William (Bill) A. Brandt, Jr.
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS, INC - Founder and Executive Chairman
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS, INC - Founder and Executive Chairman
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For more than 45 years, Bill Brandt has been a fixture on the national stage in the fields of business, civic and political endeavors. A talented business strategist and political counselor, he is the founder and Executive Chairman of Development Specialists, Inc., better known worldwide as DSI and widely recognized as one of the foremost firms in the corporate restructuring industry. While Mr. Brandt and his firm have been and continue to be involved in some of the most celebrated and complex restructuring and insolvency matters in the arenas of business and government reorganization, for example, Mr. Brandt currently serves as the Chapter 11 Trustee in the largest cross-national insolvency pending in the United States, Chine Fishery Group, the firm also lends its expertise to other matters in the broader economic and political realms. An example of that was Mr. Brandt’s stewardship and resolution of the infamous Ohio “Coin Fund” scandal at the request of the Attorney General of the State of Ohio.
In 2015, Mr. Brandt finished his third consecutive term serving as Chair of the Illinois Finance Authority, having first been appointed by the Governor in 2008 and confirmed unanimously by the Illinois Senate that same year, and then subsequently reappointed as Chair in 2010 and 2012. The IFA is one of the nation’s largest state-sponsored self-financed entities principally engaged in issuing taxable and tax-exempt bonds, making loans and investing capital for business, nonprofit organizations and local governments. Mr. Brandt, again by gubernatorial appointment, was also a member of the Illinois Broadband Deployment Council, whose mission is to ensure that advanced telecommunications services are available to all of the citizens of Illinois. He is also part of the ownership group that controls Chicago’s second-largest daily newspaper, The Chicago Sun-Times. More recently, in the political realm, Mr. Brandt was a member of the United States Electoral College for the 2016 Presidential Election, serving as an Elector from the State of Illinois.
Mr. Brandt has advised Congress on matters of insolvency and bankruptcy policy, and in that capacity was the principal author of the amendment to the Bankruptcy Code permitting the election of trustees in Chapter 11 cases. He was involved in drafting several amendments to the Bankruptcy Code revisions enacted into law in April 2005 as part of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, which substantially rewrote the nation’s bankruptcy laws. Mr. Brandt also served as a member of the Commission empaneled by the American Bankruptcy Institute several years ago to address the reform of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and the nation’s corporate restructuring regime.
Referred to several years ago by one media outlet as one of the ten most influential political figures in Illinois, Mr. Brandt was a member of the President’s National Finance Board during the Clinton administration, and was elected a Delegate from the State of Florida to the 1996 Democratic National Convention. During that decade as well, and upon the invitation of business and political leaders in the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Brandt worked with various public policy, law and banking leaders in China on approaches to the reorganization and restructuring of some of that nation’s state-owned industries. In 2000, he was a member of the Democratic Party’s National Convention Platform Committee, and in 2002, he served on the Illinois Gubernatorial Transition Team, as well as on the State of California’s business delegation dispatched to Cuba to discuss politics, business and trade potential. In 2008, Mr. Brandt was again elected a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention, this time from the State of Illinois.
As part of his longstanding commitment to higher education and to civic endeavors, Mr. Brandt chairs the National Advisory Council for the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Loyola University Chicago from 2007 to 2016, and is a Life Trustee of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois. Mr. Brandt is also a member of the Board of Directors of New York-based The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research (Tina’s Wish).
Mr. Brandt served several terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute, as well as also serving, for a number of years, as a member of the Advisory Board for that organization’s Law Review. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for the ABI’s annual New York City Bankruptcy Conference, having earlier served for 15 years in a similar capacity for the ABI’s Bankruptcy Battleground West Seminar held each year in Los Angeles. Mr. Brandt was a member of the Executive Committee of the Bankruptcy Section of the Commercial Law League of America and served on their National Government Affairs Committee, as well as completing three terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum.
Mr. Brandt is active in the industry internationally, and is a member of the International Insolvency Institute, as well as INSOL, and was recently selected as a U.S. Participant in the 100-member cross-border consortium known as the International Exchange of Experience in Insolvency.
For 20 years, Mr. Brandt was a member of the private Panel of Trustees for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and briefly served as a member of the same panel for the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida in the late 1980s.
Mr. Brandt has written for publications spanning a broad spectrum of thought, ranging from Maclean’s, Canada’s Weekly Newsmagazine, to Directors & Boards, Corporate Board Magazine, the Florida Real Estate Journal, and the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Law Review, published in conjunction with St. John’s University School of Law. He is the co-author of the “Due Diligence” chapter in the 2nd edition of Bankruptcy Business Acquisitions published by the American Bankruptcy Institute. He is a frequent lecturer and speaker on topics of corporate restructuring, bankruptcy and related public policy issues and regularly appears on CNN, CNBC, CNNfn, Bloomberg, Canada’s BNN, and the Arise America news network, as well as the CBS Radio and National Public Radio networks. He has been profiled and interviewed in a wide array of periodicals including, among others, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, Business Week, The Miami Herald, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, Billboard Magazine and Bank Bailout Litigation News.
Among many other professional and trade organization memberships, Mr. Brandt is a member of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Urban Land Institute. His biography appears in a number of reference works including Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, and Who’s Who in American Law. For well more than a dozen years, his firm, Development Specialists, Inc., has been rated as one of the Outstanding Turnaround Management Firms in the world by the publication Turnarounds & Workouts, and he is routinely listed on annual rosters of the country’s top restructuring advisors. Mr. Brandt received his B.A. from St. Louis University and his M.A. from the University of Chicago, where he also completed further post-graduate work toward a doctoral degree.
In 2015, Mr. Brandt finished his third consecutive term serving as Chair of the Illinois Finance Authority, having first been appointed by the Governor in 2008 and confirmed unanimously by the Illinois Senate that same year, and then subsequently reappointed as Chair in 2010 and 2012. The IFA is one of the nation’s largest state-sponsored self-financed entities principally engaged in issuing taxable and tax-exempt bonds, making loans and investing capital for business, nonprofit organizations and local governments. Mr. Brandt, again by gubernatorial appointment, was also a member of the Illinois Broadband Deployment Council, whose mission is to ensure that advanced telecommunications services are available to all of the citizens of Illinois. He is also part of the ownership group that controls Chicago’s second-largest daily newspaper, The Chicago Sun-Times. More recently, in the political realm, Mr. Brandt was a member of the United States Electoral College for the 2016 Presidential Election, serving as an Elector from the State of Illinois.
Mr. Brandt has advised Congress on matters of insolvency and bankruptcy policy, and in that capacity was the principal author of the amendment to the Bankruptcy Code permitting the election of trustees in Chapter 11 cases. He was involved in drafting several amendments to the Bankruptcy Code revisions enacted into law in April 2005 as part of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, which substantially rewrote the nation’s bankruptcy laws. Mr. Brandt also served as a member of the Commission empaneled by the American Bankruptcy Institute several years ago to address the reform of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and the nation’s corporate restructuring regime.
Referred to several years ago by one media outlet as one of the ten most influential political figures in Illinois, Mr. Brandt was a member of the President’s National Finance Board during the Clinton administration, and was elected a Delegate from the State of Florida to the 1996 Democratic National Convention. During that decade as well, and upon the invitation of business and political leaders in the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Brandt worked with various public policy, law and banking leaders in China on approaches to the reorganization and restructuring of some of that nation’s state-owned industries. In 2000, he was a member of the Democratic Party’s National Convention Platform Committee, and in 2002, he served on the Illinois Gubernatorial Transition Team, as well as on the State of California’s business delegation dispatched to Cuba to discuss politics, business and trade potential. In 2008, Mr. Brandt was again elected a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention, this time from the State of Illinois.
As part of his longstanding commitment to higher education and to civic endeavors, Mr. Brandt chairs the National Advisory Council for the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Loyola University Chicago from 2007 to 2016, and is a Life Trustee of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois. Mr. Brandt is also a member of the Board of Directors of New York-based The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research (Tina’s Wish).
Mr. Brandt served several terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute, as well as also serving, for a number of years, as a member of the Advisory Board for that organization’s Law Review. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for the ABI’s annual New York City Bankruptcy Conference, having earlier served for 15 years in a similar capacity for the ABI’s Bankruptcy Battleground West Seminar held each year in Los Angeles. Mr. Brandt was a member of the Executive Committee of the Bankruptcy Section of the Commercial Law League of America and served on their National Government Affairs Committee, as well as completing three terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum.
Mr. Brandt is active in the industry internationally, and is a member of the International Insolvency Institute, as well as INSOL, and was recently selected as a U.S. Participant in the 100-member cross-border consortium known as the International Exchange of Experience in Insolvency.
For 20 years, Mr. Brandt was a member of the private Panel of Trustees for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and briefly served as a member of the same panel for the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida in the late 1980s.
Mr. Brandt has written for publications spanning a broad spectrum of thought, ranging from Maclean’s, Canada’s Weekly Newsmagazine, to Directors & Boards, Corporate Board Magazine, the Florida Real Estate Journal, and the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Law Review, published in conjunction with St. John’s University School of Law. He is the co-author of the “Due Diligence” chapter in the 2nd edition of Bankruptcy Business Acquisitions published by the American Bankruptcy Institute. He is a frequent lecturer and speaker on topics of corporate restructuring, bankruptcy and related public policy issues and regularly appears on CNN, CNBC, CNNfn, Bloomberg, Canada’s BNN, and the Arise America news network, as well as the CBS Radio and National Public Radio networks. He has been profiled and interviewed in a wide array of periodicals including, among others, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, Business Week, The Miami Herald, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, Billboard Magazine and Bank Bailout Litigation News.
Among many other professional and trade organization memberships, Mr. Brandt is a member of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Urban Land Institute. His biography appears in a number of reference works including Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, and Who’s Who in American Law. For well more than a dozen years, his firm, Development Specialists, Inc., has been rated as one of the Outstanding Turnaround Management Firms in the world by the publication Turnarounds & Workouts, and he is routinely listed on annual rosters of the country’s top restructuring advisors. Mr. Brandt received his B.A. from St. Louis University and his M.A. from the University of Chicago, where he also completed further post-graduate work toward a doctoral degree.
Benjamin Butterfield
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP - Associate
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP - Associate
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Ben Butterfield is an associate in the Business Restructuring & Insolvency Group in the New York office of Morrison & Foerster.
Ben has represented debtors, secured creditors, unsecured creditors, official creditors’ committees, and directors and officers in complex restructuring transactions, including both out-of-court financial restructurings and chapter 11 proceedings. Ben has also represented clients in connection with international insolvency-related matters, including litigation-oriented matters as well as transactional work.
Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster, Ben was an associate in the New York office of another large law firm. He earned his J.D. from the New York University School of Law.
Ben is admitted to practice in New York.
Ben has represented debtors, secured creditors, unsecured creditors, official creditors’ committees, and directors and officers in complex restructuring transactions, including both out-of-court financial restructurings and chapter 11 proceedings. Ben has also represented clients in connection with international insolvency-related matters, including litigation-oriented matters as well as transactional work.
Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster, Ben was an associate in the New York office of another large law firm. He earned his J.D. from the New York University School of Law.
Ben is admitted to practice in New York.
Peter Chadwick
BERKELEY RESEARCH GROUP - Managing Director
BERKELEY RESEARCH GROUP - Managing Director
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As a managing director and restructuring expert, Peter Chadwick has significant operating experience, including improving underperforming businesses and advising debtors and creditors in complex restructuring matters.
He has served as chief restructuring officer, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and advisor to companies in a variety of industries. Mr. Chadwick has extensive experience in leading restructurings in manufacturing, production, and construction, including renegotiating contracts with OEMs and creditors, effectuating sale transactions, and preparing business plans based upon his manufacturing rationalization studies, operational restructuring plans, and global sourcing and distribution analyses.
As CRO or advisor to debtors, Mr. Chadwick prepared and implemented post-acquisition integration plans, viability plans, asset dissolution strategies, and liquidity enhancement plans. His debtor experience spans the spectrum from the largest U.S. companies to middle market proprietary companies.
Mr. Chadwick has also served as the trustee or advisor to the trustee in many post-bankruptcy trusts. Mr. Chadwick managed the investment of assets, successfully negotiated resolutions to over 30,000 claims, recovered significant value in contingent assets and intellectual property, led the sale of over $3 billion of assets, successfully resolved state, federal and excise taxes, and managed the accounting and distribution of proceeds.
Before joining BRG, Mr. Chadwick was an Executive Director at Capstone Advisory Group, LLC, and prior to that, he was a restructuring advisor at the Policano and Manzo legacy practice of FTI Consulting.
He has served as chief restructuring officer, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and advisor to companies in a variety of industries. Mr. Chadwick has extensive experience in leading restructurings in manufacturing, production, and construction, including renegotiating contracts with OEMs and creditors, effectuating sale transactions, and preparing business plans based upon his manufacturing rationalization studies, operational restructuring plans, and global sourcing and distribution analyses.
As CRO or advisor to debtors, Mr. Chadwick prepared and implemented post-acquisition integration plans, viability plans, asset dissolution strategies, and liquidity enhancement plans. His debtor experience spans the spectrum from the largest U.S. companies to middle market proprietary companies.
Mr. Chadwick has also served as the trustee or advisor to the trustee in many post-bankruptcy trusts. Mr. Chadwick managed the investment of assets, successfully negotiated resolutions to over 30,000 claims, recovered significant value in contingent assets and intellectual property, led the sale of over $3 billion of assets, successfully resolved state, federal and excise taxes, and managed the accounting and distribution of proceeds.
Before joining BRG, Mr. Chadwick was an Executive Director at Capstone Advisory Group, LLC, and prior to that, he was a restructuring advisor at the Policano and Manzo legacy practice of FTI Consulting.
Tim Coleman
PJT PARTNERS - Partner and Global Chairman of the Restructuring and Special Situations Group
PJT PARTNERS - Partner and Global Chairman of the Restructuring and Special Situations Group
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Tim Coleman is a Partner and Global Chairman of the Restructuring and Special Situations Group at PJT Partners. Prior to the spinoff, Mr. Coleman worked for twenty-three years at Blackstone serving as a Senior Managing Director and Head of the Restructuring & Reorganization Group. Mr. Coleman has worked on a variety of restructuring and special situation assignments for companies, municipalities, creditor groups, special committees of corporate boards, corporate parents of troubled companies and acquirers of distressed assets.
Tim has been widely recognized for excellence in his field. Most recently he received the Leadership Award from the Turnaround Atlas Awards (2017), was given the Turnaround Leadership Award from The M&A Advisor (2014), was inducted into the Turnaround Restructuring and Distressed Investing Industry Hall of Fame by the Turnaround Management Association (2013) and was named Global Investment Banker of the Year by the Turnaround Atlas Awards (2011).
In addition to his personal awards, PJT was most recently awarded the 2016 IFR Global Restructuring Advisor of the Year and the 2016 Turnaround Atlas Award as Global Restructuring Investment Bank of the Year.
A sampling of Mr. Coleman’s most notable public assignments include: Arch Coal, AMBAC, Bear Stearns Asset Management, Cable & Wireless Holdings, C-BASS, Delta Air Lines, Delta (Re: Pinnacle Airlines), Energy XXI, Financial Guaranty Insurance Company, Ford Motor Company, Genco, Greece, Guangdong Enterprises, Halcon, Kaupthing (Iceland), Los Angeles Dodgers, MBIA (Re: BofA, Detroit, Puerto Rico and Rescap), Mirant Corp., Mohegan Sun, Roust Trading (Re: CEDC), Travelport, Venoco, The Weinstein Company, Westinghouse, Williams Communications, Xerox Corporation and XL Capital.
Mr. Coleman has actively supported a number of nonprofit organizations, currently serving as a member of the Board of Leaders of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital Council and the Tina’s Wish Board of Directors.
Tim has been a frequent guest lecturer at Columbia University and the NYU Stern School of Business. He received a BA from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an MBA from the University of Southern California.
Tim has been widely recognized for excellence in his field. Most recently he received the Leadership Award from the Turnaround Atlas Awards (2017), was given the Turnaround Leadership Award from The M&A Advisor (2014), was inducted into the Turnaround Restructuring and Distressed Investing Industry Hall of Fame by the Turnaround Management Association (2013) and was named Global Investment Banker of the Year by the Turnaround Atlas Awards (2011).
In addition to his personal awards, PJT was most recently awarded the 2016 IFR Global Restructuring Advisor of the Year and the 2016 Turnaround Atlas Award as Global Restructuring Investment Bank of the Year.
A sampling of Mr. Coleman’s most notable public assignments include: Arch Coal, AMBAC, Bear Stearns Asset Management, Cable & Wireless Holdings, C-BASS, Delta Air Lines, Delta (Re: Pinnacle Airlines), Energy XXI, Financial Guaranty Insurance Company, Ford Motor Company, Genco, Greece, Guangdong Enterprises, Halcon, Kaupthing (Iceland), Los Angeles Dodgers, MBIA (Re: BofA, Detroit, Puerto Rico and Rescap), Mirant Corp., Mohegan Sun, Roust Trading (Re: CEDC), Travelport, Venoco, The Weinstein Company, Westinghouse, Williams Communications, Xerox Corporation and XL Capital.
Mr. Coleman has actively supported a number of nonprofit organizations, currently serving as a member of the Board of Leaders of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital Council and the Tina’s Wish Board of Directors.
Tim has been a frequent guest lecturer at Columbia University and the NYU Stern School of Business. He received a BA from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an MBA from the University of Southern California.
Lisa Donahue
ALIXPARTNERS - Managing Director and Joint Global Head of Turnaround & Restructuring
ALIXPARTNERS - Managing Director and Joint Global Head of Turnaround & Restructuring
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Lisa Donahue is the Global Co-Lead of Turnaround and Restructuring Services at AlixPartners. She guides underperforming companies through complex operational turnarounds in the roles of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Restructuring Officer, and Chief Transition Officer. She was most recently the Chief Development and Transition Officer at Westinghouse, and prior to that was the Chief Restructuring Officer for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. Lisa is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is based in New York City.
Kevin Eckhardt
REORG - Distressed Debt Legal Analyst
REORG - Distressed Debt Legal Analyst
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Kevin covers in-court and out-of-court restructurings and distressed situations for Americas Core Credit. Prior to joining Reorg, Kevin represented financial institutions and investment funds in bankruptcy and distressed trading matters at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. He has a J.D. from the University of Florida and a B.A. in journalism from Syracuse University.
Julia Frost-Davies
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP - Partner
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP - Partner
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Julia Frost-Davies focuses her practice on the representation of creditors in complex Chapter 11 cases. A seasoned commercial litigator, she counsels clients facing commercial and bankruptcy litigation and appeals, and regularly represents investors and lenders throughout the capital structure on all aspects of restructuring and related litigation, including debtor-in-possession financing, distressed M&A transactions, claim and plan negotiation and litigation, and out-of-court work-outs. Julia works with companies in a variety of sectors and industries including retail, energy, and financial services.
David E. Galfus
BERKELEY RESEARCH GROUP - Managing Director
BERKELEY RESEARCH GROUP - Managing Director
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David Galfus specializes in financial advisory services in bankruptcy matters and turnaround situations.
His assignments have included strategic planning, cash management, business plan analysis, cost reduction, trade and investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, liquidations, recapitalizations, and restructurings. In addition, he has substantial experience in forensic analysis and related investigations.
With more than 30 years of financial restructuring and business experience, Mr. Galfus has advised creditors, management teams, boards of directors, secured lenders, and other constituent groups in roles ranging from financial adviser to interim management.
Mr. Galfus is a leader of BRG Creditor Rights Practice and has led recent assignments with AWI, Brookstone, Caché, dELiA*s, Ecko Unlimited, MF Global, Molycorp, Peabody Energy Corporation, Penson Worldwide, and Reichhold creditor committee engagements.
Since 2007, Mr. Galfus has served as president of the Refco, Inc. bankruptcy estate, successfully leading its wind down. He has been responsible for liquidating/selling assets, distributing billions of dollars to creditors, interfacing with international affiliates, and has been instrumental in various investigations related to its causes of actions.
Before joining BRG, Mr. Galfus was an executive director at Capstone Advisory Group, LLC, and worked at the Policano & Manzo legacy practice of FTI Consulting. Previously, he was a senior manager in the audit practice of Deloitte & Touche for ten years.
His assignments have included strategic planning, cash management, business plan analysis, cost reduction, trade and investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, liquidations, recapitalizations, and restructurings. In addition, he has substantial experience in forensic analysis and related investigations.
With more than 30 years of financial restructuring and business experience, Mr. Galfus has advised creditors, management teams, boards of directors, secured lenders, and other constituent groups in roles ranging from financial adviser to interim management.
Mr. Galfus is a leader of BRG Creditor Rights Practice and has led recent assignments with AWI, Brookstone, Caché, dELiA*s, Ecko Unlimited, MF Global, Molycorp, Peabody Energy Corporation, Penson Worldwide, and Reichhold creditor committee engagements.
Since 2007, Mr. Galfus has served as president of the Refco, Inc. bankruptcy estate, successfully leading its wind down. He has been responsible for liquidating/selling assets, distributing billions of dollars to creditors, interfacing with international affiliates, and has been instrumental in various investigations related to its causes of actions.
Before joining BRG, Mr. Galfus was an executive director at Capstone Advisory Group, LLC, and worked at the Policano & Manzo legacy practice of FTI Consulting. Previously, he was a senior manager in the audit practice of Deloitte & Touche for ten years.
Steven L. Gidumal
VIRTUS CAPITAL, LP - Managing Partner
VIRTUS CAPITAL, LP - Managing Partner
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Steven Gidumal is the President and Managing Partner of Virtus Capital, LP, a New York based hedge fund specializing in investing in restructurings and distressed securities. Mr. Gidumal has been investing capital since 1994 first at Bear, Stearns, then at Tribeca Investments, an internal hedge fund of Travelers and Citibank, where twice in 1996 and 1997 his fund was ranked among the top 5 funds in distressed investing, and since 2004 at Virtus Capital LP. In 2007, a fund managed by Mr. Gidumal was ranked the number one fund in the United States in its category by Hedge Fund Research Institute.
Mr. Gidumal was a co-founder of Westside Energy in 2003, an oil and gas exploration company focused on drilling for oil and natural gas in the western counties of the Barnett Shale in Texas. In June 2008, Westside Energy was sold to Crusader Energy for approximately $200 million. Mr. Gidumal was also instrumental in negotiating resolutions to the Eurotunnel restructuring in 2006, the Smartalk litigation in 2008, and as a Board member of the Mirant Recovery Trust (“MCAR”) negotiated the settlement with Southern Energy which paid MCAR $202 million in cash in 2009. In 2015, Mr. Gidumal was part of a series of shareholder actions that led to the former Signature Holdings announcing a merger with a manufacturing company with the intent of maximizing the value of Signatures net operating loss (NOL) assets. In his career, Mr. Gidumal has served as a Committee representative or Trustee for funds or trusts and has signed off on over $100,000,000 of legal fees and has achieved recoveries of over $2 billion for his clients.
Mr. Gidumal began his career at Arthur Andersen’s consulting division (now Accenture) and was hired by Polychrome Corp. to be its Materials Manager in its 1980s operational turnaround, where Mr. Gidumal was promoted to Director of Operations and became the company’s youngest executive. Mr. Gidumal has been a speaker at our Distressed Investing annual conference in New York for the past 22 years. Mr. Gidumal has a Bachelor of Science cum laude from the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania where he double-majored in Accounting and Finance and has a Masters’ in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School where he graduated as a Baker Scholar with highest honors (and took and passed a bankruptcy law class at Harvard Law).
Mr. Gidumal was a co-founder of Westside Energy in 2003, an oil and gas exploration company focused on drilling for oil and natural gas in the western counties of the Barnett Shale in Texas. In June 2008, Westside Energy was sold to Crusader Energy for approximately $200 million. Mr. Gidumal was also instrumental in negotiating resolutions to the Eurotunnel restructuring in 2006, the Smartalk litigation in 2008, and as a Board member of the Mirant Recovery Trust (“MCAR”) negotiated the settlement with Southern Energy which paid MCAR $202 million in cash in 2009. In 2015, Mr. Gidumal was part of a series of shareholder actions that led to the former Signature Holdings announcing a merger with a manufacturing company with the intent of maximizing the value of Signatures net operating loss (NOL) assets. In his career, Mr. Gidumal has served as a Committee representative or Trustee for funds or trusts and has signed off on over $100,000,000 of legal fees and has achieved recoveries of over $2 billion for his clients.
Mr. Gidumal began his career at Arthur Andersen’s consulting division (now Accenture) and was hired by Polychrome Corp. to be its Materials Manager in its 1980s operational turnaround, where Mr. Gidumal was promoted to Director of Operations and became the company’s youngest executive. Mr. Gidumal has been a speaker at our Distressed Investing annual conference in New York for the past 22 years. Mr. Gidumal has a Bachelor of Science cum laude from the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania where he double-majored in Accounting and Finance and has a Masters’ in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School where he graduated as a Baker Scholar with highest honors (and took and passed a bankruptcy law class at Harvard Law).
Christa Hart
FTI CONSULTING - Senior Managing Director
FTI CONSULTING - Senior Managing Director
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Christa Hart specializes in successfully driving change within large, global companies. Ms. Hart has more than 20 years of hands-on experience leading organizations inside companies and acting as a consultant and strategic advisor.
Ms. Hart has worked with a wide range of retailers, service, beauty and direct selling companies to address specific challenges, including navigating though bankruptcy, managing distressed business units, defining and exploiting growth opportunities, gaining value from acquisitions and improving business processes and reducing costs.
While at FTI Consulting, Ms. Hart has worked with secured lenders and unsecured creditor committees to maximize value and return within bankruptcy. Her role has been to help clients understand and evaluate business plans and the ability of management to deliver. Working with retail Debtors, she’s partnered with management to develop long range business plans- incorporating white space opportunities and savings potential.
Outside of restructuring, Ms. Hart worked with a beauty company to reduce costs in stores, better manage vendors and inventory, and rationalize corporate costs. She also worked with a B2B distributor to refine category / product strategies to focus on non-traditional growth categories, create a substitute product strategy to increase margins, rationalize vendors, and reduce SKU count. At an apparel retailer, she integrated private brands into the existing branded assortment and developed the buying process and calendar. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Ms. Hart was the Head of Global Sales Development for Avon Products, where she led, defined and implemented global commercial and sales strategies. Ms. Hart began updating the sales management process at Avon and piloted a new global sales model across three regions, which increased sales by 2% over control groups. In addition, she had global responsibility for approving Ms. Hart has worked with a wide range of retailers and direct selling companies to address specific challenges, including defining and executing global sales strategies, managing distressed business units, exploiting new growth opportunities, gaining value from acquisitions, and improving business processes and reducing costs.
Before that, Ms. Hart managed business development at Finish Line, including financial and implementation planning for geographic expansion and new business opportunities. At Tupperware Brands, Ms. Hart ran a $370 million portfolio of 11 distressed businesses, increasing sales by 6% and profits by 60% after the first year. During that time, she implemented restructuring projects in three markets: brand consolidation in the Philippines, back-office merger in Asia and space utilization in the United States.
Ms. Hart was also the Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Tupperware Brands. In that role, she managed a corporate five-year strategic plan, led the Group Presidents in implementation of key initiatives and reported progress to the board of directors. In particular, she led a $650 million acquisition of 15 international business units across seven brands and co-led (in partnership with the President) the turnaround of the United States business unit, improving profits from a $30 million loss to a $9 million gain.
In addition, Ms. Hart worked for more than six years in the Management Horizons practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Early in her career, she worked for May Company Department Stores, Wet Seal and Crystal Brands.
Ms. Hart has worked with a wide range of retailers, service, beauty and direct selling companies to address specific challenges, including navigating though bankruptcy, managing distressed business units, defining and exploiting growth opportunities, gaining value from acquisitions and improving business processes and reducing costs.
While at FTI Consulting, Ms. Hart has worked with secured lenders and unsecured creditor committees to maximize value and return within bankruptcy. Her role has been to help clients understand and evaluate business plans and the ability of management to deliver. Working with retail Debtors, she’s partnered with management to develop long range business plans- incorporating white space opportunities and savings potential.
Outside of restructuring, Ms. Hart worked with a beauty company to reduce costs in stores, better manage vendors and inventory, and rationalize corporate costs. She also worked with a B2B distributor to refine category / product strategies to focus on non-traditional growth categories, create a substitute product strategy to increase margins, rationalize vendors, and reduce SKU count. At an apparel retailer, she integrated private brands into the existing branded assortment and developed the buying process and calendar. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Ms. Hart was the Head of Global Sales Development for Avon Products, where she led, defined and implemented global commercial and sales strategies. Ms. Hart began updating the sales management process at Avon and piloted a new global sales model across three regions, which increased sales by 2% over control groups. In addition, she had global responsibility for approving Ms. Hart has worked with a wide range of retailers and direct selling companies to address specific challenges, including defining and executing global sales strategies, managing distressed business units, exploiting new growth opportunities, gaining value from acquisitions, and improving business processes and reducing costs.
Before that, Ms. Hart managed business development at Finish Line, including financial and implementation planning for geographic expansion and new business opportunities. At Tupperware Brands, Ms. Hart ran a $370 million portfolio of 11 distressed businesses, increasing sales by 6% and profits by 60% after the first year. During that time, she implemented restructuring projects in three markets: brand consolidation in the Philippines, back-office merger in Asia and space utilization in the United States.
Ms. Hart was also the Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Tupperware Brands. In that role, she managed a corporate five-year strategic plan, led the Group Presidents in implementation of key initiatives and reported progress to the board of directors. In particular, she led a $650 million acquisition of 15 international business units across seven brands and co-led (in partnership with the President) the turnaround of the United States business unit, improving profits from a $30 million loss to a $9 million gain.
In addition, Ms. Hart worked for more than six years in the Management Horizons practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Early in her career, she worked for May Company Department Stores, Wet Seal and Crystal Brands.
William H. Harrington
OFFICE of the U.S. TRUSTEE for REGIONS 1 AND 2 - U.S. Trustee
OFFICE of the U.S. TRUSTEE for REGIONS 1 AND 2 - U.S. Trustee
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Bio coming soon.
Gary E. Hindes
THE DELAWARE BAY COMPANY LLC - Managing Director
THE DELAWARE BAY COMPANY LLC - Managing Director
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Gary E. Hindes is Chairman and Managing Director of The Delaware Bay Company, LLC.
Mr. Hindes began his career in 1970 as what is believed to have been the youngest newspaper publisher in the United States. At age 19, Mr. Hindes founded The Evening Standard Group, which published The Oak Forester and three other Chicago suburban weekly newspapers. Mr. Hindes then became editor of the Edmond Sun in Edmond, Oklahoma. From 1973 to 1975, Mr. Hindes was associate editor and chief investigative reporter for the Delaware State News in Dover, Delaware, where he won First Prize for Spot News Reporting and Second Prize (with staff) for investigative reporting from the Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Press Association. From 1976 until 1978, Mr. Hindes served as press secretary to the county executive of New Castle County, Delaware and then as Assistant to the Speaker of the House during the 119th Delaware General Assembly.
Mr. Hindes began his career in the securities industry in November of 1978 as a trainee at Blyth, Eastman Dillon & Co. In 1980, he became a Vice President of Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis, Inc. In 1981, he was elected a Vice President of Kidder Peabody & Co. and from 1983 to 1986 he was employed in the high net worth unit of Morgan Stanley. At Blyth, Eastman Dillon, Kidder Peabody and Morgan Stanley, Mr. Hindes specialized in researching the securities of bankrupt and distressed companies such as the Pennsylvania Railroad, Chrysler Corporation, Chrysler Financial Corporation, First Pennsylvania Bank, International Harvester Credit Corp., and Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago. In 1986, Mr. Hindes resigned from Morgan Stanley in order to form the Fallen Angels Fund, L.P., a private partnership investing in distressed securities. Also that year, he founded The Delaware Bay Company, Inc., an institutional brokerage firm specializing in distressed securities. Mr. Hindes sold his interest in The Delaware Bay Company, Inc. in 1996 and then served as liquidating trustee of the South Street Funds, a group of hedge funds with over $250 million in assets. In 2000, Mr. Hindes joined Deltec Asset Management, LLC, where he founded and was the sole manager of Deltec Recovery Fund, L.P. until December 31, 2010.
In addition to having conducted extensive research into and invested in the securities of bankrupt and distressed companies, Mr. Hindes has also had considerable direct experience in the management and operations of such companies. Mr. Hindes served as chairman of the creditors committee in the McLean Industries bankruptcy and as a member of the creditors committee in the Circle Express and Western Union bankruptcies. He also served on the ad hoc committee of bondholders when the LTV Corporation was in bankruptcy proceedings and was chairman of the Bondholders Protective Committee during the Johns-Manville bankruptcy. In addition, Mr. Hindes was the Chairman of the Meritor/PSFS Bondholder Committee during the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society’s successful exchange offer in 1991. He has been quoted extensively as to bankruptcy-related matters in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Business Week magazine and has appeared on Bloomberg Television, the CBS and NBC Evening News; he also served as the 1998 co-chairman of the American Distressed Investors Conference held in New York City. Mr. Hindes is a former member of the board of directors of Lancer Industries, Inc. (an affiliate of the Joseph, Littlejohn & Levy Funds); Intranet Corp. (owner of Roadrunner Transportation, Inc. and three other over-the-road trucking companies), and Busse Broadcasting, Inc. (owner of the NBC affiliate in Kalamazoo, Michigan and the ABC affiliate in Eau Claire, Wisconsin), all of which are successors-in-interest to bankrupt companies.
