Adam Shpeen, 57, of Cherry Hill, NJ, Passed Away Today

Shpeen utilized his language skills while serving in the Peace Corps to learn Setswana, the local tongue spoken in Tlhakgameng villages. Utilizing this ability he taught children, assisted adults and created gardens which provided food to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Adam provides representation to debtors, creditors, hedge funds, banks, lenders and other strategic parties involved in complex bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, including out-of-court workouts, debt exchanges, liability management transactions and Section 363 sales.

Early Life and Education

As the son of Rabbi Scott and Susan Shpeen of Albany’s Congregation Beth Emeth, he served in the Peace Corps in South Africa for two years helping villagers of Tlhakgameng – an approximately 5,000 community – as he learned Setswana as well as Afrikaans fluency. Additionally he assisted teachers at schools while working programs to spread HIV and AIDS awareness.

As an attorney admitted to practice law in both New York State and U.S. District Courts for both Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, he also sits on both boards: Capital District Board of Rabbis as well as HUC-JIR President’s Rabbinic Council.

He is the father of Hilary (Josh Brownstein) and Mariam Shpeen Feist of Albany and grandfather to Adam, Benjamin and Jacob Feist.

Professional Career

He maintains an extensive bankruptcy and insolvency practice and regularly represents debtors, creditors, hedge funds, banks, lenders and other strategic parties in complex corporate restructuring matters, including out-of-court workouts, bankruptcy proceedings, liability management transactions direct lending transactions debt exchanges and section 363 sales. Furthermore, he has experience representing clients with cross-border insolvency/reorganization matters.

He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in New York, including United States District Courts for both Southern District of New York and Eastern District of New York.

Rabbi Shpeen serves on both the HUC-JIR President’s Rabbinic Council and Albany Jewish Community Center Board, in addition to regularly contributing his insight to local media.

Achievement and Honors

He was an active member of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey Men’s Cabinet and its Young Leadership Council, as well as being part of Louis Grossman Endodontic Study Club and volunteering for Super Sunday events. Shpeen excelled in law school as both a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Tony Patino Fellow; additionally he served as Editor-in-Chief of Columbia Human Rights Law Review and won national competition with American Constitution Society Constance Baker Motley National Moot Court Team which won championship. He is survived by his wife Sharon Greenberg of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; daughter Samantha Kivowitz (David), daughter Samantha Kivowitz of Hoboken NJ (wife: Susannah Katz), sons Archie Shpeen and Dr Benjamin Shpeen both from NYC; brother Rabbi Scott Shpeen from Albany and sister Mariam Feist from Albany as well as niece Hilary Brownstein (Josh), Adam Shpeen (Emily Farber), Jacob and Max Feist of Albany.

Personal Life

Shpeen is not only involved with his Jewish work but is an active member of both Capital District Board Rabbis and New England Region Center Conference American Rabbis as well as Rotary and BUnai B’rith clubs.

Shpeen served as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa’s Republic of South Africa. While there he learned Setswana – a local dialect – and worked to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS among villagers. Furthermore, he planted gardens at an HIV/AIDS care facility as well as growing food for those affected by the disease.

Shpeen has provided his services on a pro bono basis with the New York City Bankruptcy Assistance Project and is admitted to practice before courts of both New York State and United States District Court for both Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.