Overview
Locke Lord has a first-rate national team of bankruptcy, restructuring and insolvency attorneys in offices across the United States. We provide experience and depth in virtually every aspect of corporate bankruptcy matters. In both Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 proceedings, we represent creditors, including banks, other lenders, insurance companies, creditors’ committees, investment funds, indenture trustees, landlords, corporations and government agencies. We also represent corporate debtors in Chapter 11 cases and out-of-court restructurings, and litigation trusts for bankruptcy estates.
The stature of our Bankruptcy & Restructuring Group is underscored by our representations of creditors and other parties in national chapter 11 cases, including
- Conseco
- United Airlines
- Enron
- Kmart
- Global Crossing
- PennCorp Financial
- Comdisco
- Fleming Companies
- El Paso Electric
- WorldCom
- Outboard Marine Corporation
- Federated Stores
- Bucyrus International
- Mercury Finance
We offer a full range of business bankruptcy services to a broad variety of corporate clients. We have worked with real estate interests, oil companies, convenience store chains, hotels, health care providers, transportation companies and agricultural co-ops. Locke Lord attorneys serve as counsel to committees of secured and unsecured creditors and represent chairs and active members of such committees in proceedings throughout the United States.
Our representations span many industries, including real estate, energy, insurance, convenience store chains, finance, retail sales, homebuilding, TV/radio, utilities, hotels, health care, information technology, petrochemical, airlines and other transportation companies.
Representations of Creditors
Providing counsel to secured creditors, trade creditors, creditor groups and creditors’ committees is a core element in Locke Lord's bankruptcy practice. We represent creditors in every kind of negotiation and dispute, including asserting the rights of creditors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 cases and related adversary proceedings.
We provide comprehensive bankruptcy services to a broad range of financial institutions, including banks, finance companies, insurance companies, portfolio managers, bondholders, investment funds and other institutional creditors. We vigorously pursue the rights of creditors in Chapter 11 cases, liquidations, workouts, debtor-in-possession lending, restructuring of debt, and resolving environmental issues. We also have extensive experience representing insurers in enforcing their contractual rights under loss-sensitive policies against corporate Chapter 11 debtors.
Representations of Corporate Debtors and Bankruptcy Estates
Locke Lord also represents business debtors in restructuring their businesses and renegotiating their debt structure with their primary creditors in Chapter 11 cases and other contexts. Our bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys also represent liquidation trusts, bankruptcy trustees and receivers.
Bankruptcy Litigation Services
Our bankruptcy and restructuring team vigorously pursues and defends virtually every kind of bankruptcy-related litigation, including: preference litigation; fraudulent conveyance actions; setoff litigation; executory contract and other contract disputes; administrative claims; fee disputes, including malpractice actions against conflicted bankruptcy counsel; disputes regarding asset purchase agreements and other transactions with debtors; enforcement of insurers’ rights; securities litigation arising from bankruptcy contexts; enforcement of loan subordination agreements; litigation about disclosure statements and plans of reorganization; objections to claim; lien priority litigation; bankruptcy-related directors and officers litigation; and financial fraud litigation.
Bankruptcy Transactional Services
We represent purchasers of assets from bankruptcy estates. We also negotiate and document amended service contracts with Chapter 11 debtors, loan restructurings, forbearance agreements, debtor-in-possession loans, cash collateral stipulations, subordination agreements and numerous other bankruptcy-related transactions.
Workouts
Locke Lord bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys are workout strategists. We strive to understand our clients’ objectives and to recognize the potential outcomes that will best meet their needs. We know that a bankruptcy case is not always the best way to resolve credit- or debt-related problems, and our attorneys are skilled at negotiating workout agreements that include new sources of financing. Our bankruptcy and restructuring team has decades of experience accurately evaluating practical alternative strategies, whether dealing with asset acquisitions, contract renegotiations, cash collateral orders or consensual plans.