Christopher T. Greco, P.C.
Overview
He resolves issues with a very commercial lens and a strong understanding of the law.” - Chambers USA, 2022
Chris Greco is a partner in Kirkland’s Restructuring Group. He represents debtors, creditors, equity holders, sponsors, boards of directors and investors in all aspects of corporate restructuring transactions across a broad range of industries. Chris has advised clients in some of the most complex and contentious bankruptcy proceedings in recent years.
Chambers USA has recognized Chris as a leading lawyer with sources noting that “he resolves issues with a very commercial lens and strong understanding of the law, ” and that “he is a strong and effective bankruptcy lawyer.” Chris has been described as “very commercial and comfortable in court,” and as “very devoted to his clients and a wonderful guy to talk with.” Sources have also noted that he “is a remarkable lawyer” who “brings a great deal of experience and is a great, hands-on attorney who provides tremendous support” and is “an excellent, level-headed, constructive, personable and thoughtful guy” who is notable for his “good business sense.”
Turnarounds & Workouts recognized Chris as an “Outstanding Restructuring Lawyer – 2023” and an “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer – 2018.” The American Bankruptcy Institute selected Chris for its 2019 list of “Forty Under Forty–Emerging Leaders in Insolvency Practice.” Chris was also named one of Law360’s “Risings Stars for 2019,” one of five bankruptcy attorneys under 40 whose accomplishments transcend their age.
Chris is a frequent lecturer, speaker, and writer on restructuring related topics. He recently published articles in notable industry publications, including New York Law Journal and Journal of Corporate Renewal, among others. Chris serves on the Board of Visitors of Wake Forest University School of Law and has taught classes on distressed investing at a number of law schools, including Wake Forest, Penn, and Cardozo.
Chris serves as co-chair of Kirkland’s Firmwide Recruiting Committee as well as co-chair of the New York Office Recruiting Committee, which guide the Firm’s on-campus, lateral and summer associate program efforts. He has been active in leading several major training and development programs for the Restructuring Group and serves on numerous other committees throughout the Firm.
Experience
Representative Matters
Company Representations by Industry
Energy
- McDermott International, Ltd.: Representing three subsidiaries of McDermott International, Ltd in their multinational cross-border restructuring. The first-of-its-kind restructuring involved three jurisdictions, England (UK Restructuring Plan), the Netherlands (Dutch WHOA), and the U.S. (Chapter 15 recognition proceedings), and resulted in the amendment and extension of $2.6 billion of secured debt and the equitization of over $1 billion in litigation claims.
- PSS Industrial Group: Represented Prowler Super Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries (PSS Industrial Group), an oilfield services provider and value-added distributor in the energy and industrial industries, in connection with its out-of-court restructuring, including a complete deleveraging of over $320 million in funded debt through a UCC Article 9 foreclosure and a $55 million new money equity rights offering to fund future business growth. The consummated transaction contemplates payment in full of all vendors, suppliers and other business partners and uninterrupted fulfillment of all customer obligations.
- HONX, Inc.: Represented HONX, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hess Corporation, in its successful Chapter 11 case filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. HONX and its corporate predecessors had for decades been subject to thousands of asbestos-related personal injury claims in connection with HONX’s former ownership and operation of an oil refinery on St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. HONX filed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case in April 2022 with the goal of fully and finally resolving all asbestos-related personal injury claims that were or could be asserted against HONX and Hess in one forum, using section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code. HONX confirmed its plan utilizing a section 524(g) channeling injunction in less than two years at a confirmation hearing jointly presided over by Judge Alfred H. Bennett of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and Judge Marvin P. Isgur of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Pursuant to the plan, HONX established a settlement trust, funded with up to $190 million from Hess, to satisfy all valid current and future asbestos claims, which resulted in prompt and fair compensation for claimants and finality from current and potential future asbestos tort litigation for HONX and Hess.
- Team, Inc.: Represented Team, Inc. (NYSE: TISI), a global provider of integrated, digitally enabled asset performance assurance and optimization solutions, regarding ongoing financing restructuring efforts and strategic review of its capital structure, including Team’s entry into a $50 million delayed draw subordinated term loan facility.
- BJ Services, LLC: Represented BJ Services, LLC and its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. BJ Services was a leading provider of hydraulic fracturing and cementing services to upstream oil and gas companies engaged in the exploration and production of North American oil and natural gas resources. As of the Petition Date, BJ Services had over $350 million in funded debt obligations. During the Chapter 11 cases, the Company sold its operations as a going concern, saving over 500 jobs. The company confirmed a fully-consensual Chapter 11 plan and concluded its Chapter 11 cases less than four months after the Petition Date.
- Ultra Petroleum Corp.: Represented Ultra Petroleum Corp. and its affiliates in their comprehensive deleveraging and balance-sheet restructuring, accomplished through prepackaged Chapter 11 cases filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas and a parallel Canadian recognition proceeding filed in the Supreme Court of Yukon in 2020 and previously in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in 2017. Ultra is one of the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in Wyoming.
- McDermott International, Inc.: Represented McDermott International, Inc. and 225 of its subsidiaries and affiliates, including 107 foreign domiciled entities, in their prepackaged Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of Texas. McDermott is a premier, global upstream and downstream engineering, procurement, construction, and installation company and employs over 42,000 individuals across 54 countries and six continents. McDermott’s prepackaged Chapter 11 cases were confirmed in less than 60 days and contemplated a transaction that re-equitized the company, deleveraged over $4 billion of funded debt, preserved an unprecedented $2.4 billion in prepetition letters of credit, left trade claims unimpaired, and included a sale of McDermott’s Lummus technology business for $2.725 billion. McDermott emerged from Chapter 11 only five months after the petition date.
- EXCO Resources, Inc.: Represented EXCO Resources, Inc. in its Chapter 11 restructuring in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. EXCO Resources, Inc. is an oil and natural gas exploration, exploitation, acquisition, development and production company headquartered in Dallas, Texas with principal operations in Texas, North Louisiana and the Appalachia region. EXCO listed approximately $1.4 billion of funded debt obligations at the time of filing.
Consumer and Retail
- Casper Sleep, Inc.: Represented Casper Sleep Inc., global sleep products company, on a comprehensive recapitalization transaction, which involved a transfer of the business to Carpenter Co., the company’s second lien lender and key supplier, and entirely deleveraged the company’s balance sheet.
- Wahoo Fitness: Represented Wahoo Fitness, a global leader in smart fitness and training for endurance athletes and fitness enthusiasts, in an out-of-court recapitalization that provided significant liquidity and fully eliminated all of Wahoo's existing debt.
- David’s Bridal, LLC: Representing David’s Bridal, LLC and certain of its affiliates, the nation’s largest provider of wedding gowns and other special occasion apparel with nearly 300 stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, in its Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. At the time of filing, David’s Bridal operated approximately 300 stores in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. and commenced its Chapter 11 cases with approximately $260 million of funded debt. During the Chapter 11 cases, following an extensive marketing process, the Company sold its operations as a going concern, saving more than 7,000 jobs and continuing operations at approximately 200 stores.
- Dunn Paper Holdings, LLC: Represented Dunn Paper Holdings, LLC and its affiliates and subsidiaries in connection with an out-of-court restructuring by which an ad hoc group of first lien lenders, comprising all of the company’s approximately $380 million of funded debt, consensually foreclosed upon substantially all of Dunn’s assets and assumed majority ownership of the Company.
- Acosta, Inc.: Represented Acosta, Inc., a multinational full-service sales, marketing, and retail merchandising agency with 30,000 employees, serving 1,200 blue chip companies across the globe, in its prepackaged restructuring of $3 billion of indebtedness. Acosta’s Chapter 11 plan was confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware just 15 days after the bankruptcy filing.
- Things Remembered, Inc.: Represented Things Remembered, Inc. and its affiliates, one of the nation’s leading multi-channel personalized apparel and accessory retailers, in their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. As of its Chapter 11 filing, Things Remembered operated approximately 420 stores and kiosks in the U.S. and Canada. Things Remembered sold its go-forward business to a strategic buyer that preserves its online business, up to 1,400 jobs, and approximately 178 brick-and-mortar stores. Previously, Chris represented Things Remembered in connection with an out-of-court restructuring of its approximately $150 million of funded indebtedness. As part of the restructuring, existing lenders acquired all of the equity in Things Remembered, significantly reducing the company's outstanding indebtedness, and providing the company with additional liquidity in the form of an asset-based loan to support future growth.
- Destination Maternity Corporation: Represented Destination Maternity Corporation and certain of its affiliates, the largest national omni-channel maternity apparel retailer, in their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. At the time of filing, Destination Maternity operated approximately 436 stores in the U.S. and Canada, 423 leased departments in big-box retailer stores, ten international franchise locations, and three e-commerce sites in the U.S. and Canada. The existing lenders in the Chapter 11 cases agreed to provide the company access to liquidity to fund the Chapter 11 cases and support the marketing process.
- Hollander Sleep Products, LLC: Represented Hollander Sleep Products, LLC and certain of its affiliates, a leading bedding products manufacturer and wholesaler, specializing in pillows, comforters, mattress pads and foam products, in connection with their prearranged Chapter 11 restructuring in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
- Cengage Learning, Inc.: Represented Cengage Learning, Inc., a leading educational content, software and services company for the academic, professional and library markets worldwide, in its Chapter 11 restructuring. With annual revenues of approximately $2 billion, the company had approximately 5,200 employees with operations in more than 20 countries worldwide. Cengage restructured its balance sheet and significantly reduced its approximately $5.8 billion of outstanding debt to better position itself for long-term growth and profitability.
- NexCen Brands: Represented NexCen Brands in connection with an out-of-court restructuring. NexCen owns and manages brands covering quick service restaurants and retail footwear, including Great American Cookies, MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream and The Athlete’s Foot, and has approximately 1,700 franchised stores across its brands located in more than 35 countries worldwide.
Technology, Media and Telecom
- QualTek Services Inc.: Representation of QualTek Services Inc. and its subsidiaries in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. QualTek is a provider of infrastructure services and renewable energy project solutions to the North American telecommunications and power industries. With Kirkland’s assistance, QualTek’s fully consensual comprehensive restructuring will reduce the company’s total debt by nearly half, from approximately $625 million to approximately $318 million, substantially increase QualTek’s cash on hand, and strengthen its liquidity position.
- Premiere Global Services, Inc.: Represented Premiere Global Services, Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries in connection with an out-of-court restructuring by which PGi’s first lien lenders consensually foreclosed upon and sold the equity of Premiere Global Services, Inc. to a third-party buyer. The transaction resulted in mutual releases between the Company’s’ first lien lenders and the Company and related parties and an incremental financing commitment from the Company’s first lien lenders.
- Mood Media Corporation: Represented Mood Media Corporation and its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of Texas. Mood Media obtained confirmation of its plan of reorganization in less than 24 hours on July 31, 2020 and emerged from Chapter 11 that same day. Mood Media provides services that aim to create connections between brands and consumers in stores through curated music and other visual and sensory solutions and currently has more than 500,000 subscriber stores in over 100 countries. Pursuant to the prepackaged Chapter 11 plan of reorganization, Mood Media deleveraged its balance sheet by more than $400 million.
- Answers Holdings, Inc.: Represented Answers Holdings, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries in their prepackaged Chapter 11 cases. Answers is a leading global provider of high quality internet content and cloud-based customer solutions, and operates as three principal business divisions: Multiply; ForeSee; and Webcollage. The Chapter 11 cases de-levered the company by $471.4 million, representing over 86% of its prepetition funded debt obligations. As a result of forging consensus with approximately 90% of its creditors prior to the Chapter 11 cases, Answers’ prepackaged Chapter 11 plan received unanimous support from its voting creditors and was confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court in only 32 days.
- Conexant Systems, Inc.: Represented Conexant Systems, the fabless semiconductor company with a portfolio of innovative semiconductor solutions included in products for imaging, audio, embedded modem and video surveillance applications, in its successful and fully consensual Chapter 11 case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware that was completed in just 96 days. Through its Chapter 11 plan, $194 million of secured debt was converted into equity and new unsecured, non-recourse notes issued by a newly formed holding company. An agreement was reached with the official committee of unsecured creditors regarding the treatment of unsecured claims, including rejection damage claims for various vacant leasehold properties. Kirkland's work for Conexant was recognized as the Restructuring Deal of the Year (Over $100mm) at the 12th Annual M&A Advisor Awards.
- Muzak LLC: Represented Muzak LLC and 14 of its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases that resulted in the successful restructuring of approximately $500 million in indebtedness, including secured bank debt and senior and subordinated public bond debt. A leading provider of business music since 1934, Muzak creates sensory experiences that reach more than 100 million people daily. Muzak creates an endless variety of music programming from a catalog of over 2.6 million songs and produces targeted custom in-store and on-hold messaging for over 500,000 client locations. Muzak’s restructuring was recognized as the 2010 Entertainment and Media Restructuring of the year by the Distressed M&A Deal Forum and Turnaround Atlas Awards.
- Network Communications, Inc. (NCI): Represented Network Communications, Inc. (NCI), a leading local media company providing lead generation, advertising and Internet marketing services to the housing industry with leading brands such as Apartment Finder, The Real Estate Book, DigitalSherpa, Unique Homes, New England Home and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles in more than 500 local markets around the United States, in connection with an out-of-court restructuring of approximately $300 million in outstanding indebtedness. With the help of a multi-disciplinary Kirkland team (including restructuring, debt finance, tax, securities and executive compensation lawyers), NCI successfully completed an out-of-court restructuring that reduced NCI’s total debt from $300 million to $115 million ― with unanimous support from each of NCI’s major stakeholders ― through a simultaneous securities exchange offer and prepackaged plan solicitation.
- HiT Entertainment PLC: Represented HiT Entertainment PLC in connection with an out-of-court amendment of the company’s secured indebtedness. HiT is the owner of popular children’s entertainment properties such as Bob the Builder, Barney, Thomas & Friends, Pingu, Fireman Sam and Angelina Ballerina and has corporate offices in New York and in London.
- ION Media Networks, Inc.: Represented ION Media Networks, Inc. and 116 of its affiliates, the owner and operator of the nation’s largest broadcast television station group and ION Television, which reaches over 96 million U.S. television households via its nationwide broadcast television, cable and satellite distribution systems, in their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. In just over six months, ION’s successful restructuring resulted in the elimination of all prepetition legacy indebtedness totaling approximately $2.7 billion and ION’s emergence from Chapter 11 with $150 million in equity financing.
- Radio One: Represented Radio One, one of the nation’s largest radio broadcasting companies with 53 broadcast stations in 16 U.S. urban markets that primarily target African-American and urban consumers, in connection with its out-of-court restructuring that eliminated $296.2 million in aggregate principal amount of unsecured notes and amended the company’s senior secured credit facility.
Gaming and Hospitality
- Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. Inc.: Represented Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. Inc. ("CEOC") in its Chapter 11 restructuring. CEOC, a majority owned subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation, provides casino entertainment services and owns, operates or manages 44 gaming and resort properties in 13 states of the United States and in five countries primarily under the Caesars, Harrah's and Horseshoe brand names. CEOC and its debtor subsidiaries had more than $18.4 billion in funded debt obligations as of the commencement of their Chapter 11 cases. In 2018, the Turnaround Management Association recognized the successful restructuring of Caesars Operating Entertainment Co. Inc. with its “Mega Company Turnaround of the Year Award.”
- Revel AC, Inc.: Represented Revel AC, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (“Revel”) in all aspects of its prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Kirkland assisted Revel in deleveraging its balance sheet by 82 percent, by converting approximately $1.2 billion of debt into equity, pursuant to a prepackaged plan of reorganization supported by a majority of Revel’s lenders. Kirkland also assisted Revel in obtaining $250 million in debtor-in-possession financing, and securing approximately $360 million in exit financing.
- Tropicana Entertainment, LLC: Represented Tropicana Entertainment, LLC, one of the largest privately-owned casino operations in the United States, in connection with its Chapter 11 cases. Tropicana and its non-debtor affiliates operates 11 casinos in five states with approximately 540,000 square feet of gaming space and more than 8,300 hotel rooms, and employ more than 11,000 individuals.
- Kerzner International Holdings Limited: Represented this leading international developer and operator of destination resorts, casinos and luxury hotels in connection with its successful out-of-court restructuring of more than $3 billion of indebtedness. The multi-part reorganization, which recently was recognized as the Large Restructuring Deal of the Year at the 7th Annual M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards, included the restructuring of more than $2.5 billion of indebtedness in a commercial mortgage backed security structure. As part of its restructuring, Kerzner completed a transaction with the lenders to its Bahamian assets that involved the exchange of approximately $175 million in debt obligations by Brookfield Asset Management in return for Kerzner’s equity in the Bahamian companies and an agreement for Kerzner to continue to manage Atlantis, Paradise Island and One&Only Ocean Club. In addition, Kerzner restructured its corporate operating company debt facility. As part of the operating company restructuring, Kerzner completed a transaction to sell its 50% ownership interest Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai for $250 million, with the proceeds being used to reduce Kerzner’s operating company indebtedness. Kerzner also entered into an agreement to continue to manage Atlantis, The Palm pursuant to a multi-year management agreement.
Transportation
- Wheels Up Experience Inc.: Represented Wheels Up Experience Inc., a provider of on-demand private aviation services, in its strategic partnership with a consortium of investors led by Delta Air Lines, Certares Management LLC, Knighthead Capital Management LLC, and Cox Enterprises. The transaction provided Wheels Up with a new $500 million credit facility through a debt and equity capital raise, and allowed customers to keep all outstanding flight credits. With a greatly enhanced liquidity position, Wheels Up is poised to execute on its business plan.
- Service King Paint & Body LLC: Represented Service King Paint & Body LLC, the third largest operator of auto body collision repair facilities in the U.S. (operating over 300 facilities across 24 states and Washington D.C.), and certain of its affiliates in an out-of-court restructuring transaction involving the raise of $200 million in new capital, reduction of $500 million in net indebtedness, and extension of remaining existing funded debt maturities. The transaction was supported by substantially all of Service King’s funded debtholders in addition to the company’s equity sponsors.
- Global Aviation Holdings Inc.: Represented Global Aviation Holdings Inc. and its domestic affiliates in all aspects of its complex Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York. Global Aviation, through its subsidiaries World Airways and North American Airlines, was the largest commercial provider of airlift transport services for the U.S. military. Global Aviation also provided commercial cargo and passenger charter services, most notably for the presidential campaigns of President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. Kirkland assisted Global Aviation in deleveraging its balance sheet with more than $350 million in debt, optimizing and rationalizing its aircraft fleet of approximately 30 airplanes and renegotiating competitive labor contracts with its unionized employees.
- Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc.: Represented Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc., a wholesale distributor and retailer of aftermarket automotive accessories and equipment with operations throughout the United States and Canada, in connection with a restructuring of its outstanding indebtedness. Keystone successfully completed an out-of-court restructuring that reduced its debt from approximately $429 million to $142 million through a simultaneous securities exchange offer, rights offering and prepackaged plan of reorganization, which included the negotiation of new secured revolver and term loan credit facilities as well as a $60 million equity commitment to backstop the rights offering. Keystone’s restructuring was recently recognized as the 2011 Retail Manufacturing/Distribution Deal of the Year (over $50 million) by The M&A Advisor in connection with its 6th Annual Turnaround Awards.
Industrials
- Represented a private agriculture company in connection with its out-of-court restructuring, including a $200 million convertible preferred equity investment and $100 million unsecured debt investment from a consortium of investors and a concurrent refinancing of its existing first lien credit facility.
- W.R. Grace & Co.: Represented W.R. Grace & Co. and its affiliates in connection with their Chapter 11 cases, in which they used section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code to address significant asbestos-related liabilities. Grace is a premier specialty chemicals and materials company that operates on a global basis.
