Senior Managing Director & General Counsel
Charles Garner has more than 30 years of legal, advisory and operational management experience in a wide range of industries.
Charles began his career in 1987 as an attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, a leading international law firm, where he rose to be a Partner in the firm’s corporate/banking practice. He also was “Of Counsel” to Duval & Stachenfeld LLP, a boutique law firm in New York City that primarily services institutional investors in sophisticated real estate investments.
In the sphere of business operations, Charles was Executive Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Island Capital Group LLC (a leading real estate-focused merchant banking firm), a Senior Vice President of IDT Corporation (a NYSE-listed telecom company), Chief Executive Officer of IDT Ventures (the holding company for IDT’s non-telecom and venture capital holdings) and Interim CEO of Winstar Communications following its purchase by IDT out of bankruptcy.
In addition to these positions, Charles has had restructuring experience in a number of roles, including serving as Interim CEO of a European industrial software company, President of the premier owner and operator of marinas dedicated to luxury yachts and superyachts, and restructuring advisor to a telecom infrastructure provider.
Charles is a member of the Board of Directors of Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, Inc. (NASDAQ:IEA) and the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, which educates about the dangers of intolerance.
Charles earned his JD degree, cum laude, from New York University School of Law in 1987 and received a B.A. in Political Science and Urban Studies from University of Pennsylvania in 1984. Charles is admitted to the bar in the State of New York.