Christine A. Okike, P.C.
Overview
Christine A. Okike is a restructuring partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. She represents companies, sponsors, investors and purchasers in complex liability management transactions, recapitalizations and restructurings. She also advises boards of directors on corporate governance matters. Christine has a broad range of experience across a number of industries, including cryptocurrency, automotive, sports, entertainment, retail, energy, real estate, financial services, technology, transportation, travel, health care, media and telecommunications.
Most recently, Christine was recognized in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, as “someone who executes plans perfectly” and “is very responsive and has a great command of the legal issues.” Sources have previously noted, “I have complete confidence that she’s on top of all the issues.” Christine was also recognized as a “Rising Star Partner” by IFLR1000 for Restructuring and Insolvency and as a “Next Generation Partner” by The Legal 500 United States for Restructuring: Corporate, 2023–2024. Christine was named a “Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyer” by the 2023–2024 Lawdragon 500 and Bloomberg Law recognized Christine in their 2023 “They’ve Got Next” series. Law360 selected Christine as one of six “Bankruptcy MVPs” for 2022. Corporate Counsel selected Christine as an honoree in the “Collaborative Leadership” category as part of the 2022 Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards. The Deal also selected Christine as one of its 2022 “Top Women in Dealmaking.” Christine was selected by Global Restructuring Review in its 2022 "40 Under 40" list of the world's top young restructuring professionals and Savoy recognized Christine as one of its “Most Influential Black Lawyers” in 2022 and 2024. The New York Law Journal also honored Christine at its New York Legal Awards in 2023 as a “Rising Star” and in 2022 for “Best Diversity Initiative.”
Christine was named as one of Crain’s New York Business’ 2021 “Notable Women in Law,” as well as an “Emerging Leader” by The M&A Advisor in 2019 and “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer” by Turnarounds & Workouts in 2018. In 2017, Christine was inducted into the International Insolvency Institute NextGen Leadership Program and selected as an “Emerging Leader” in the American Bankruptcy Institute’s inaugural 40 Under 40 initiative. Christine was admitted as a new member to The International Insolvency Institute (III) in 2023.
Christine serves as co-chair of Kirkland’s Firmwide Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is a member of the New York Office Recruiting Committee.
Christine represents a number of nonprofit organizations and individuals on a pro bono basis and sits on the board of directors of Lawyers Alliance for New York and the advisory board of Legal Outreach.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland, Christine has been involved in the following matters:
- Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. — Represented Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MAXN), a leading manufacturer of premium solar technology based in Singapore, on a comprehensive restructuring of its capital structure and infusion of up to $200 million in new financing in a deal supported by a significant number of the company’s key stakeholders. Per the terms of the transaction, Maxeon’s largest shareholder and secured lender, TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology Co. Ltd. (“TZE”) will purchase $97.5 million in new super senior secured convertible notes due in 2027 and make a $100 million equity investment upon receipt of certain regulatory approvals. The holders of the company’s 2025 unsecured convertible notes will exchange their notes into $200 million in new second lien convertible bonds due in 2028, $137.2 million of which must be converted into equity upon TZE's equity investment. The transaction materially reduces the company’s funded debt and provides the company with liquidity for its working capital requirements and strategic investments while remaining a public company.
- BlockFi — Represented BlockFi Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (“BlockFi”) in their Chapter 11 cases in the District of New Jersey. BlockFi is an industry-leading provider of cryptocurrency related products and services, allowing its retail and institutional clients access to liquidity, yield, and credit. Following disruption in the cryptocurrency industry, BlockFi commenced Chapter 11 to stabilize its business and provide for the opportunity to consummate a comprehensive restructuring transaction that maximizes value for its clients and stakeholders.
- Cineworld Group plc — Represented Cineworld Group plc and 104 of its debtor affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange, Cineworld, the parent company of Regal Entertainment Group, is the second-largest cinema chain in the world, operating over 9,100 screens at nearly 750 cinemas in 10 countries worldwide. Cineworld commenced its Chapter 11 cases with approximately $5.1 billion in funded debt and commitments from an ad hoc group of prepetition lenders to provide nearly $2 billion in debtor-in-possession financing.
- Voyager Digital Holdings, Inc. — Represented Voyager Digital Holdings, Inc. and its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Voyager Digital is one of the largest cryptocurrency platforms in the world, allowing customers to buy, sell, trade, and store more than 100 cryptocurrencies and supporting over $1.3 billion in aggregate cryptocurrency holdings on the platform. Voyager’s Chapter 11 cases mark one of the first restructurings of a major cryptocurrency company.
- Riverbed Technology, Inc. — Represented Riverbed Technology, Inc. and three of its affiliates in their prepackaged Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Riverbed is a leading provider of IT optimization products and services, including a suite of best-in-class network visibility, management and performance enhancement solutions to many of the world’s largest organizations. Riverbed commenced its Chapter 11 cases with a fully solicited plan and the support of 100% of its first lien and second lien lenders. Pursuant to the Chapter 11 plan, Riverbed will eliminate approximately $1.1 billion of its funded debt and will receive $100 million in new capital.
- Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. — Represented Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (“BTC”) in their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Prior to the bankruptcy filing, BTC was one of the nation’s largest independently owned ocean-going petroleum barge companies operating within the Jones Act market, possessing a fleet of 24 barges and 25 tugs that provided oil and petroleum product transportation services. During their Chapter 11 cases, BTC obtained over $100 million of new capital through a series of court-approved transactions and consummated two simultaneous value-maximizing sale transactions for substantially all of their assets that allowed their state of the art fleet to continue operating in the Jones Act market.
- Katerra Inc. — Represented Katerra Inc. and its subsidiaries in their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Katerra is an innovative and eco-conscious construction company with facilities across the globe that develops, manufactures, and markets products and services in the commercial and residential construction spaces. Katerra commenced its Chapter 11 cases with the goal of facilitating a marketing and sale process for its assets to maximize value and creditor recoveries.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Christine was involved in the following representations:
Company-Side Representations
- Board of directors of MD America Energy, LLC in the company’s prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring.
- Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc. in its Chapter 11 restructuring and sale of substantially all of its assets to Bausch Health Companies Inc.
- Excel Maritime Carriers, Ltd. in its Chapter 11 restructuring involving $1.1 billion of debt.
- DSW Group Inc. in its out-of-court restructuring involving more than $900 million of debt.
- Travelport Inc. in its out-of-court, cross-border restructuring involving $3.8 billion of debt.
- Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, Inc. in one of the only prearranged Chapter 11 cases to discharge statewide consumer class action litigation.
- Vertis Inc. in its prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring of more than $700 million of debt.
- CIT Group, Inc. in its prepackaged Chapter 11 cases.
- Intrawest in its out-of-court, cross-border restructuring of $1.7 billion of debt.
- a major news organization in its out-of-court restructuring.
Purchaser Representations
- Key Safety Systems, Inc. in its $1.6 billion acquisition of substantially all of the non-PSAN inflator assets of Takata Corporation through cross-border restructuring proceedings in the U.S., Japan and Canada and out-of-court asset purchase transactions in Germany, China and Mexico.
- The National Hockey League in its acquisition of the Phoenix Coyotes.
- DISH Network Corporation in its $1.4 billion acquisition of DBSD North America.
Creditor/Lender Representations
- Callidus Capital Corporation in multiple transactions, including the restructuring of its secured loan to global automotive supplier JD Norman Industries, Inc.
- Black Diamond Capital Management L.L.C. in multiple transactions, including as the largest secured creditor in the Chapter 11 cases of Harvey Gulf International Marine.
- Salus Capital Partners LLC, a subsidiary of Harbinger Group Inc., as secured creditor in RadioShack’s Chapter 11 cases.
- Credit Suisse, as administrative agent, and the lender steering committee comprised of Oaktree Capital Management, Strategic Value Partners and Tennenbaum Capital Partners, in the out-of-court recapitalization of Hanley Wood, LLC.
- Ipsen Pharma SAS as lender, creditor, equity holder and seller of certain proprietary drugs, in the Chapter 11 case of Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
- The Yucaipa Companies in Barney’s out-of-court recapitalization.
