an era's excess.

Harold, now principal and co-president of Keen-Summit alongside his brother Matthew, brings the perspective of today's sophisticated restructuring practice. Under their leadership, the firm has handled over $3 billion in transactions across 27,000 properties, representing clients from property owners to commercial tenants across various industries.

This father-son conversation offers rare insights into how the restructuring industry evolved from its Wild West origins to today's professional practice.

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Episode Links

Our episode is sponsored by Arthur B. Levine Co., Inc.

Learn more about Harold Bordwin at Keen-Summit Capital Partners.

Learn more about the Turnaround Management Association here.

Our music is by Kit and the Calltones.