- Essar Steel Algoma Inc.: Represented Essar Steel Algoma Inc., a leading North American steel manufacturer located in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, in its restructuring efforts involving approximately $1.2 billion of funded debt. Essar Steel Algoma has more than 3,000 employees and is affiliated with the conglomerate of companies owned by the multi-billion dollar investment fund, Essar Group Fund Limited, which is based in Mumbai, India. Essar Steel Algoma restructured its funded debt obligations by obtaining approval of a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) in Toronto, Canada along with recognition of the CBCA proceeding under Chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Kirkland’s work for Essar Steel Algoma was recognized as Cross Border Turnaround of the Year and Corporate Turnaround Team of the Year by the Global M&A Network at the 7th Annual Turnaround Atlas Awards.
- Blitz U.S.A.: Represented Blitz U.S.A. and certain of its affiliates in preparation for its restructuring under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Blitz was the largest manufacturer of portable fuel containers in the United States, with more than 150 million units in circulation and approximately 70% of the market share in the United States.
- Jones & Frank: Represented this distributor, service provider and installer serving owners and operators of fuel systems in the United States in connection with its out of court restructuring of approximately $80 million in funded indebtedness.
Healthcare
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, LLC: Represented Center for Autism and Related Disorders, LLC (“CARD”) and four of its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. CARD is one of the nation’s largest treatment providers for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Prior to filing for Chapter 11, CARD entered into a stalking horse asset purchase agreement for a going-concern sale of substantially all of CARD’s assets. CARD intends to use the Chapter 11 cases to run a competitive sale and bidding process to maximize enterprise value. CARD entered the Chapter 11 cases with a new money, delayed draw term loan debtor-in-possession financing facility from the company’s prepetition credit facility lenders.
Distressed Investor/Creditor/Sponsor Representations
- Hess Corporation: Represented Hess Corporation and its affiliate, Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp. (“HOVIC”), in connection with the successful Chapter 11 liquidation and Section 363 sale of substantially all of the oil terminal and storage and refinery assets of HOVIC’s 50/50 joint venture, HOVENSA L.L.C., once the owner of one of the ten largest oil refineries in the world. HOVENSA’s complex liquidation addressed claims of over $1.8 billion, established an environmental response trust to address ongoing remediation, and involved several multilateral settlement agreements among Hess, HOVIC, HOVENSA, PDVSA-V.I. (the other 50/50 joint venture owner of HOVENSA), the Government of the Virgin Islands, which, in part, resolved claims asserted by the Government of the Virgin Islands against Hess for over $1.5 billion in alleged damages resulting from the operation of the HOVENSA refinery.
- Cartesian Capital Group: Represented Cartesian Capital Group in connection with analysis and potential transactions involving distressed assets.
- CSL Capital Management: Represented CSL in its acquisition of Allied Oil & Gas Services, LLC.
- Vista Equity Partners: Represented Vista Equity Partners in connection with its purchase of CDC Software in a court-supervised sale process in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Vista acted as the “stalking-horse” purchaser in a sale conducted pursuant to Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and was approved by the Bankruptcy Court as the winning bidder in March 2012.
- UMB Bank: Represented UMB Bank in its capacity as trustee in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of approximately $127 million in bonds issued by Thomas Jefferson School of Law, an ABA accredited law school located in San Diego, California, and secured by a state-of-the-art campus building, which has won several architectural and technical awards as well as U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold certification. The restructuring, which was supported by nearly 90% of the bondholders, was effectuated out-of-court through a deed-in-lieu transaction, whereby the bondholders acquired the building via a newly-formed corporate entity, which then leased the building back to the school. This out-of-court transaction structure maximized bondholder recoveries, eliminated nearly $87 million in debt, and enabled the school to maintain eligibility for critical Department of Education Title IV student loan funding, which preserved value for stakeholders.
