Overview
Karl Block is a partner at Raines Feldman Littrell LLP, where he specializes in corporate and corporate restructuring law. In his corporate practice, he represents operating companies, sponsors, acquirers and targets in a variety of business combinations, acquisitions, financings and divestitures, structural efficiencies and structural optimizations. Karl also counsels with respect to competition, trade secrets and confidentiality. He also counsels boards on corporate governance matters, fiduciary duties and risk management. On the restructuring side of the practice, he counsels troubled companies, debt and equity holders, as well as acquirers in restructures or dispositions. He frequently renders advice in many day-to day areas of corporate practice as well. His clients have ranged from Fortune 20 companies and institutions to entrepreneurs growing their businesses. He has extensive experience in the areas of technology, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and cannabis.
Prior to joining Raines Feldman Littrell, Karl was a long time member of Loeb & Loeb LLP.
Outside of his practice, Karl hosts a podcast called The Block and Tackle Show. Launched in 2023, the podcast provides valuable insights from business leaders, thought leaders, public office holders, clients, colleagues and friends to guide listeners through key topics in business, law, public policy and matters of general interest. You can also follow him on X @blocktackleshow, YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Education
- J.D., University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
- B.A., Johns Hopkins University
Admissions
- California
Significant Engagements & Transactions
- Numerous buy and sell side representations in strategic and financial acquisitions.
- Represents numerous boards and board members in connection with strategy and fiduciary duties.
- Represents numerous C-Suite executives of publicly traded companies in connection with compensation and exits.
- Represents numerous sponsors and companies in joint ventures and investments.
- Represents portfolio companies of publicly traded private equity firms in restructurings, reverse mergers, dissolution and liquidation of the portfolio companies.
- Represents an interested party in the restructure of Michael Jackson’s interest in the Sony/ATV Music library.
- Represents a NYSE-listed franchisor in connection with restructurings of prominent franchisees.
- Represents a Fortune 25 company in a confidential restructuring and liquidation of a business unit.
- Represents the Welspun Group, one of the world’s largest home textile companies, in the acquisition of certain assets of KOJO Worldwide and the simultaneous acquisition of three related companies in three different countries.
- Represents Federal Express Corp. affiliates in connection with the sale or acquisition of industrial real estate.
- Represents a prominent Los Angeles-based law firm in its restructure and dissolution.
- Represents SCAN Health Plan in connection to restructuring issues of healthcare providers and strategy.
- Represents UnitedHealth Group, Inc., in connection with numerous provider insolvencies, restructurings and claims disputes, including in connection with the restructures of some of the largest healthcare facilities in California and Texas.
Professional Affiliations
- Member, American Bar Association (Co-chair of the sub-committee on Creditors’ Rights of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Committee of the Litigation Section, 1994)
- Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association (Chair of the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section, 1996-1997; Former Vice-chair, Secretary and Treasurer; Vice-chair of the Bankruptcy Committee, 1992; Chair of the Legislative Committee, 1988-1989)
- Member, State Bar of California (U.C.C. Committee, 1996-1998; Business Court Committee, 1997-1998)
- Member, Financial Lawyers’ Association
- Member, Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum
- Member, Turnaround Management Association
- Corporate Secretary and Member of the Board of Directors, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Awards & Recognitions
- Named “Best Lawyer” in Commercial Litigation, The Best Lawyers in America, published by Woodward White, Inc. (2013-2025)
- Named “Southern California Super Lawyer” in Business/Corporate by Thomson Reuters (2005, 2007 and 2010-2018)
- Highest “AV Preeminent (5 out of 5)” Professional Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory