Jonah Peppiatt: Managing the A Challenging Legal Career with The ‘Outlet’ of Squash

Jonah Peppiatt, a bankruptcy lawyer and avid squash player at Open Squash, sat down with us recently to discuss his journey through squash. His love for the game began at a young age, thanks to his father, a lifelong squash enthusiast. "He used to play, and sometimes he would take me, and I'd sit in the back and not watch. But after a while I started getting interested in it," Jonah said. He began playing casually with his dad and eventually started competing in local tournaments.

Jonah's competitive spirit and dedication to the sport led him to play squash in college, where he continued to improve. However, his interest in squash waned as he explored other sports and activities. After graduating, he took a detour from squash and law school, working in the labor movement in Boston. "I wanted to work in the political sphere," he explained. "And one thing I knew nothing about was the labor movement." While the experience provided valuable lessons, Jonah ultimately decided to pursue a law degree, driven by a desire for a more intellectually stimulating and fast-paced career.

During his first year of law school, Jonah discovered a passion for bankruptcy law. "I took a contracts class and really, really liked the professor," he said. "I really understood the class and was doing really well." The experience sparked his interest in bankruptcy law, and he ultimately decided to specialize in this area.

His work in bankruptcy law involves helping companies navigate financial distress and restructuring. "You're experiencing different facets of the law and different facets of businesses all the time," Jonah explained. "You sort of wake up each day and you are learning about a new company. That company is at one of the two most critical points in its history."

Despite the challenges and complexities of bankruptcy law, Jonah finds the work intellectually engaging and rewarding. "You have to be thinking about the legal implications," he said. "So, we really get to be at the forefront of both business negotiation and the legal and contractual drafting side of things. And that's what I really like about it."

Jonah continues to play squash regularly, and it remains an important part of his life. When he moved back to New York City, he joined the Princeton club and brought his rating up to between 5.0 and 5.5 thanks to coaching. Now he aims to continually challenge himself and reach new heights, both in his legal career and on the squash court. 

"I'm 38 right now, and by the time I'm 48, I want to have my rating be safely above 5.5. And so, if I'm going to do that, I’ve got to break down things and start some key fundamental work. And that's what I'm doing," he said. "Squash is really central to my life," he said. "It's my outlet...I would be a ball of anxiety that was not fun to be around if I didn't play squash."

Jonah's passion for squash extends beyond playing the game. He's actively involved in the squash community, supporting organizations like City Squash and contributing to fundraising efforts. Whether he's competing on the squash court or negotiating in the boardroom, Jonah brings his competitive spirit and intellectual curiosity to everything he does. His dedication to the sport has fostered strong friendships and a sense of belonging. "There's guys who were at my wedding who were guys that I played squash with and met through squash...So  it's really a lot of fun," Jonah said.

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Jonah!