Matthew M. Zapala

Partner

Practice Areas: Business Restructuring, Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy | Litigation and Appeals
State Licensures: New York
(518) 487-7774 | | Contact Card
State Street Office — Albany, NY
Fax: (518) 487-7777
Professional headshot of a bald man in a dark suit and red tie, with a Albany, NY cityscape background.

Built on Experience and Trust

Our attorneys collaborate across practices to deliver thoughtful, consistent counsel for every client.

Our Approach

Introduction

Matthew concentrates his practice in the areas of bankruptcy, insolvency, and business reorganization, creditors’ rights, and commercial litigation. Matthew represents debtors and creditors in all aspects of complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and he represents plaintiffs and defendants in Adversary Proceedings pending in Bankruptcy Court.  Matthew also represents parties in state and federal court commercial litigation involving financially distressed businesses and business owners, shareholder disputes, and other commercial disputes.  Among other things, Matthew represents business borrowers and guarantors struggling with Merchant Cash Advance (“MCA”) financing in New York state court and bankruptcy court proceedings.  In bankruptcy court proceedings, Matthew has helped clients use the Chapter 11 process to address expensive, and potentially criminally usurious, MCA financing agreements.

Matthew joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP in January 2025 after practicing at Nolan Heller Kauffman LLP since July 2020.  Prior to joining Nolan Heller Kauffman LLP, Matthew served as Career Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert E. Littlefield, Jr., U.S. Bankruptcy Judge (N.D.N.Y).

Experience

  • Represented the Petitioning Creditors in the involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy case filed against Prime Capital Ventures, LLC. He also represented the same creditors in a subsequent Chapter 11 bankruptcy case filed by a District Court appointed Receiver.
  • Represented the principal of a marina on Lake George as a Debtor in an individual Subchapter V Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. After reaching an agreement with interested parties as part of the Chapter 11 proceeding, the marina sold for more than $8,000,000 soon after the conclusion of the bankruptcy.
  • Represented a bottle and packaging e-commerce business as a Debtor in a Chapter 11 case where substantially all of the Debtor’s assets were sold as part of a Section 363(f) sale for $1,500,000.
  • Represented three entities which owned and operated a hotel and a restaurant as Debtors in jointly administered Chapter 11 cases.
  • Represented a downtown Albany, New York med spa as a Debtor in a Subchapter V Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. Successfully confirmed a Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization for the Debtor.
  • Represented PPP loan borrowers in disputes with PPP lenders in New York state courts and federal courts around the country.

Education

Matthew graduated magna cum laude from Albany Law School in 2014, earning his Juris Doctor degree with a business law concentration. While attending law school, he was an Associate Editor of the Albany Law Review and recipient of the Wann Family Prize for Excellence in Business Law and Litigation.  Prior to attending law school, Matthew graduated cum laude from the University at Albany, State University of New York, in 2011 with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Professional Affiliations

Matthew is admitted to practice in the State of New York and the Northern and Western Districts of New York. Matthew also serves on the Board of Directors for the Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association.

Personal Interests

In his free time, Matthew enjoys fishing and exploring the Adirondacks with his wife.