Joe Pegnia Panelist at Bankruptcy Break Down: Navigating the Shark-Filled Waters Panel at ICSC@SOUTHEAST

Empowering landlords, tenants, and third parties with knowledge to manage risk and make informed decisions.

On October 15, 2025, industry leaders gathered at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta for ICSC@SOUTHEAST, a premier regional event focused on advancing the marketplaces industry. The event brought together innovators, dealmakers, and changemakers to foster connections and catalyze business growth across retail, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use spaces.

One of the standout sessions was the panel titled Bankruptcy Break Down: Navigating the Shark-Filled Waters, which offered attendees a deep dive into the complexities of tenant bankruptcies and their impact on landlords, tenants, and third parties. The panel was moderated by Clint Morse, Litigation Partner at Brooks Pierce, and featured insights from Joe Pegnia, Senior Managing Director at GlassRatner, and John Murphy, CFO of Sullivan Wickley.

The session covered critical topics including:

• Tenant underwriting of pre-acquisition risks
• Key components and timelines of the bankruptcy process
• Common misconceptions surrounding tenant bankruptcies
• Strategic positioning for optimal outcomes
• Rights and remedies available to stakeholders

Joe Pegnia represented GlassRatner bringing his expertise in restructuring of retail businesses to help demystify the bankruptcy landscape and provide actionable guidance for navigating these challenging scenarios.

This session was especially important for landlords seeking to protect their interests and make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving retail environment. By shedding light on the legal and financial intricacies of bankruptcy, the panel empowered attendees to better manage risk and pursue resilient strategies in their leasing and investment activities.

About ICSC

ICSC is the preeminent membership organization serving the commercial real estate and retail industries.  The organization promotes and elevates the marketplaces and spaces where people shop, dine, work, play and gather as foundational and vital ingredients of communities and economies.  ICSC produces experiences that create connections and catalyze deals; aggressively advocates to shape public policy; develops high-impact marketing and public relations that influence opinion; provides an enduring platform for professional success; and creates forward-thinking content with actionable insights–all of which drive industry innovation and growth.  For more information, please visit www.ICSC.com.