Overview
Marita Erbeck maximizes financial recovery for clients in complex corporate reorganization and litigation matters. Known in the New Jersey legal community for being instrumental in the first successful Chapter 11 reorganization of a hospital in the state, Marita advocates for debtors, trustees, committees, and secured and unsecured creditors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy matters.
Marita negotiates and drafts plans and disclosure statements, asset purchase agreements and related documents. She is also an effective litigator who has achieved favorable outcomes for clients in federal and state courts. She routinely prosecutes and defends clients in avoidance action litigation, including preference and fraudulent transfer actions.
A New Jersey Law Journal article featured Marita as one of the “Saviors of St. Mary’s” for her work on the Chapter 11 reorganization of St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, New Jersey.
Representative Experience
- Representation of St. Mary’s Hospital, Passaic, New Jersey, through its Chapter 11 reorganization
- Representation of the Indenture Trustee for ten industrial revenue bond issues totaling over $1.2 billion, largest unsecured creditor on the official unsecured creditors committee, in the American Airlines bankruptcy
- Representation of Creditors Committee and Liquidating Trusts of Advanta Corp. and its affiliated Debtors
- Representation of a wholesale distributor of dairy and related food products during liquidation and involuntary Chapter 7 proceedings
- Representation of a global owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate in real estate and bankruptcy litigation
- Representation of a health insurance provider in a reimbursement dispute with a class of out-of-network medical professionals
- Representation of former board members of Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority in fiduciary duty litigation with liquidating trustee of the estate of Hudson Health Care
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
New Jersey
New York
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Education
Seton Hall University School of Law
J.D. cum laude (2002)
Boston College
B.A. cum laude (1999)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- "Passaic Hospital First in New Jersey to Survive Chapter 11"
New Jersey Law Journal, March 8, 2010
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
Marita played a significant role in launching the firm’s Law2Life program, a legal enrichment and mock trial program at Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey. She also served as court-appointed counsel in a variety of matters.
Professional Associations
- New Jersey Bar Association
- New York Bar Association
- New Jersey Fee Arbitration Committee
- Seton Hall Law School Alumni Council
- The New Jersey CFO Leadership Council — Steering Committee
Firm Leadership
- Hiring Committee
- Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP — Hiring Partner, Florham Park office; Firmwide Hiring Committee
Honors
- Chambers USA — New Jersey, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2018-20
- Chambers USA — New Jersey, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, "Up and Coming" Lawyer, 2015-17
- New Jersey Law Journal — “New Leaders of the Bar,” 2017