From 1982 to 2007, Mr. Hindes served as chairman of the board of trustees of Wilmington Head Start, Inc., a not-for-profit pre-school educational program for underprivileged inner-city children, and from 1993 to 2001 served by presidential appointment on the John F. Kennedy Center Advisory Council on the Arts. Mr. Hindes currently serves on the investment management committee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and is a former member of the boards of directors of the Wilmington Housing Authority and the Delaware Theater Company. He is a member of the Economic Club of New York, the Turnaround Management Association and a life member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the NAACP.
Mr. Hindes began his career in 1970 as what is believed to have been the youngest newspaper publisher in the United States. At age 19, Mr. Hindes founded The Evening Standard Group, which published The Oak Forester and three other Chicago suburban weekly newspapers. Mr. Hindes then became editor of the Edmond Sun in Edmond, Oklahoma. From 1973 to 1975, Mr. Hindes was associate editor and chief investigative reporter for the Delaware State News in Dover, Delaware, where he won First Prize for Spot News Reporting and Second Prize (with staff) for investigative reporting from the Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Press Association. From 1976 until 1978, Mr. Hindes served as press secretary to the county executive of New Castle County, Delaware and then as Assistant to the Speaker of the House during the 119th Delaware General Assembly.
Mr. Hindes began his career in the securities industry in November of 1978 as a trainee at Blyth, Eastman Dillon & Co. In 1980, he became a Vice President of Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis, Inc. In 1981, he was elected a Vice President of Kidder Peabody & Co. and from 1983 to 1986 he was employed in the high net worth unit of Morgan Stanley. At Blyth, Eastman Dillon, Kidder Peabody and Morgan Stanley, Mr. Hindes specialized in researching the securities of bankrupt and distressed companies such as the Pennsylvania Railroad, Chrysler Corporation, Chrysler Financial Corporation, First Pennsylvania Bank, International Harvester Credit Corp., and Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago. In 1986, Mr. Hindes resigned from Morgan Stanley in order to form the Fallen Angels Fund, L.P., a private partnership investing in distressed securities. Also that year, he founded The Delaware Bay Company, Inc., an institutional brokerage firm specializing in distressed securities. Mr. Hindes sold his interest in The Delaware Bay Company, Inc. in 1996 and then served as liquidating trustee of the South Street Funds, a group of hedge funds with over $250 million in assets. In 2000, Mr. Hindes joined Deltec Asset Management, LLC, where he founded and was the sole manager of Deltec Recovery Fund, L.P. until December 31, 2010.
In addition to having conducted extensive research into and invested in the securities of bankrupt and distressed companies, Mr. Hindes has also had considerable direct experience in the management and operations of such companies. Mr. Hindes served as chairman of the creditors committee in the McLean Industries bankruptcy and as a member of the creditors committee in the Circle Express and Western Union bankruptcies. He also served on the ad hoc committee of bondholders when the LTV Corporation was in bankruptcy proceedings and was chairman of the Bondholders Protective Committee during the Johns-Manville bankruptcy. In addition, Mr. Hindes was the Chairman of the Meritor/PSFS Bondholder Committee during the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society’s successful exchange offer in 1991. He has been quoted extensively as to bankruptcy-related matters in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Business Week magazine and has appeared on Bloomberg Television, the CBS and NBC Evening News; he also served as the 1998 co-chairman of the American Distressed Investors Conference held in New York City. Mr. Hindes is a former member of the board of directors of Lancer Industries, Inc. (an affiliate of the Joseph, Littlejohn & Levy Funds); Intranet Corp. (owner of Roadrunner Transportation, Inc. and three other over-the-road trucking companies), and Busse Broadcasting, Inc. (owner of the NBC affiliate in Kalamazoo, Michigan and the ABC affiliate in Eau Claire, Wisconsin), all of which are successors-in-interest to bankrupt companies.
From 1982 to 2007, Mr. Hindes served as chairman of the board of trustees of Wilmington Head Start, Inc., a not-for-profit pre-school educational program for underprivileged inner-city children, and from 1993 to 2001 served by presidential appointment on the John F. Kennedy Center Advisory Council on the Arts. Mr. Hindes currently serves on the investment management committee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and is a former member of the boards of directors of the Wilmington Housing Authority and the Delaware Theater Company. He is a member of the Economic Club of New York, the Turnaround Management Association and a life member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the NAACP.
Harold L. Kaplan
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP - Partner
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP - Partner
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Harold L. Kaplan is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP. He, among other things, is the leader of the firm's Corporate Trust and Bondholders Rights Team and is a member of the firm's Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations Practice. Over the last three decades, Mr. Kaplan has represented financial institutions, debtors, trustees under the Bankruptcy Code and the Securities Investors Protection Act, foreign liquidators in ancillary proceedings, creditors' committees, and other creditor groups, including specializing in representing indenture trustees and bondholder interests.
In addition to more traditional areas of practice, he has extensive experience in claims trading and regulated industry matters, including railroad, airline and other transportation reorganizations; utility, energy industry, oil and gas and mining proceedings; securities industry and broker-dealer matters; insurance and bank insolvencies; telecommunications, gaming; and health care industry matters, including health care finance, reorganizations, insolvencies, and other proceedings.
In addition to more traditional areas of practice, he has extensive experience in claims trading and regulated industry matters, including railroad, airline and other transportation reorganizations; utility, energy industry, oil and gas and mining proceedings; securities industry and broker-dealer matters; insurance and bank insolvencies; telecommunications, gaming; and health care industry matters, including health care finance, reorganizations, insolvencies, and other proceedings.
Robert J. Keach
BERNSTEIN, SHUR, SAWYER & NELSON P. A . - Shareholder
BERNSTEIN, SHUR, SAWYER & NELSON P. A . - Shareholder
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Robert J. Keach is co-chair of Bernstein Shur’s Business Restructuring and Insolvency Practice Group. He is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a Past President (2009-2010) of the American Bankruptcy Institute. Bob is also the co-chair of the ABI’s Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11.
Bob focuses on the representation of various parties in workouts and bankruptcy cases, including debtors, creditors, creditors committees, lessors and third parties acquiring troubled companies and/or their assets. He has appeared as a panelist on national bankruptcy, lender liability and creditors rights programs, and is the author of several articles on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights appearing in the ABI Law Review, Commercial Law Journal and ABI Journal, among other publications. Keach is a contributing author to Collier Guide to Chapter 11: Key Topics and Selected Industries (2011 Ed.).
He is recognized as a “Star Individual” in Corporate M&A/Bankruptcy in Chambers USA, in Best Lawyers in America (Ten-Year Certificate), and by New England Super Lawyers (Bankruptcy and Top 100 Lawyers in New England regardless of specialty). Bob is also certified in business bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification.
Currently, Bob serves as the chapter 11 trustee in the railroad reorganization case of Montreal Maine & Atlantic Railway, Ltd., a cross-border restructuring case. Bob is also the fee examiner in the Exide Technologies case in Delaware; he was also the fee examiner in In re AMR Corporation (the chapter 11 cases of American Airlines and its parent and certain affiliates). Bob has also, inter alia, represented ad hoc committees in the Homebanc Mortgage, New Century TRS Holdings, and Nortel Networks cases in Delaware, as well as a public utilities commission in the FairPoint Communications case in the Southern District of New York.
Bob focuses on the representation of various parties in workouts and bankruptcy cases, including debtors, creditors, creditors committees, lessors and third parties acquiring troubled companies and/or their assets. He has appeared as a panelist on national bankruptcy, lender liability and creditors rights programs, and is the author of several articles on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights appearing in the ABI Law Review, Commercial Law Journal and ABI Journal, among other publications. Keach is a contributing author to Collier Guide to Chapter 11: Key Topics and Selected Industries (2011 Ed.).
He is recognized as a “Star Individual” in Corporate M&A/Bankruptcy in Chambers USA, in Best Lawyers in America (Ten-Year Certificate), and by New England Super Lawyers (Bankruptcy and Top 100 Lawyers in New England regardless of specialty). Bob is also certified in business bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification.
Currently, Bob serves as the chapter 11 trustee in the railroad reorganization case of Montreal Maine & Atlantic Railway, Ltd., a cross-border restructuring case. Bob is also the fee examiner in the Exide Technologies case in Delaware; he was also the fee examiner in In re AMR Corporation (the chapter 11 cases of American Airlines and its parent and certain affiliates). Bob has also, inter alia, represented ad hoc committees in the Homebanc Mortgage, New Century TRS Holdings, and Nortel Networks cases in Delaware, as well as a public utilities commission in the FairPoint Communications case in the Southern District of New York.
Andrew Kissner
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP - Associate
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP - Associate
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Andrew’s primary practice is advising clients with respect to novel and complex insolvency issues, with a particular focus on cross-border and governmental restructurings. He has represented debtors, ad hoc groups, official committees, and individual investors in large chapter 11 and chapter 15 filings.