- L.A. Dodgers: Represented a confidential bidding group in a prospective purchase of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team through a Chapter 11 sale process supervised by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
- Six Flags, Inc.: Represented H Partners Management LLC, a hedge fund managing more than $700 million in assets, in their capacity as one of the largest unsecured creditors of Six Flags, Inc. in connection with Six Flags, Inc.’s Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
- Starwood Capital Group: Represented Starwood Capital Group in connection with analysis and potential transactions involving distressed real estate.
- TerreStar Networks, Inc.: Represented an ad hoc group of noteholders collectively holding more than one-third of the approximately $1 billion in outstanding senior secured notes of TerreStar Networks, Inc., a wholesale mobile voice and data service provider offering next generation mobile communications, in connection with a section 363 sale transaction, including DIP financing and a potential equity rights offering, all in connection with TerreStar’s Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
- TitleMax, Inc.: Represented Fortress Credit Corporation and certain of its affiliates in their capacity as lenders in connection with TitleMax’s Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia. TitleMax is one of the largest title lending companies in the United States with more than 500 stores in seven states.
- Delphi Corporation: Represented W.R. Grace and certain of its affiliates in connection with the reorganized debtors, DPH Holdings Corp., formerly known as Delphi Corporation. W.R. Grace was a defendant in an adversary proceeding seeking recovery of amounts allegedly paid to Delphi Corporation during the ninety-day preference period preceding Delphi’s Chapter 11 filing.
- Lyondell Chemical Company: Represented W.R. Grace in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of Lyondell Chemical Company and certain of its affiliates and pursuing W.R. Grace’s various claims against Lyondell and its affiliates, including section 503(b)(9) claims.
- Mark IV Industries, Inc.: Represented Sun Capital Partners, Inc. and certain of its affiliates, in their capacity as DIP lenders, first and second lien lenders and members of Mark IV’s Board of Directors, in connection with the Chapter 11 cases of Mark IV Industries, Inc. and certain of its affiliates.
- Penton Business Media Holdings, Inc.: Represented MidOcean Partners, Wasserstein Partners, Apollo Investment Corporation and BlackRock Kelso Capital Corporation in connection with the prepackaged Chapter 11 cases of Penton Business Media Holdings, Inc. and certain of its affiliates.
- Simmons Bedding Company: Represented Thomas H. Lee Partners (THL) and certain of their affiliates in their capacity as equityholders, debtholders and members of the Board of Directors of Simmons Bedding Company in connection with Simmons’ Chapter 11 cases and prepackaged plan of reorganization.
- FTE Automotive USA: Represented this developer and producer of drive train and brake system applications for the automotive industry in connection with litigation with certain plaintiffs and the Chrysler Liquidation Trust in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
Corporate Representations
- Avis Budget Group: Represented Avis Budget Group in negotiating a settlement related to Avis’s prior purchase of substantially all of the assets of Budget Rent-A-Car.
- Knight Capital Group: Represented Knight Capital Group, Inc. as a board member and a shareholder of optionMONSTER, a provider of stock market insight, option trade ideas and options education to meet the needs of do-it-yourself investors.
- Lavie Care: Represented Lavie Care Centers, a family of quality skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers located in 16 states across the United States, in connection with a potential sale of the company.
- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation: Represented the Board of Directors of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation as well as company counsel. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, which emerged from bankruptcy in April 2010, is the largest operator of theme parks in North America with 19 parks across the United States. Representation included providing corporate and litigation advice on a range of matters including securities filings, NYSE listing application, insurance matters, executive compensation issues, fiduciary duties and arbitration issues.
Prior Experience
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
-
Associate, 2007–2008
Merrill Lynch & Co.
-
Accounting & Finance Summer Analyst, 2003
Pro Bono
FM World Charities, Inc.: Represented FM World Charities, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting public health and improving the quality of life in underserved communities throughout the world.
Future and Options: Served as a mentor to a high school student in a program sponsored by Futures and Options, a non-profit organization that empowers New York City underserved youth to explore careers and guides them to further their education and become productive citizens of the community.
Legacy of Hope Foundation (“LOH”): Represented Legacy of Hope Foundation, an organization operating for the benefit of three public charities, including the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund USA Inc.