Additional Representations
- The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the Chapter 11 case of George Washington Bridge Bus Station Development Venture LLC.
- Walnut Creek Mining Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kiewit Mining Group, Inc., in the Chapter 11 case of Optim Energy, LLC.
- a major financial institution in formulating its resolution plan under the Dodd Frank Act.
- The Mount Sinai Hospital in the Chapter 11 case of North General.
Prior Experience
More
Thought Leadership
Speaking Engagements
Guest Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School/Wharton School – JD/MBA Capstone Program, April 2024
Panelist, “The Great Crash: Crypto Bankruptcy,” Practising Law Institute, December 2023
Moderator, “Chief Legal Officer Roundtable,” Corporate Counsel Women of Color Career Strategies Conference, September 2023
Moderator, “Promoting Women of Color Leaders: A Fireside Chat with Perry Siatis,” Corporate Counsel Women of Color Career Strategies Conference, September 2023
Panelist, “The Crypto Winter: Key Takeaways,” Global Restructuring Review Live: Restructuring in the Americas, September 2023
Panelist, “Recent Developments in Crypto Bankruptcy Cases,” New York City Bar Association, July 2023
Panelist, “The Road to Partnership,” Corporate Counsel Women of Color Law Firm Associates Conference, May 2023
Guest Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School/Wharton School - JD/MBA Capstone Program, April 2023
Panelist, “Crypto Bankruptcies,” International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation Hot Topics Series, March 2023
Guest Lecturer, “Distressed M&A,” University of Michigan Law School, March 2023
Panelist, “Crypto in Crisis,” The Wharton School, Initiative on Financial Policy & Regulation, January 2023
Facilitator, “Crypto & Bankruptcy,” 2022 Stanford Crypto Policy Conference, November 2022
Moderator, “The Role of a Bankruptcy Judge,” 2022 National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, October 2022
Panelist, “Bankruptcy & Reorganizations 2022: Turning It Around - Hot Topics in Contested Plan Issues,” Practising Law Institute, May 2022
Guest Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School/Wharton School - JD/MBA Capstone Program, April 2022
Moderator, “The Evolution of the Distressed Investing Market,” 2022 Wharton Restructuring and Distressed Investing Conference, February 2022
Panelist, “Nuts & Bolts of Corporate Bankruptcy – Basic Ethical Considerations in Corporate Bankruptcy,” Practising Law Institute, December 2021
Panelist, “Clearing the Last Hurdle in Chapter 11 – Evolving Confirmation Issues That May Trip the Unwary,” New York City Bar Association, June 2021
Panelist, “Chapter 15 at 15,” New York City Bar Association, May 2021
Recognition
Chambers USA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2023–2024
“Rising Star Partners,” IFLR1000, Restructuring and Insolvency, 2024
“Next Generation Partner,” The Legal 500 United States for Restructuring: Corporate, 2023–2024
“Rising Star,” New York Law Journal, 2023
“Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyer,” Lawdragon 500, 2023–2024
“They’ve Got Next,” Bloomberg Law, 2023
“Bankruptcy MVP,” Law360, 2022
“Collaborative Leadership Honoree - Women, Influence & Power in Law,” Corporate Counsel, 2022
“Best Diversity Initiative,” New York Law Journal, 2022
“Top Women in Dealmaking,” The Deal, 2022
“40 Under 40,” Global Restructuring Review, 2022
“Most Influential Black Lawyers,” Savoy, 2022 and 2024
“Notable Women in Law,” Crain’s New York Business, 2021
“Emerging Leader,” The M&A Advisor, 2019
“Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer,” Turnarounds & Workouts, 2018
“NextGen Leadership Program,” International Insolvency Institute, 2017
“40 Under 40 - Emerging Leader,” American Bankruptcy Institute, 2017
Memberships & Affiliations
Member, The International Insolvency Institute
Member, Law360’s 2022 Bankruptcy Editorial Advisory Board
Member, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges 2023 Education Committee
Member, New York City Bar Association Committee on Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization
Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
- California
Courts
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Education
- Columbia Law SchoolJ.D.2008
- Brown UniversityB.A.2005