Andrew also has an active pro bono practice, including advising numerous tenants in the chapter 11 bankruptcies of their landlords, and has represented ICE detainees in connection with asylum proceedings.
Andrew graduated magna cum laude from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as Articles Editor on the Brooklyn Law Review. As a law student, Andrew worked as a judicial intern to the Honorable Jane Restani, Senior Judge for the United States Court of International Trade.
Andrew received an LL.M. in International and European Business Law at the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Madrid and graduated magna cum laude from the University at Albany, earning a B.A. in English and Spanish. He is also highly proficient in Spanish.
Andrew also has an active pro bono practice, including advising numerous tenants in the chapter 11 bankruptcies of their landlords, and has represented ICE detainees in connection with asylum proceedings.
Andrew graduated magna cum laude from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as Articles Editor on the Brooklyn Law Review. As a law student, Andrew worked as a judicial intern to the Honorable Jane Restani, Senior Judge for the United States Court of International Trade.
Andrew received an LL.M. in International and European Business Law at the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Madrid and graduated magna cum laude from the University at Albany, earning a B.A. in English and Spanish. He is also highly proficient in Spanish.
James MacInnis
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES - Director
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES - Director
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James “Mac” MacInnis. Mac is a senior desk analyst in the U.S. Distressed Products Group at Deutsche Bank. The Distressed Products Group is recognized as a leading distressed trading franchise that is focused on corporate and municipal bonds, loans, bankruptcy and other litigation-based claims, and post-reorg equities in public and private markets. Mac is based in New York and specializes his work on investments involving legal disputes and process, special situations, bankruptcy and insolvency, financial distress, liquidations, and reorganizations. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank in 2006, Mac practiced law in the Financial Restructuring Group at Milbank.
Christopher J. Marcus
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP - Partner
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP - Partner
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Christopher Marcus is a partner in Kirkland's Restructuring Group. He represents debtors, creditors, equity sponsors, and investors in distressed companies in a wide array of industries, including retail, telecommunications, media, real estate, and manufacturing. Most recently, Christopher was selected as a Law 360 MVP. He has been recognized in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 editions of Chambers USA, with sources praising him as “a good advocate” and a “talented” lawyer. Christopher was also selected as one of the nation’s “Outstanding Restructuring Lawyers” in 2017 and “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers” in 2007 by Turnarounds & Workouts.
John Melko
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP - Partner
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP - Partner
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John Melko's practice focuses on complex sales, acquisitions, bankruptcies and financings in the energy sector throughout the United States, as well as shipping-related issues in both foreign and domestic cases and financings. John has years of cross-border and multinational experience with oil and gas exploration and production, refining and marketing, airlines, telecommunications, electric utilities, manufacturing, retail, rig and ship finance, mass torts and asset-backed securities. He has represented:
Throughout his career, John has helped guide clients through dislocations in the energy, shipping, telecommunication, real estate and health care markets, utilizing chapter 7, chapter 11, and chapter 15 procedures.
John also serves as co-chair of the firm's Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations Practice and vice-chair of the firm’s Oil & Gas Industry Team.
- Borrowers and debtors in possession
- Creditors and creditors' committees
- Securitized noteholders
- Trustees
- Investors
- Buyers of assets and businesses in and out of restructuring or bankruptcy settings
Throughout his career, John has helped guide clients through dislocations in the energy, shipping, telecommunication, real estate and health care markets, utilizing chapter 7, chapter 11, and chapter 15 procedures.
John also serves as co-chair of the firm's Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations Practice and vice-chair of the firm’s Oil & Gas Industry Team.
Hon. Cecelia G. Morris
U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK - Chief Judge
U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK - Chief Judge
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Chief Judge Cecelia G. Morris began her official tour of duty as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York on July 1, 2000, and commenced her service as Chief Judge on March 1, 2012.
Chief Judge Morris has lead efforts by attorneys representing debtors and secured creditors to implement a model chapter 13 plan and order, and a detailed worksheet that requires disclosure of arrearages and other current mortgage information as part of a motion seeking relief from the automatic stay concerning residential real estate and cooperative apartments. She also collaborated with other judges and practitioners to develop loss mitigation procedures for residential real estate, resulting in the adoption of a court-supervised program that is the first of its kind in the United States.
Chief Judge Morris often serves as a plan mediator on mega chapter 11 cases. She is an editor of treatise on bankruptcy developed by Bloomberg Law, now BNA, and published an article describing the history and legal basis of the Court’s loss mitigation program in the Spring 2011 edition of the ABI Law Review. Chief Judge Morris has authored several articles on electronic filing, including a chapter on electronic case filing in Collier on Bankruptcy, and has published articles on loss mitigation, mediation, the consumer credit counseling requirement in bankruptcy, and cross-border insolvency cases under chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code. Chief Judge Morris has testified before Congress and served on the Judicial Conference of the United States Committee on Information Technology (appointed by Chief Justice Roberts) for 6 years. Prior to that appointment, she served on Bankruptcy Judges Advisory Board to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. She taught Bankruptcy Ethics at St. John’s University’s LL.M. in Bankruptcy program.
Chief Judge Morris currently serves as a member of the Barry Zaretsky Roundtable Steering Committee at Brooklyn Law School; the Advisory Board to the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review; member of the International Insolvency Institute; American College of Bankruptcy; National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges; and the Global Restructuring Organization’s Scientific Committee headquartered in Modena, Italy. She is also a Board Member on Tina’s Wish, which is dedicated to funding groundbreaking research for the early detection and prevention of ovarian cancer. She received the Annual Conrad B. Duberstein Memorial Award for Excellence and Compassion in the Bankruptcy Judiciary and the New York Law Journal Impact Award for pioneering the use of e-filing in federal court.
Chief Judge Morris has lead efforts by attorneys representing debtors and secured creditors to implement a model chapter 13 plan and order, and a detailed worksheet that requires disclosure of arrearages and other current mortgage information as part of a motion seeking relief from the automatic stay concerning residential real estate and cooperative apartments. She also collaborated with other judges and practitioners to develop loss mitigation procedures for residential real estate, resulting in the adoption of a court-supervised program that is the first of its kind in the United States.
Chief Judge Morris often serves as a plan mediator on mega chapter 11 cases. She is an editor of treatise on bankruptcy developed by Bloomberg Law, now BNA, and published an article describing the history and legal basis of the Court’s loss mitigation program in the Spring 2011 edition of the ABI Law Review. Chief Judge Morris has authored several articles on electronic filing, including a chapter on electronic case filing in Collier on Bankruptcy, and has published articles on loss mitigation, mediation, the consumer credit counseling requirement in bankruptcy, and cross-border insolvency cases under chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code. Chief Judge Morris has testified before Congress and served on the Judicial Conference of the United States Committee on Information Technology (appointed by Chief Justice Roberts) for 6 years. Prior to that appointment, she served on Bankruptcy Judges Advisory Board to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. She taught Bankruptcy Ethics at St. John’s University’s LL.M. in Bankruptcy program.
Chief Judge Morris currently serves as a member of the Barry Zaretsky Roundtable Steering Committee at Brooklyn Law School; the Advisory Board to the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review; member of the International Insolvency Institute; American College of Bankruptcy; National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges; and the Global Restructuring Organization’s Scientific Committee headquartered in Modena, Italy. She is also a Board Member on Tina’s Wish, which is dedicated to funding groundbreaking research for the early detection and prevention of ovarian cancer. She received the Annual Conrad B. Duberstein Memorial Award for Excellence and Compassion in the Bankruptcy Judiciary and the New York Law Journal Impact Award for pioneering the use of e-filing in federal court.
Tania M. Moyron
DENTONS - Partner
DENTONS - Partner
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Tania M. Moyron is a partner in Dentons' Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy group. Tania has significant experience in bankruptcy, corporate restructuring and related litigation matters. She has represented Chapter 11 debtors, creditors’ and equity committees, liquidating trustees, principals and secured and unsecured creditors in all aspects of corporate bankruptcy. She also has advised buyers and sellers of assets in bankruptcy and receivership cases, including representation of a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) and restaurant franchise.