Sierra Leone Watershed Project Foundation: Represented Sierra Leone Watershed Project, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose goal is to bring reliable potable water sources and waste management infrastructure to Sierra Leone.
Youth, I.N.C.: Represented Youth, I.N.C., a non-profit organization founded to improve the lives of youth through a unique venture philanthropy model that empowers, develops and educates non-profit organizations serving young people.
More
Thought Leadership
Speaking Engagements
Panelist, “The Future of Mass Tort Resolution,” Cornell Law Review’s 2024 Symposium: Mass Torts Inferno: New Battle Lines in the Resolution Debate, Ithaca, NY, September 20, 2024
Teaching
Guest Lecturer, “Corporate Restructuring,” The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Fall 2017–2019
Guest Lecturer, “Realizing Value in Corporate Restructurings: Distressed Investing, Distressed Lending, and Private Equity.” Wake Forest University School of Law, Spring 2012
Assistant Professor, Distressed Investing, Lending and Private Equity, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Fall 2008–2012
Publications
“Can Bankruptcy Courts Consider Public Interests in Section 363 Sales? An Argument for Stakeholders,” Uniform Commercial Code Law Journal, December 2021 (co-authored with M. Waldrep)
“Things Remembered: Purposeful Action in Distress,” Journal of Corporate Renewal, November/December 2019 Issue (co-authored by S. Winters and D. Hunter)
"EXCO Bankruptcy Illustrates Power of Chapter 11 Restructuring," New York Law Journal, November 6, 2019 (co-authored with A. Schwarzman, P. Nash and A. Bordi)
“Something to Remember: The Flexibility of Chapter 11 in Retail Situations,” New York Law Journal, June 7, 2019 (co-authored with S. Winters and D. Hunter)
Contributing Editor, Norton Journal of Bankruptcy Law & Practice
“Hitting a Moving Target: Why Brick and Mortar Retail is Alive and Well,” New York Law Journal, September 15, 2017 (co-authored with J. Sussberg and P. Venter)
“Essar Steel Algoma: Restructuring Under the Canada Business Corporations Act and Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code,” INSOL International News Update, January 2015 (co-authored with P. Basta, P. Evans and C. Nguyen)
“Recent Lessons on Management Compensation at Various States of the Chapter 11,” Harvard Law School Bankruptcy Roundtable, April 22, 2014 (co-authored with J. Sprayregen and N. Donnelly)
“Recent lessons on management compensation at various stages of the Chapter 11 process,” Financier Worldwide Magazine, March 2013 (co-authored with J. Sprayregen and N. Donnelly)
“Debt is the New Equity: How Private Equity Funds Will Sponsor Buyouts Through Chapter 11," Bankruptcy Structure Insights, Summer 2009 (co-authored with J. Henes and K. Radke)
Recognition
“Outstanding Restructuring Lawyer,” Turnarounds & Workouts, 2023
Bankruptcy/Restructuring (New York), Chambers USA
Bankruptcy Editorial Advisory Board, Law360, 2021
The American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), “Forty Under Forty–Emerging Leaders in Insolvency Practice,” 2019
“Risings Star” for Bankruptcy, Law360, 2019
“Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer,” Turnarounds & Workouts, 2018
Recipient, Kirkland & Ellis Pro Bono Service Award 2012, 2013, 2015
Memberships & Affiliations
(current & former)
Member, Wake Forest University School of Law Board of Visitors
Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
Member, New York City Bar Association Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization
Member, Gala Committee 2016 Gala Dinner for CaringKind
Member, Spring Event Committee of the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund
Member, Young Professionals Board of Youth, I.N.C.
Member, Annual Dinner Committee, Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation
Member, Knights of Columbus
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
- New Jersey
Courts
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York (pro hac vice)
- United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (pro hac vice)
- United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of the Virgin Islands (pro hac vice)
- United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois (pro hac vice)
Education
- Wake Forest University School of LawJ.D.cum laude2007
Order of the Coif; Top 10% of Class
Executive Editor, Wake Forest Law Review
Member, Wake Forest Moot Court Board
- Villanova UniversityB.S., Finance & International Business; Spanish Minorcum laude2004