William E. Arnault, P.C.

Akorn, Inc.: Lead trial counsel for Akorn, Inc. and certain subsidiaries (“Akorn”), a specialty generic pharmaceuticals company with approximately $861.7 million of funded indebtedness, in their Chapter 11 cases filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. First-chaired contested sale and confirmation hearing, where Court approved sale and confirmed Akorn’s plan of reorganization.

Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc.: Trial counsel for Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. and its affiliates in their Chapter 11 restructuring and related adversary proceedings before the Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Delaware. Following extensive discovery, briefing and multi-day trials against multiple counterparties, prevailed in rejecting numerous midstream contracts by establishing that they did not contain real covenants and that rejection was a reasonable exercise of Extraction’s business judgment. Also achieved favorable finding in novel argument that contracts could be rejected even if they had contained real covenants. Courtroom victories ensured multi-million dollar savings to the company.

Quorum Health Corporation: Lead trial counsel for an ad hoc group of noteholders and DIP lenders of Quorum Health Corporation, a provider of hospital and outpatient healthcare services, in connection with Quorum’s prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Quorum filed for Chapter 11 protection to implement a prepackaged plan of reorganization that eliminated approximately $575 million of Quorum’s nearly $1.4 billion in prepetition funded debt and provided it with at least $200 million, and up to $250 million, of fully committed new equity capital, funded by certain noteholder group members, upon emergence from Chapter 11. Court confirmed plan of reorganization after a six-day contested hearing.

Whiting Petroleum Corporation: Trial counsel for Whiting Petroleum Corporation and certain of its affiliates (collectively “Whiting”) in connection with Whiting’s prearranged Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Whiting is a Denver-based publicly traded independent exploration and production company with an oil focused asset base, employing approximately 500 employees and with funded debt of approximately $3.4 billion as of the Chapter 11 filing. Whiting entered into a restructuring support agreement with its unsecured noteholders, which contemplated a Chapter 11 plan that provided 97% of the reorganized equity to noteholders and other holders of general unsecured claims, while still providing a recovery to existing equity holders in the form of the remaining 3% of reorganized equity. Through the deal reached with Whiting’s lenders and noteholders, Whiting de-levered its balance sheet by eliminating over $2.7 billion of funded debt.

Dura Automotive Systems, LLC: Representing Dura Automotive Systems, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries (“Dura”), a leading independent designer and manufacturer of automotive systems, including mechatronic systems, exterior systems, and lightweight structural systems, in their Chapter 11 cases. As of its Chapter 11 filing, Dura and its affiliates had operations in thirteen countries with sales from its three main product segments generating approximately $1.1 billion in 2018.

Bluestem Brands: Representing Bluestem Brands, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (“Bluestem”), a direct-to-consumer retailer that provides a wide array of merchandise through multiple channels under the Orchard and Northstar brand portfolios, in their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Bluestem filed with over $460 million in funded indebtedness and a stalking horse purchase agreement that contemplates a going-concern transaction.

Paragon Litigation Trust v. Noble Offshore plc et al.: Trial counsel for the Paragon Litigation Trust in a fraudulent transfer action seeking to recover more than $1.7 billion based on Noble’s spin-off of Paragon.

In re Parker Drilling Co.: Lead trial counsel for Parker Drilling Company and certain of its affiliates in connection with their Chapter 11 restructuring in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. First-chaired contested examiner motion and confirmation hearing, where Court confirmed Parker’s plan of reorganization.

Patriot Coal Liquidating Trust v. West Virginia Tax Department: Lead trial counsel for Patriot Coal Liquidating Trustee in its action to recover outstanding tax refunds from the West Virginia Tax Department.

In re Seadrill Limited: Trial counsel for Seadrill in its $20 billion restructuring in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Investigated multi-billion dollar asset transfers from Seadrill to affiliates.

In re GenOn Energy, Inc.: Trial counsel for GenOn Energy, Inc. successfully defending against over $600 million in claims for fraudulent transfer and other business torts. At the end of the estimation trial, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas estimated the value of all claims at $0, which paved the way for confirmation of the Chapter 11 plan.

In re Caesars Entertainment Operating Company: Trial counsel for Caesars in its $18 billion restructuring in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Investigated multi-billion dollar asset transfers from CEOC to affiliates. Tried multiple contested matters during highly contentious reorganization, including four injunction proceedings.

In re iHeart Media, Inc.: Trial counsel for iHeart Media, Inc. in a dispute relating to the retention of estate professionals.

In re Emerald Oil, Inc.: Lead trial counsel for Emerald Oil, Inc., a Denver based independent exploration and production company that is focused on acquiring acreage and developing wells in North Dakota and Montana, in Emerald's Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

EV Energy Partners, L.P.: Trial counsel for EV Energy Partners, L.P., and certain affiliates in their prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Headquartered in Houston, EVEP is a master limited partnership engaged in acquiring, producing and developing oil and natural gas properties with approximately $640 million in funded debt obligations at the time of filing. Tried contested confirmation hearing.

Syncora Holdings Ltd.: Trial counsel for Syncora Holdings Ltd. and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with the City of Detroit's Chapter 9 case, the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy filing. Syncora, through subsidiaries, insured or held a substantial amount of the City of Detroit's municipal finance debt obligations. After more than a year of vigorous litigation regarding multiple elements of Detroit's bankruptcy filing and proposed plan of adjustment, Syncora and Detroit entered into an innovative settlement that resolved all outstanding issues between the parties, delivered substantial value to Syncora and its subsidiaries, and created the foundation for Syncora's long-term partnership with and real-estate development and other investment in Detroit.

TIG Insurance Company v. Wexford Underwriting Managers, Inc.: Counsel for Wexford Underwriting Managers, Inc., an Aon affiliated company, in an Illinois state court matter involving breach of contract/indemnification action.

General Motors/Dealer Arbitration Proceedings: Counsel for General Motors in numerous matters that rejected General Motors dealers filed seeking reinstatement after General Motors’ bankruptcy pursuant to Section 747 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–117).

Fleischer v. Spirit Finance: Represented finance company in litigation relating to employment agreement and related disputes.

Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, PILI Fellow

Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Summer Associate

Blitman & King LLP, Summer Associate

Successfully recovered full lifetime benefits for veteran based on military sexual trauma.