Tania's representations span a variety of industries, including health care, retail, entertainment, trucking, commercial and residential real estate and restaurant franchise industries. She also has litigation experience in state and federal courts and appellate experience before the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, District Courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Prior to joining Dentons, Tania gained experience in complex and challenging Chapter 11 cases at top-ranked national firms for business restructuring and bankruptcy. Tania also served as a judicial and appellate law clerk to the Honorable Christopher M. Klein, Chief Judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California and former member of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Tania's representations span a variety of industries, including health care, retail, entertainment, trucking, commercial and residential real estate and restaurant franchise industries. She also has litigation experience in state and federal courts and appellate experience before the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, District Courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Prior to joining Dentons, Tania gained experience in complex and challenging Chapter 11 cases at top-ranked national firms for business restructuring and bankruptcy. Tania also served as a judicial and appellate law clerk to the Honorable Christopher M. Klein, Chief Judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California and former member of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Michael Neruda
SIXTH STREET - Managing Director
SIXTH STREET - Managing Director
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Mr. Neruda is a Managing Director of Sixth Street based in San Francisco. Sixth Street is a global investment firm with approximately $47 billion in assets under management. Since joining Sixth Street in 2015, Mr. Neruda has focused on the build out of the Sixth Street Fundamental Strategies business, which invests in thematic dislocations and special situations in public markets. Prior to joining Sixth Street, Mr. Neruda was a Director at Watershed Asset Management, where he led investments in the retail and energy sectors. Mr. Neruda was previously an investment analyst at MHR Fund Management, Silver Point Capital and Merrill Lynch. He received a B.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, is a CFA Charterholder, and currently serves on and is the Treasurer for the Board of Governors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco.
Kevin Nystrom
ALIXPARTNERS - Managing Director
ALIXPARTNERS - Managing Director
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Kevin has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of restructuring and financial management. He has held numerous management roles and advised companies, boards of directors, investor groups, and lenders in a wide range of turnarounds and reorganizations. Kevin’s operational experience covers numerous industries such as mining, manufacturing, distribution, financial services, professional services, transportation, telecommunications, and real estate.
James H.M. Sprayregen
KIRKLAND & ELLIS - Partner
KIRKLAND & ELLIS - Partner
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James H.M. Sprayregen is a Restructuring partner in the Chicago and New York offices of Kirkland & Ellis and served on Kirkland’s worldwide management committee from 2003–2006 and 2009–2019. Mr. Sprayregen is recognized as one of the outstanding restructuring lawyers in the United States and around the world and has led some of the most complex Chapter 11 filings in recent history. He has extensive experience representing major U.S. and international companies in restructurings out of court and in court around the globe and has handled matters for clients in industries as varied as manufacturing, technology, transportation, energy, media, retail, and real estate. He has extensive experience advising boards of directors, and generally representing debtors and creditors in complex workout, insolvency, restructuring, and bankruptcy planning matters worldwide.
Chambers & Partners has praised Mr. Sprayregen for his “outstanding reputation for complex Chapter 11 cases” noting he is a “great clients’ lawyer, admired for his unflustered ways.” Chambers said that clients it spoke to noted that he is “probably the best restructuring lawyer in the world.” Most recently, sources commented that Mr. Sprayregen is “a premier restructuring expert” and “in a class of his own” with “unbelievable technical capabilities” and “deep experience he can draw upon.” He was praised for his ability “to take extraordinarily complex issues and make them understandable for boards and executive management teams.” Prior editions of Chambers guides have described Mr. Sprayregen as “a world-class practice leader,” “one of the deans of the Bar,” and “a restructuring genius and one of the best strategists in the country” noting that clients look to him as someone who is “providing leadership and strategic guidance on the big issues.” Sources commended Mr. Sprayregen for his “incredible work ethic and skill” and for his ability to “bring a mastery of the law to practical application.” Clients are “impressed by his boundless energy to work on issues” and note that Mr. Sprayregen is “very good in complicated and difficult situations.”
In March 2010, Mr. Sprayregen was selected by The National Law Journal as one of “The Decade’s Most Influential Lawyers.” Mr. Sprayregen was named “Global Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyer of the Year” in 2013 by Who’s Who Legal Awards, receiving more votes from clients and peers than any other individual worldwide. In October 2013, Mr. Sprayregen was inducted into the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Turnaround, Restructuring, and Distressed Investing Industry Hall of Fame. From 2013-2015, Mr. Sprayregen was appointed to serve a two year term as the President of INSOL International, the leading insolvency association in the world.
Mr. Sprayregen joined Kirkland in 1990 and built its international Restructuring Group. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2006 where he was co-head of Goldman Sachs’ Restructuring Group and advised clients in restructuring and distressed situations. He rejoined Kirkland three years later. Mr. Sprayregen is a frequent lecturer, speaker, and writer on insolvency, cross-border and distressed M&A issues. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, New York University School of Law, and The University of Pennsylvania.
Chambers & Partners has praised Mr. Sprayregen for his “outstanding reputation for complex Chapter 11 cases” noting he is a “great clients’ lawyer, admired for his unflustered ways.” Chambers said that clients it spoke to noted that he is “probably the best restructuring lawyer in the world.” Most recently, sources commented that Mr. Sprayregen is “a premier restructuring expert” and “in a class of his own” with “unbelievable technical capabilities” and “deep experience he can draw upon.” He was praised for his ability “to take extraordinarily complex issues and make them understandable for boards and executive management teams.” Prior editions of Chambers guides have described Mr. Sprayregen as “a world-class practice leader,” “one of the deans of the Bar,” and “a restructuring genius and one of the best strategists in the country” noting that clients look to him as someone who is “providing leadership and strategic guidance on the big issues.” Sources commended Mr. Sprayregen for his “incredible work ethic and skill” and for his ability to “bring a mastery of the law to practical application.” Clients are “impressed by his boundless energy to work on issues” and note that Mr. Sprayregen is “very good in complicated and difficult situations.”
In March 2010, Mr. Sprayregen was selected by The National Law Journal as one of “The Decade’s Most Influential Lawyers.” Mr. Sprayregen was named “Global Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyer of the Year” in 2013 by Who’s Who Legal Awards, receiving more votes from clients and peers than any other individual worldwide. In October 2013, Mr. Sprayregen was inducted into the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) Turnaround, Restructuring, and Distressed Investing Industry Hall of Fame. From 2013-2015, Mr. Sprayregen was appointed to serve a two year term as the President of INSOL International, the leading insolvency association in the world.
Mr. Sprayregen joined Kirkland in 1990 and built its international Restructuring Group. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2006 where he was co-head of Goldman Sachs’ Restructuring Group and advised clients in restructuring and distressed situations. He rejoined Kirkland three years later. Mr. Sprayregen is a frequent lecturer, speaker, and writer on insolvency, cross-border and distressed M&A issues. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, New York University School of Law, and The University of Pennsylvania.
Robert J. Stark
BROWN RUDNICK LLP - Partner
BROWN RUDNICK LLP - Partner
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Robert Stark focuses his practice on complex corporate restructuring, including in-court Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court workouts. He has extensive experience representing debtors/borrowers, secured and unsecured creditors, official creditor/equity committees, and other significant parties-in-interest in large corporate insolvency matters.
Robert led the firm’s representation in the following significant case matters (among many others):
Robert is cited in Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers Global (international ranking), Chambers USA (New York and national ranking), Global M&A Network: Top 100 Restructuring Professionals, IFLR1000 (“Highly Regarded”), Lawdragon 500 ("Leading Global Lawyer"), The Legal 500 ("Leading Lawyer"), Litigation Counsel of America (Fellow), Super Lawyers, PLC Which Lawyer, and Who's Who Legal. He is described in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA as “a fantastic tactician, very creative, and well regarded by other lawyers.” The 2019 edition of Chambers Global described him as a “brilliant, brilliant lawyer who leaves no stone unturned, and smart enough to know when to cut a deal.” He was recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a “high-minded street fighter” (2018). He received several “Deal of the Year” citations (domestic and international) in connection with his case work. In 2011, he was profiled in a National Law Journal article entitled, “Winning: Successful Litigators. Powerful Strategies.” In 2010, he was also the subject of a lengthy profile published by Bloomberg / BusinessWeek, wherein he was described by opposing counsel as a litigation "serial killer" but also “bottom-line and commercial oriented.” In 2019, 2018 and 2011, he was one of 12 attorneys named to the annual list of “Outstanding Restructuring Lawyers” published by Turnarounds & Workouts and, in five prior years, he was one of 12 attorneys named to that publication’s annual list of “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers.” In 2011, Robert was named “Restructuring Lawyer of the Year” at the Turnaround Atlas Awards.
Robert’s “first chair” trial and appellate work have resulted in opinions of high precedential value, including (among many others): In re Visteon Corp., 612 F.3d 210 (3rd Cir. 2010) (described by a leading legal commentator as “the most important [Section] 1114 case ever rendered"); In re Oakwood Homes Corp., 449 F.3d 588 (3rd Cir. 2006); In re TSAWD Holdings, Inc., 565 B.R. 292 (Bankr. D. Del. 2017); In re Millennium Lab Holdings II, LLC, 2016 WL 7048599 (Bankr. D. Del. 2016); In re Green Field Energy Services, Inc., 2015 WL 5146161 (Bankr. D. Del. 2015); In re School Specialty, Inc., 2013 WL 1838513 (Bankr. D. Del. 2013); In re Patriot Coal Corp., 482 B.R. 718 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2012); In re Eastman Kodak Co., 2012 WL 2501071 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2012); In re Tribune Company, 2011 Bankr. Lexis 4128 (Bankr. D. Del. 2011); In re Washington Mutual, Inc., 442 B.R. 314 (Bankr. D. Del. 2011); In re Spansion, Inc., 421 B.R. 151 (Bankr. D. Del. 2009); In re Oakwood Homes Corp., 394 B.R. 352 (Bankr. D. Del. 2008); In re Oneida Ltd., 351 B.R. 79 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2006); and OHC Liquidation Trust v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 2006 WL 2578907 (Bankr. D. Del. 2006).
Robert has published extensively on bankruptcy and restructuring topics. He is an editor of the nation’s leading treatise on restructuring law, Collier on Bankruptcy (LexisNexis 2020). In addition, he was the lead editor of the 400-page legal treatise Contested Valuation in Corporate Bankruptcy (LexisNexis 2011), part of the Collier on Bankruptcy monograph series, and the 200-page legal treatise Admitting Expert Valuation Evidence Before the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts (Bernstein, S., et al., Amer. Bankr. Inst. 2017). He contributed chapters to the Collier Bankruptcy Practice Guide (LexisNexis 2014) and Bankruptcy Business Acquisitions (Amer. Bankr. Inst. 2006). He wrote or co-wrote articles appearing in, among other periodicals, the American Bankruptcy Law Journal, Business Lawyer, California Law Review, and Journal of Corporation Law. He delivered papers, was an invited speaker, and guest lectured at numerous restructuring seminars (both domestic and abroad) and graduate schools of high academic esteem, including programs sponsored by the American Bankruptcy Institute, American Law Institute (Young Scholars Medal Conference), Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, Boston University Law School, Columbia Business School, Georgia State University Law School, NYU Stern School of Business, University of California at Hastings Law School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, University of Texas School of Law, University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce, and the New York City Bar Association.
Robert led the firm’s representation in the following significant case matters (among many others):
- Debtors/Borrowers: Allied Systems Holdings (special committee of the Board); Centrix Financial (primary stockholder, Chairman and CEO); GIC Portfolio (out-of-court workout); Keys Resort (Chapter 11 debtor); Sable Permian Resources (equity sponsor); SunEdison (special litigation counsel); Wells Dairy/Blue Bunny Ice Cream (out-of-court workout).
- Secured Term Lenders/Bondholders: Atlantis Resort and Casino; American Safety Razor; EPV Solar; Evergreen International Aviation; Flying J/Big West Oil; Geokinetics; Hawkeye Renewables; JCPenney; J.Crew; Le-Nature’s; Millennium Labs; Minnesota Star Tribune; Newark Group; New Vision Broadcasting; Pier 1 Imports; ServiceMaster; Spansion; Sports Authority; Synagro Technologies; TOUSA; Vanguard Natural Resources.
- Unsecured Bondholders/Creditors: Advanced Lighting; C-BASS; CEDC; Collins & Aikman; Colt Defense; Delphi Corporation; Delta Petroleum; Endeavour International; Energy Conversion Devices; Falcon Products; Forest Oil/Sabine Oil & Gas; InSight Health Services; Intelsat; LightSquared; McDermott International; Orexigen; Patriot Coal; SIRVA/North American Van Lines; TerraVia; TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals; Tribune Company.
- Official Creditor/Equity Committees: Alta Mesa Resources; Aralez Pharmaceuticals; Briggs & Stratton; Chesapeake Energy; Dolan Company; EdgeMarc Energy; EXCO Resources; Fedders; Green Field Energy Services; Green Valley Ranch Hotel and Casino; Legacy Reserves; Libbey Glass; Lionel Trains (special counsel); Motor Coach Industries; Oakwood Homes Corporation; Oneida; Performance Sports Group; Philadelphia Energy Solutions; Ravn Air Group; Rex Energy; Riverstone Networks; School Specialty; Ultra Petroleum; Visteon Corporation.
- Preferred Stockholders: Spanish Broadcasting; Washington Mutual.
- Post-Confirmation Litigation/Liquidation Trusts: Bethlehem Steel; Bricolage Capital; Geneva Steel; Green Field Energy Services; Hayes Lemmerz International; Le-Nature’s; Millennium Labs; Oakwood Homes Corporation; Performance Sports Group; and WCI Communities.
Robert is cited in Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers Global (international ranking), Chambers USA (New York and national ranking), Global M&A Network: Top 100 Restructuring Professionals, IFLR1000 (“Highly Regarded”), Lawdragon 500 ("Leading Global Lawyer"), The Legal 500 ("Leading Lawyer"), Litigation Counsel of America (Fellow), Super Lawyers, PLC Which Lawyer, and Who's Who Legal. He is described in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA as “a fantastic tactician, very creative, and well regarded by other lawyers.” The 2019 edition of Chambers Global described him as a “brilliant, brilliant lawyer who leaves no stone unturned, and smart enough to know when to cut a deal.” He was recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a “high-minded street fighter” (2018). He received several “Deal of the Year” citations (domestic and international) in connection with his case work. In 2011, he was profiled in a National Law Journal article entitled, “Winning: Successful Litigators. Powerful Strategies.” In 2010, he was also the subject of a lengthy profile published by Bloomberg / BusinessWeek, wherein he was described by opposing counsel as a litigation "serial killer" but also “bottom-line and commercial oriented.” In 2019, 2018 and 2011, he was one of 12 attorneys named to the annual list of “Outstanding Restructuring Lawyers” published by Turnarounds & Workouts and, in five prior years, he was one of 12 attorneys named to that publication’s annual list of “Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyers.” In 2011, Robert was named “Restructuring Lawyer of the Year” at the Turnaround Atlas Awards.
Robert’s “first chair” trial and appellate work have resulted in opinions of high precedential value, including (among many others): In re Visteon Corp., 612 F.3d 210 (3rd Cir. 2010) (described by a leading legal commentator as “the most important [Section] 1114 case ever rendered"); In re Oakwood Homes Corp., 449 F.3d 588 (3rd Cir. 2006); In re TSAWD Holdings, Inc., 565 B.R. 292 (Bankr. D. Del. 2017); In re Millennium Lab Holdings II, LLC, 2016 WL 7048599 (Bankr. D. Del. 2016); In re Green Field Energy Services, Inc., 2015 WL 5146161 (Bankr. D. Del. 2015); In re School Specialty, Inc., 2013 WL 1838513 (Bankr. D. Del. 2013); In re Patriot Coal Corp., 482 B.R. 718 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2012); In re Eastman Kodak Co., 2012 WL 2501071 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2012); In re Tribune Company, 2011 Bankr. Lexis 4128 (Bankr. D. Del. 2011); In re Washington Mutual, Inc., 442 B.R. 314 (Bankr. D. Del. 2011); In re Spansion, Inc., 421 B.R. 151 (Bankr. D. Del. 2009); In re Oakwood Homes Corp., 394 B.R. 352 (Bankr. D. Del. 2008); In re Oneida Ltd., 351 B.R. 79 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2006); and OHC Liquidation Trust v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 2006 WL 2578907 (Bankr. D. Del. 2006).
Robert has published extensively on bankruptcy and restructuring topics. He is an editor of the nation’s leading treatise on restructuring law, Collier on Bankruptcy (LexisNexis 2020). In addition, he was the lead editor of the 400-page legal treatise Contested Valuation in Corporate Bankruptcy (LexisNexis 2011), part of the Collier on Bankruptcy monograph series, and the 200-page legal treatise Admitting Expert Valuation Evidence Before the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts (Bernstein, S., et al., Amer. Bankr. Inst. 2017). He contributed chapters to the Collier Bankruptcy Practice Guide (LexisNexis 2014) and Bankruptcy Business Acquisitions (Amer. Bankr. Inst. 2006). He wrote or co-wrote articles appearing in, among other periodicals, the American Bankruptcy Law Journal, Business Lawyer, California Law Review, and Journal of Corporation Law. He delivered papers, was an invited speaker, and guest lectured at numerous restructuring seminars (both domestic and abroad) and graduate schools of high academic esteem, including programs sponsored by the American Bankruptcy Institute, American Law Institute (Young Scholars Medal Conference), Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, Boston University Law School, Columbia Business School, Georgia State University Law School, NYU Stern School of Business, University of California at Hastings Law School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, University of Texas School of Law, University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce, and the New York City Bar Association.